Mine design team smarter together

Maptek has awarded the 2024 Mine Design prize to University of Adelaide Mining Engineering students Ryan Braes, Ben Barrow, Mitchell Roberts, Guillaume Stander and Mitchell Jakab for their outstanding effort.

Estimates of the mine life capital expense and operating costs, along with internal rate of financial return, were determined based on principles taught during the semester.

Students noted that the project was the most realistic, real-world application of their learnings, and they gained additional value when applying it to their honours studies.

Maptek Senior Technical Solutions Specialist Steve Sullivan said the winning team demonstrated the professionalism and technical skills required to transition to full-time employment within the mining industry. 

‘The group covered the project scope comprehensively for designing and planning both open cut and underground operations, and the critical transition between them,’ Sullivan said.

‘They produced an easy-to-read and comprehensive feasibility study. The quality of their report puts them in good stead to apply their university learnings to the global mining industry.’

Maptek staff taught five weeks of mine design during the first university semester of 2024 and helped judge the student reports alongside Associate Professor Dr Chaoshui Xu.