As the world’s leading mineral exploration and mining convention, PDAC serves as a beacon for innovation, collaboration, and the future of the mining industry. This year, Dassault Systèmes is proud to participate in an exhibitor spotlight session, presenting “Shaping the Sustainable Mine of the Future – The Art of the Possible”. Featuring Tania Killeen, Head of Mining for Infrastructure, Energy & Materials, the session showcases Dassault Systèmes’ strong footprint in mining. This legacy is defined by innovative technologies, comprehensive solutions, and a commitment to helping mining companies optimize operations and address industry challenges effectively.
The Challenges of Sustainable Mining
Mining has fueled economic and societal growth for centuries. However, with growing emphasis on social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and economic accountability, the mining industry stands at a pivotal crossroads. The demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements—essential for the green energy revolution—is surging. Simultaneously, communities demand greater transparency, governments enforce stricter regulations, and investors prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
A global transition from fuel-intensive to material-intensive, low-carbon energy economies is reshaping extractive industries. According to World Bank estimates, demand for specific minerals is set to rise by up to 500% to support renewable energy. Consequently, mining companies must simultaneously scale production and minimize environmental impacts, as extractive industries currently account for 4-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
For the mining industry, decarbonization is regarded as both an essential requirement and a responsibility. This industry transformation drives the sustainable management of resources through holistic wide-ranging approaches in which we combine technology with a thoughtful attitude and strategy. To create a digital solution for the sustainable mine of the future- mitigating impacts, minimizing footprint and maximizing efficiency for responsible and sustainable growth. Tania Killeen, Head of Mining
Decarbonization: A Responsibility and Opportunity
The path to achieving net-zero goals requires mining operations to decarbonize processes while increasing output. This dual imperative—raising productivity and reducing emissions—represents a challenge and an opportunity. Leading mining companies are accelerating decarbonization efforts, leveraging renewable energy, electrification, and innovative technologies. These efforts reduce risks, improve operational efficiency, and ensure long-term viability by addressing investor, regulatory, and community expectations.
The Vision for the Sustainable Mine of the Future
The spotlight session will delve into how Dassault Systèmes advanced technologies are enabling the mining industry to meet the demands of a dynamic and sustainable world. She will highlight the potential of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE collaborative and unified common data environment centered on The Sustainable Mine of the Future that models, simulates, and validates processes across the mining value chain. Their innovative technologies drive mining transformation and address global challenges by connecting all stakeholders within social and environmental systems. Providing the building blocks for the Sustainable Mine of the Future through: mitigating risks, minimizing footprint and maximizing efficiency. Discussing how integrating virtual twin technology in the mining industry can achieve greater efficiency, sustainability, and strategic foresight, setting new standards for operational excellence and sustainable growth through:
- Unified Common Data Environment by The 3DEXPERIENCE platform
o Manage all activities by centralizing and validating data within a unified application and single data repository
o Connecting users with the right data at the right time to flag risks, and opportunities and collaborate
o Bring together all aspects of your business in a single platform to increase collaboration, improve execution, and accelerate innovation
- Geoscience Infomatics by Data-Driven Scientific Analysis
o Transforming, automating, predicting, simulating, and validating scientific data with AI-driven algorithms and knowledge management
o Bringing data from the field to the lab to create digital continuity by managing the lifecycle of samples, analysis, automation of data, and QA/QC
o Micro & macro scale multi-physics model to simulate properties, predictive workflow, and iterative optimization
- Mineral Definition & Extraction by Implicit Modeling and Parametric Design of the Mine
o Efficiently combine, interpret, validate, and refine even the largest geological datasets to generate realistic, evidence-based geological models of the subsurface
o Reveal, measure, and analyze mining data to understand and improve production
o Optimize designs and then simulate a multitude of economic scenarios to formulate strategies ensuring the long-term viability of their operations
- Mine Scheduling and Optimization by Connecting Tactical Planning to Operations
o Enable mining companies to optimize operations and increase productivity while controlling costs
o Drive consistent operational performance through precise synchronization of material stocks and increase confidence in stockpile balances
o Streamline mine-to-port logistics planning software to maximize transportation network efficiency
o Real-time tracking of mining equipment and resources to improve efficiency and utilization
- Green License to Operate by Earth Resource Management
o Transforming, disrupting, and streamlining: Land, water, mineral, and waste resource strategies and associated process systems for sustainable mining operations
o Identify priorities and measure performance to enhance sustainable land management for dynamic KPIs
- Sustainable Operations by Virtual Twin Governance
o Collaborative platform: simulations can be synchronized in real-time to real-world operations to give complete insight into current operations
o Manage risk and make better decisions, across the life of the project with accessible and actionable project data to make better decisions on the asset lifecycle
The Art of the Possible
For Dassault Systèmes, sustainable innovation harmonizes product, nature, and life. As leaders in sustainability, their vision for the future combines balance with actionable solutions. Through partnerships with leading mining companies, they’re not just imagining the sustainable mine of the future—they’re making it possible today.
Dassault Systèmes is proudly servicing the majority of the top 40 mining companies as published by PwC.
As Tania Killeen will present, the path to a sustainable mine of the future is not just a vision—it is the art of the possible…today.
Visit Dassault Systèmes at Booth 6311N to learn more about how we’re shaping the sustainable mine of the future.