ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the new technology and haulage equipment developments that stem from the advances towards mine automation, robotics, data integration, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning as they may be applied to haul road design, construction, operation and management. The mining industry is constrained by decreasing resource grades, energy and labour cost increases, stringent safety and environmental controls and capped capital and working-cost considerations. Automation, robotics and access to rich data and the supporting analytical processes are key themes throughout the industry. Autonomous trucking has many potential advantages over conventional trucking, and to fully leverage these benefits, mine road design and management need to develop to address the requirements of autonomy in mining. Increased mine truck traffic volumes and gross vehicle mass has itself generated significant design challenges, especially when coupled with poor-quality road building materials and immature applications of potential remediating technologies.
