The role of the geotechnical model for rapid integration in managing operational geotechnical risk

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has developed a concept to integrate geotechnical input into long-term mine planning using a ‘block model approach’ referred to as a geotechnical model for rapid integration (GMRi). The GMRi is a simple spatial collection of rock mass data integrated with empirical evaluations, numerical modelling results and monitoring data for a specific mine plan. In this paper, the value of using the GMRi to manage geotechnical risk and identify opportunities associated with ground support design, stress-induced damage, design stope spans and total extraction is demonstrated. The GMRi concept allows for the rapid evaluation of spatially distributed geotechnical data and identifies areas of risk and opportunity, demonstrated at two recent underground studies completed at AGA’s Australian operations.