Mining
The smart mining cluster at the QCAT precinct incorporates CSIRO and a number of small to medium enterprises supporting the mining services sector.
Collaborative R&D at the precinct covers a broad range of mining activities from coal to hard rock and sand, underground and open cut systems.
Research aims to improve safety, increase productivity and reduce environmental impact by providing applied technology solutions to major issues confronting Australia’s mining industry.
Research groups involved in the mining sector are:
CSIRO Many of the initiatives in the mining research cluster fall under the broad goals established under the Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship.
The Minerals Down Under Flagship is planning to help transform the Australian minerals industry with revolutionary new technologies and ideas to solve technical challenges that will be associated with Australian mining operations in the future.
Research in the mining sector by CSIRO falls into four main categories:
Mining Geoscience
QCAT's focus is to improve technologies and systems for understanding geological inputs across the life of mine processes. Key projects include:
- CoreProfiler - for rapid and consistent capture of drill core observations
- Sirovision - a solution for rock mass structure mapping and analysis issues
- Borehole logging - development of technologies and methods for analysis and interpretation of disparate borehole logging data
- Microseismics - a real-time microseismics system is being developed for underground coal mines
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Truck and shovel automation 
