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Plotlogic offers new precision mining capability – with environmental bonuses
By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >>
IMAGINE a technology that not only preserves the life of mines, but restores discarded mines to production and ensures the metals are processed sustainably.
That sums up what’s been developed by Queensland entrepreneur and mining industry veteran Andrew Job.
Mr Job said the technology behind his company, Plotlogic, is unique. It combines sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to go into existing mining operations and set up those mines to produce more metal off a lower carbon base.
“That makes the mines essentially more efficient, producing the metals we need to power the clean economy, but also at the same time makes those mines able to produce that off a lower carbon base,” Mr Job told Talking Business. 
Technological breakthroughs in mining
Mr Job said the technology, which he developed out of his PhD, was critical for the Plotlogic.
“The imaging aspect of what we use goes beyond the visible part of the light spectrum,” he said.
“Traditional imagery works in red, green and blue. That’s three colour channels which is what our eyes are used to seeing.
“Our technology works in the infra-red part of the light spectrum as well and goes out into things we can’t see with human eyes but are really relevant when you’re trying to determine different rock and mineral properties,” Mr Job said.
“It collects a huge amount of data. For a typical camera there are three colour channels. For our technology, there are 460 colour channels and we use that huge amount of information on every single pixel to run a whole bunch of artificial intelligence over the top of it to predict rock properties.
“Because we are able to scan and scan so many rocks real quickly, and determine those rock properties with a high degree of accuracy, it gives an unprecedented level of knowledge for mine operators to run their mines very efficiently. So, they can make accurate determinations about the ore material, the waste material, (or) if there is anything that will slow the plant down in terms of chewing up a huge amount of energy.”
Mines produce higher quality mineral levels, sustainably
Mr Job said the Plotlogic technology allows the life of mines to be extended.
It also allows mine operators to go into previously abandoned mines.
“We can now go into those operations that were previously uneconomic or (left) some sort of environmental legacy and use our technology to clean up the operation,” Mr Job said.
“It basically means new resources are unlocked that were previously tied up or considered to be uneconomic or too hard to access.”
He said the sensing technology and AI could also improve the workings of a whole bunch of other industries.
Plotlogic has also worked with tungsten producer EQ Resources in far north Queensland and lithium producers.
Plotlogic has a strong patent portfolio with its proprietary technology and it is also expanding overseas. This includes working with producers in Brazil and Indonesia,
“We see ourselves having an important role to play in the international mining industry,” Mr Job said.
“We certainly see ourselves being an international player,” he said.
“Obviously the mining industry is global in its nature, there are deposits all over the planet.
“We see that our technology can be really beneficial, no matter where that deposit is located, whether that’s in South America, North America, Indonesia or other parts of the world.” 
www.plotlogic.com
Hear the complete interview and catch up with other topical business news on Leon Gettler’s Talking Business podcast, released every Friday at www.acast.com/talkingbusiness
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