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Coal in 3D

All the coal deposit of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa have been mapped onto the virtual 3D space. The Company has just completed the project entitled “Deposit model and production planning at JSW S.A.” aimed at implementing a modern deposit management and production planning system in accordance with the global trends in this respect.

photo: Dawid Lach

Within the framework of the project, a system has been implemented based on two global IT solutions, which made the deposit management and design process in mines much more advanced. Systems of similar type are the basis for the operation of foreign mining concerns in Australia or the United States. In Poland, so far only LW Bogdanka and KGHM mines planned their production based on 3D deposit models. Now they are joined by JSW

A 3D model of deposits is a graphic visualization of its structure and any occurring disturbances, created on the basis of information that we have about the deposit. The 3D model of the deposit was based on the adjustment of the IT infrastructure in mines to the joint efforts of surveying and geological departments and the production preparation departments, as well as the preparation and review of data.

As a result of project work, a central geological database was created in JSW mines, fed with data from 250 surface holes, 1,440 underground holes, 14,670 roadway profiling exercises, more than 24,000 quality samples, 100 main faults and more than 150 faults.

The work on the project produced final effects in the form of spatial structural and quality models of deposits in JSW’s mines and strategic production schedules. The Company has set a schedule for executing 700 kilometers of planned roadway excavations and 480 longwalls, including 50 types of roadway roof supports and 25 algorithms for calculating production limitations. 

Additionally, the visualization and the modern 3D model of the deposits allow for a better understanding of variations in extraction and geological conditions in mines, while the scheduling software supports an even better optimization of production at JSW, among others by offering development of various production scenarios for the mines.

– Reliable information about the size of resources and the quality of coal to be mined is essential for the correct operation of coal mines. The cost optimization process in the operational area may be conducted effectively only if the Company has in-depth knowledge of all of the costs it incurs and is able to react quickly to changes occurring in the production area – emphasized Artur Dyczko, JSW’s Vice-President for Strategy and Development.