An Integrated Simulation-Based Solution for Operator Effectiveness

The mining market is growing in such a way that getting enough specialized workforce for mining operations will be extremely difficult in the short term. As a result, technologies based on dynamic simulation are becoming a key pillar to educate and train inexperienced personnel at the pace required by this industry. Operator Training Simulator (OTS) systems have been widely used in the petrochemical industry, however the knowledge transmitted to the operators has not been “capitalized” in general. OTS systems are usually delivered as a hardware and software platform and not as a long term integral service.In this paper, an integrated solution for operator effectiveness, based on the conjunction of dynamic simulation, process knowledge, virtual reality and knowledge capitalization, through the creation of simulation scenarios and e-learning, is proposed. Finally, the Codelco's Ministro Hales simulation project for its copper Concentrator plant is reviewed.