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<\/a>Widely shared by media worldwide, Hexagon\u2019s MSC Software created simulations to help create guidelines on social distancing and protective coverings to combat the spread of COVID-19.<\/p><\/div>\n
Hexagon\u2019s Geospatial division took data compiled by public healthcare organizations and government departments to create data visualizations mapping the spread of COVID-19 using its Smart M.App<\/a> technology. Cities like Almada, Portugal developed a customized mapping solution using the same technology to help its citizens identify where to find essential items.<\/p>\n First responders, healthcare departments and GIS professionals continue to assess the spread of the virus, visualize the scope of affected areas, plan coordination efforts, and improve responses using the HxGN Content Program<\/a>\u2019s aerial imagery library of the United States and Europe \u2013 provided free to government agencies and non-profit organizations managing the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n OAS allows operators to wear face masks while still being monitored for signs of fatigue and distraction \u2013 a particularly useful feature during the COVID-19 pandemic when mines are mandating drivers to wear face masks<\/p><\/div>\n For the mining industry, Hexagon machine learning ensured that the award-winning HxGN MineProtect Operator Alertness System Light Vehicle (OAS-LV) continued to identify signs<\/a> of operator fatigue and distraction in drivers, even when the operator wore a mask \u2013 essential technology at a time when mines are mandating drivers wear face masks.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not the only way Hexagon is helping mining customers to adapt.<\/p>\n According to analysts, Deloitte, the trend towards mining companies providing value beyond compliance to communities and host governments, is \u201clikely to accelerate, particularly as health care infrastructure in developing markets become strained\u201d. In its recent report<\/a>, \u201cUnderstanding the Sector Impact of COVID-19 \u2013 Mining and Metals,\u201d Deloitte goes on to highlight the effects of government-mandated shutdowns in markets like South Africa and Peru.<\/p>\n Hexagon\u2019s Mining division has become intimately acquainted with those effects during the pandemic \u2013 from staff remaining on mine sites in Peru for several months, separated from families, to finding innovative ways to continue with product implementations on-site despite being thousands of miles away.<\/p>\n Project signoff at Tarkwa Mine in Ghana, where a major safety implementation was completed with minimal Take Tarkwa Mine in Ghana, for example. When the mine\u2019s owners, Gold Fields decided early last year to protect its employees and equipment with Hexagon\u2019s MineProtect solutions, a schedule was agreed upon for a significant installation and implementation project.<\/p>\n Enter COVID-19.<\/p>\n How to install the MineProtect Collision Avoidance System (CAS) in more than 220 vehicles at Tarkwa amid a pandemic lockdown preventing travel by Hexagon\u2019s South Africa staff into Ghana? How to implement MineProtect\u2019s \u00a0Operator Alertness System<\/a>,\u00a0Personal Alert<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Tracking Radar<\/a> to address fatigue and distraction events, personnel protection and proximity awareness?<\/p>\n Willingness to embrace change was key to the successful installation<\/a>, said Andrew Crose, Vice President, Autonomous, Hexagon\u2019s Mining division. Andrew\u2019s team conducted the installation with minimal delays, using local partners and technology, such as remote body cameras, to ensure installation and training stayed on schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cTarkwa staff\u2019s willingness to adapt to the limitations imposed by COVID-19 was hugely important,\u201d said Crose. \u201cThe resourcefulness displayed by everyone involved was impressive. It ensured that we completed the project with minimal delays \u2013 almost to the original project dates!\u201d<\/p>\n Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Alfred Baku, agreed: \u201cWe will continue to explore new and innovative ways to improve safety and ensure that our employees return home to their families safely every day,\u201d Baku said.<\/p>\n Mainstream media<\/a> have speculated about COVID-19 accelerating the trend towards autonomy in mining. It\u2019s an issue that highlights the importance of proactively planning for digital transformation while keeping the social impact of digital in mind.<\/p>\n Hexagon understands the importance of working with local communities when adding autonomy and other technology to a mine. Close and consistent communication, aligned processes and training are key, said Crose.<\/p>\n Jacob Moeketsi, Project Training Officer (Trysome Group) training Kathu-resident, DeNovo technician on how to connect, program and install the HxGN MineProtect Scope Screen.Jacob Moeketsi, Project Training Officer (Trysome Group) training Kathu-resident, DeNovo technician on how to connect, program and install the HxGN MineProtect Scope Screen.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cMany would draw the conclusion that there are trade-offs in providing support via the local community or via the technology developer,\u201d writes Crose in the case study, Enabling the Local Community in an Autonomous Project<\/em>.<\/p>\n The case study documents Anglo American\u2019s safety journey at Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa\u2019s Northern Cape. It examines the partnership developed between Hexagon and Anglo American, Trysome Auto Electrical Engineering and DeNovo Mining Resources to ensure meaningful local community engagement while deploying the leading safety system on the world\u2019s largest haul trucks.<\/p>\n \u201cSome might assume that local support would lack the skills and capabilities to provide a comprehensive service while support from the technology provider would cause jobs to be lost locally during an autonomous implementation,\u201d writes Crose. \u201cThis case study challenges those assumptions.\u201d<\/p>\n The road to MINExpo<\/a> has been far from smooth. Originally scheduled for September 2020, the Olympics of mining shows is now planned for Sept. 13-15, 2021. Doubtless, COVID-19 remains an unpredictable adversary, but Hexagon relishes the opportunity presented by the event.<\/p>\n So, what can you expect to see?<\/p>\n True to the themes covered in this blog, continued convergence and integration will mean more autonomy and eventually fully autonomous solutions from Hexagon. That means one smart device ecosystem for the next generation of operator experience, enhancing operator awareness, improving reliability and addressing personal safety issues that cannot be solved by traditional independent approaches.<\/p>\n Autonomously connected ecosystems that improve reliability and address personal safety issues that cannot be solved by traditional independent approaches: expect to see much more at MINExpo 2021.<\/p><\/div>\n Customers can expect reduced complexity in ownership costs and smart data analytics to visualize data patterns above and below ground.<\/p>\n For drill and blast, it means a complete solution tailored to minimize ore loss and dilution by delivering accuracy and precision to every step of the process.<\/p>\n Hexagon\u2019s cloud-based visualization and collaboration platform, HxDR<\/a> will deliver on the promise of a digital twin for your mine, leveraging reality capture capabilities to push the bounds of what is possible from a dynamic terrain model.<\/p>\n The ability and agility in responding quickly to adversity are a testament to Hexagon\u2019s global reach and the depth of its multi-faceted expertise. As the last 12 months have shown, when ingenuity is applied to resourcefulness, adversity can be managed and overcome.<\/p>\n It\u2019s why we\u2019re excited for MINExpo and the rest of 2021. We hope you are too! Watch for more blogs in our series, The Road to MINExpo.<\/p>\n Read part 1<\/a> and part 3<\/a> and of our Road to MINExpo series.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Think fast! Which company\u2019s technology touches 75% of cars, 90% of aircraft, 85% of smartphones while helping to protect almost one billion people? Need more clues? Over half of the world\u2019s oil, gas, and chemical products are delivered more efficiently thanks to this company\u2019s technology. And more than half of the world\u2019s geospatial imagery is<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5i2-1024x512.jpg\")
<\/a>Partnering with mines to deal with COVID-19<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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delays despite the pandemic lockdown.<\/p><\/div>\nProactively planning for digital transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5i4.jpg\")
<\/a>Peak performance for MINExpo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5i5.jpg\")
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