Mineral Extraction

Underground Mine Environment (Air quality)

Mine Ventilation Research

  • Design of ventilation management and automation strategies
  • Tools to optimize ventilation requirements (airflow and activity simulation, tracer gas techniques )
  • Heat assessments and evaluation of heat stress instruments

Diesel Research

  • Diesel engine and equipment certification testing
  • Development of diesel emissions standards
  • R&D in emission control technologies (diesel particulate filters)
  • Evaluation of clean fuels (low sulphur, biodiesel)
  • Approved Diesel Engines

Contaminant Control

  • Development of instrumentation and procedures to sample and measure diesel particulates (RCD and NIOSH 5040), gases, and mineral dusts (silica)

Mine Mechanization and Automation

Drilling and Rock Fragmentation

  • Improved mine productivity through continuous and selective mining related technologies
  • Major initiative on Explosive-Free Rock Breaking (EFRB) technology.
  • Experimental procedures for standardized evaluation and adaptation of mining equipment

Alternative Energy Sources for Mining Operations

  • Development and testing of prototypes: hybrid diesel-electric and a fuel cell loaders
  • Computer-based tools to evaluate energy savings from improved technologies such as hybrid vehicles and ventilation automated control systems

Worker Health & Safety

  • Design and development of equipment and systems to reduce exposure of mine workers to noise and vibrations
  • Participation in regulatory sub-committees on mine hoist safety and mine rescue.
  • R&D Agreement with universities on underground wireless communications.