Tunnelling & mining information modelling; a digital environment for next generation mining

Abstract

Abstract

Different Building Information Modelling (BIM) domains have been developing very fast during the last decade in all construction related industries. Mining Information Modelling (MiningBIM or in short MIM) and Tunnelling Information Modelling (TunnellingBIM or in short TIM) concepts are now under a very strong development work in Finland. MIM is a digital, dynamic, open and vendor independent information management environment for the whole life cycle of a mine and for both underground and open cast mines. University of Oulu in Finland organized a MIM research workshop series with six workshops during 2022 as part of national Next Generation Mining (NG Mining) research project program. The aim of the workshops was to research the concept of Mining & Tunnelling Information Modelling in detail and find out if there is a need in Finland to start developing and implementing it further. More than 200 individuals were invited to workshops from over 80 companies and more than 100 persons attended from over 50 companies. The results of the workshop series showed that the mining and tunnelling field in Finland is interested and ready to start developing the MIM&TIM conceptsfurther in a following common development project. Diverse strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for using the technology were identified. Manifold advantages are seen worth pursuing with very good starting points that were identified to support the development work for next coming years.