QLD Engineers Develop Program to Reduce Haul Road Costs and Increase Production Cycles

 

QUEENSLAND based engineering company Proof Engineers has developed a Haul Road Development program (HRDP) to reduce haul road maintenance costs and increase production cycles at mine sites, the company announced.

Proof Engineers said its HRDP increases haul road operational optimisation by using the best haul road construction methodologies and optimum material selection to deliver cost effective roads.

The program encompasses all aspects of mine haul roads including analysis, design, construction and maintenance training.

Four steps are outlined in the program, these include site evaluation and material selection, design and stabilisation, site tailored construction and maintenance.

The first step of the HRDP is a full site evaluation, focusing on meteorological and environment conditions, material selection and resource evaluation.

The meteorological and environmental assessment determines variables that may impact design and limit construction, such as gradient and flood zones, Proof Engineers said.

Material selection involves laboratory testing of resources to determine the best materials to produce cost effective construction pavements with optimum design characteristics.

The available on-site resources are evaluated to determine if a site has adequate equipment, raw materials and local skills identifying if outside resources, compaction aids or training is required.

Design and stabilisation is the second step and uses pavement technologies to generate a mechanistic design taking into account the selected material and site-specific traffic conditions.

The third step of the HRDP is site tailored construction, with drainage and compaction a focus for the company.

In addition, an ongoing maintenance program is put in place and training of on-site personnel in correct road maintenance methods is carried out as part of the program.

Proof Engineers' roads and drainage specialist James Miedecke said the Haul Road Development program was created in response to demand for new ways to optimise mining operations and haul roads.

"Our mission is to make haul roads as safe and productive as possible," Mr Miedecke said.

"To achieve this we have focused on the principle that building a haul road with optimum material selection and construction methods will reduce maintenance time and expense and increase production cycles," he said.

 "We then put in place monitoring and data collections systems and provide maintenance training to ensure that operational optimisation is ongoing."

Proof Engineers deliver road stabilisation and performance monitoring on a global scale, implementing programs and solutions to ensure reduced maintenance while increasing the longevity and safety of all haul road formations.