Patrick Stahl- the 11th annual Human Factors IUW 2010

Cognitive Engineering Laboratory

A Human Factors Perspective on Open Pit Haul Truck Traffic

Mine Traffic Optimization Project

Patrick Stahl

Cognitive Engineering Laboratory

1. Background

Research in mining to date has centred on accident analysis; little research on mine traffic

Mine Traffic Optimization Project University of Toronto Queens University Barrick Gold Corporation

Observational Field Trip to Nevada, USA, July 2010 Goldstrike and Bald Mountain Mines

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2. The Truck Cockpit Goldstrike operates exclusively with Komatsu 930E

trucks in its open pit

Bald Mountain uses Komatsu 830E and Caterpillar 785B and 789B trucks

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2. The Truck Cockpit: Steering Controls

Komatsu Cockpit (930E) Caterpillar Cockpit (785B)

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2. The Truck Cockpit: Dispatch Displays

Goldstrike Dispatch Display (Komatsu 930E)

Bald Mountain Dispatch Display (Caterpillar 785B)

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3. Two Task Categories

i) Vehicle Control Attention and competencies specific to piloting

ii) Communication & Information Management Attention and competencies specific to processing

procedural information

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4. Challenges for Vehicle Control

Physical dimensions of equipment

Very limited view

Exact positioning needed

Extreme and rapidly changing environmental conditions

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5. Challenges in Communication and Information Management

Secondary task, but nonetheless crucial to mine operation

Choice of sensory channel for mediation

Very limited operator capacity with respect to additional perceptual tasks

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6. Operator Perspective: Demographics

<1 1-2 2-3 3-5 5-7 7-10 10-15 15-20 >2005

101520253035404550

Num

ber o

f Dri

vers

Years of Employment at Goldstrike

14

139

Gender

female

male

Individual differences will influence driver attitudes towards technology

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6. Operator Perspective: Work Setting

12 hour shifts (with 2 breaks), 2-5 hour daily commute Monotonous, repetitive work Little sleep between shifts

Fatigue likely a major issue Slower driving when operator is fatigued

Complex manoeuvring tasks alternate with long hauls Multiple simultaneous visual and auditory monitoring tasks (radio,

driving, truck instruments, dispatch directives, …)

Monotonous job, but continuous concentration required

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6. Operator Perspective: Work Environment

Constant, loud noise levels

Auditory alert design

High, constant level of vibration

Haptic interfaces problematic

Visual channel already very busy

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7. Prospects for Research

Human-Automation Collaboration

Automation Reliance

Operator Distraction (and Mitigation)

Attention Allocation

Operator Fatigue (and Mitigation)

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A Human Factors Perspective on Open Pit Haul Truck Traffic

part of the

Mine Traffic Optimization Project

University of Toronto

Queens University

Barrick Gold Corporation