Using RPA for performance monitoring of dynamic SHM applications

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a source of growing applications in a number of industries both as an individual technology and as a complement to other technologies (such as Internet of Things (IoT)). RPA allows the automation of human activities on a computer, especially when these activities are repetitive and high in volume. RPA saves man-hours and increases the productive capacity of the processes. The application of RPA in civil engineering is still in its early stages, and there has been little work on the subject in the literature. This paper presents RPA technology, for the first time in the literature, as a long-term management, control, and auto fault correction process for a low-cost accelerometer that can be used in SHM applications. However, this process requires a significant number of man-hours to stay operational, given the architecture of its applications. With the application of an RPA implementation workflow formulated based on the Design Science Research Method (DSRM), the management and control of the data acquisition process of a low-cost accelerometer located on a structural column are automated and put into operation in this study. RPA also made it possible to automatically detect and notify users of errors in the process, restart the process, and bring the process back online every time errors occurred. In this way, an automated process was obtained that operated continually and freed up human labour.The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: BIA2017-86811-C2-1-R; The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: BIA2017-86811-C2-2-R; The Secretaria d’ Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Catalunya, Spain: 2017 SGR 1482; Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación del Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades grant and the Fondo Social Europeo grant: PRE2018-083238.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Low-cost sensors technologies for monitoring sustainability and safety issues in mining activities: advances, gaps, and future directions in the digitalization for smart mining

Nowadays, monitoring aspects related to sustainability and safety in mining activities worldwide are a priority, to mitigate socio-environmental impacts, promote efficient use of water, reduce carbon footprint, use renewable energies, reduce mine waste, and minimize the risks of accidents and fatalities. In this context, the implementation of sensor technologies is an attractive alternative for the mining industry in the current digitalization context. To have a digital mine, sensors are essential and form the basis of Industry 4.0, and to allow a more accelerated, reliable, and massive digital transformation, low-cost sensor technology solutions may help to achieve these goals. This article focuses on studying the state of the art of implementing low-cost sensor technologies to monitor sustainability and safety aspects in mining activities, through the review of scientific literature. The methodology applied in this article was carried out by means of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and generating science mapping. For this, a methodological procedure of three steps was implemented: (i) Bibliometric analysis as a quantitative method, (ii) Systematic review of literature as a qualitative method, and (iii) Mixed review as a method to integrate the findings found in (i) and (ii). Finally, according to the results obtained, the main advances, gaps, and future directions in the implementation of low-cost sensor technologies for use in smart mining are exposed. Digital transformation aspects for data measurement with low-cost sensors by real-time monitoring, use of wireless network systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins, and the Internet of Things, among other technologies of the Industry 4.0 era are discussed.The authors are indebted to the projects PID2021-126405OB-C31 and PID2021-126405OB-C32 funded by FEDER funds—A Way to Make Europe and Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/. The financial support of the Research Department of the Catholic University of Temuco and the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Castilla-La Mancha is also appreciated.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Towards the integration and automation of the design process for domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems with BIM

The use of building information modelling (BIM) in construction projects is expanding, and its usability throughout building lifecycles, from planning and construction to operation and maintenance, is gaining increasing proof. In the design of domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems (DDWSSs), BIM focuses on coordinating disciplines and their design. Despite studies promoting BIM environments for DDWSSs that take into account the regulatory frameworks of corresponding countries, these efforts do not include the use of parametric tools that enhance the efficiency of the design process. Therefore, engineers still use conventional 2D design, which requires many rounds of iteration, and manual work is also generally still used. In this research, we developed and validated an intuitive methodology for solving a specific DDWSS problem, using a design science research method (DSRM) as an applied science approach. This was addressed by developing an artefact and validating it through two case studies. The obtained solution combines BIM models and parametric tools to automate the manual activities of the traditional design method. This article aims to bring abstract BIM concepts into practice and encourage researchers and engineers to adopt BIM for DDWSSs.This research was funded by Proyecto VRIEA-PUCV, grant number 039.427/2021, and the Grants for the Promotion of Research in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering, UCLM. This research was also funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness provided through the research project BIA2013-47290-R, BIA2017-86811-C2-1-R and BIA2017-86811-C2-2-R. All these projects were funded with FEDER funds.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

In-Pit Disposal of Mine Tailings for a Sustainable Mine Closure: A Responsible Alternative to Develop Long-Term Green Mining Solutions

