The combined technology offerings of PETRA and Maptek incldue solutions ranging from geological modelling to plant and process optimisation and simulation, and the new partnership will bring together their domain expertise from across the whole mining value chain.

Together, the companies want to offer the industry a practical alternative to the common practice of siloed optimisation.

Under the partnership, the Maptek Evolution mine schedule optimisation tool will be linked to PETRA's latest digital twin performance models, including metal produced, grade, quality, recovery and throughput. In addition, dynamic mine scheduling is made possible by bringing together Maptek optimisation engines and PETRA's prediction and simulation algorithms.

The Maptek BlastLogic blast design optimisation system will also benefit from dynamic links to PETRA digital twin models for loading, crushing and grinding. Moreover, PETRA MAXTA digital twin blast design simulation will benefit from connection to BlastLogic historical drill-and-blast design data.

"I see Maptek as the go to company for spatial data in mining. Whether you are looking at their 3-D virtual environments for geological modelling and mine optimisation, or long-range laser scanners for 3-D mapping and monitoring, every aspect is custom built for mining. Any true digital twin in mining needs to consider geology," said PETRA managing director Penny Stewart.

She added that the partnership with Maptek will provide the company with access to upstream geological data for value-chain optimisation, while Maptek will be able to extend its schedule optimisation downstream of the mine.

Maptek managing director, Peter Johnson, has also been appointed to the PETRA advisory board.

Johnson said that Maptek's goal to enable customers to realise greater value from the available mine data requires consideration of a context far beyond the orebody model and mine plan.

"We need to empower our customers to relate the performance and characteristics of processes and equipment far downstream from geology or planning assumptions and understand the relationships better," he added.

"PETRA has a proven capability to create prediction and optimisation algorithms for miners through the innovative application of their data science expertise and experience in the real world."

PETRA said it will continue to operate a platform-agnostic business model, with investment funds channelled into further development of its open format integrations, including APIs and architecture.