In the next decades many of the old tailings storage facilities (TSFs) could be re-processed if one considers the prices of metals, new uses of metals which today are not valuable, and the application of new, more efficient metallurgical technologies. In this context, in-pit disposal of mine tailings (IPDMT) is an attractive alternative to be used as part of responsible mine closure: mines could reprocess the mine tailings and place them in an open pit as part of sustainable mine closure. This article explores a little-explored tailings disposal technique that has the potential to be considered as an environmentally friendly solution, returning mine tailings to their place of origin and providing long-term stability under a climate change scenario. This article presents the main features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of IPDMT, with an emphasis on: (i) a description of the main advantages and disadvantages of application; and design issues related to (ii) IPDMT physical stability (pit slope stability, tailings transport, placement systems); (iii) IPDMT hydrological stability (water management, seepage control, hydrogeological monitoring,); and (iv) IPDMT geochemical stability (geochemical characterization, acid rock drainage control, covers). The novelty of this article is the proposal to change the status quo of traditional management of mine tailings to a new paradigm where the technique of in-pit disposal of mine tailings can be considered a green mining solution for mine closure. Finally, some successful cases around the world that involved the implementation of this technique are presented

An Alternative Technology to Obtain Dewatered Mine Tailings: Safe and Control Environmental Management of Filtered and Thickened Copper Mine Tailings in Chile

An alternative process to obtain a high degree of dewatering tailings that produces a high-density product is presented in this article. This technology involves the combination of tailings particle grain size classification by hydrocyclones (HC) and tailings dewatering by horizontal vibratory screens (HVS). It makes it possible to dewater tailings to a high grade of performance. This alternative technology (HC-HVS) involves the recovery of water from the coarse fraction of tailings (sands) through two hydrocycloning stages, followed by a dewatering stage of cycloned tailings sands on horizontal vibratory screens, to reduce moisture content and turn it into a “cake”. The resulting coarse fraction tailings are easily transported to a dry stack tailings storage facility (TSF). The fine fraction of tailings (slimes) can be dewatered on thickener equipment to recover part of the process water. Finally, this article describes the main benefits of this alternative dewatered tailings technology with an emphasis on (i) dewatering technology evolution over the last 17 years; (ii) process stages features; (iii) pilot test results; (iv) tailings properties analysis (such as particle grain size distribution, fines content) and (v) lessons learned about the experience gained in the operation of Mantos Blancos case study with dry stack tailings storage facility

Dry Stacking of Filtered Tailings for Large-Scale Production Rates over 100,000 Metric Tons per Day: Envisioning the Sustainable Future of Mine Tailings Storage Facilities

Communities and authorities have been dismayed by globally recorded tailings storage facility (TSF) failures in recent years, which have negatively affected the safety of people and the integrity of the environment. In this context, obtaining the social and environmental license to operate TSFs has become a challenging process for mining companies. This has promoted the trend of using mine tailings dewatering technologies in the mining industry, with dry stacking of filtered mine tailings being recognized worldwide as one of the most acceptable, safe, and environmentally friendly solutions. This article presents a new paradigm in managing mine tailings, with disruptive and futuristic characteristics, considering the dry stacking of filtered mine tailings for large-scale industrial production rates over 100,000 metric tons per day (mtpd). Aspects of filtered tailings management are discussed, such as (i) dewatering process plant with thickening/filtering equipment, (ii) conveyance using fixed and movable conveyor belts, (iii) construction of dry stacking of filtered mine tailings facility, and (iv) implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies for automation of the mining processes. Finally, the article discusses how the large-scale filtered mine tailings solution is applied, considering the advances in the equipment’s performance and implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies as well as the experience gained worldwide in several mining operations. The future global trend is that mining operations with high daily production of mine tailings will apply dry stacking technology without dams to guarantee sustainability, promote continuity of the mining business, ensure the safety of communities, and conserve the environment

Enterprise Architecture Approach for Project Management and Project-Based Organizations: A Review

Project-based organizations (PBOs) derive income from conducting projects for their clients. Maintaining the most effective and efficient project governance style is an ongoing process for these organizations as the context continuously changes. Enterprise architecture (EA) is a systemic approach that supports organizations in modeling and describing themselves in different layers, such as strategy, business, application, and technology. This literature review describes the current state of EA usage in improving and quickly revising project management governance in PBOs to benefit practitioners and researchers for an integrated view of EA, PM, and PBO, and identification of future research gaps. This review used an EA model composed of layers as an analytical framework. The extracted bibliometric and content data from selected articles were processed using the VOSviewer tool for identifying and understanding the relationships between main concepts through network mapping. The selected articles are oriented to internal organization projects, mainly in information technology (IT). The need to align projects with business is highlighted, with EA positioned as a governance tool. It was found that application of EA in PBOs is rare. A trend toward using popular PM and EA frameworks, such as PMBOK and ArchiMate, was observed