ACALA

Geological Expertise, Mining Excellence

Solution · Planning · Mine design

Design the pit, the ramps and the dumps as one parametric model, not three drawings.

Mine design on GEOVIA Surpac and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform links every bench, ramp and dump to the geology and the geotechnical limits behind it. Change a slope angle or a haul road and the reserves, the schedule inputs and the review pack update with it.

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Parametric open pit cross-section: benches follow the overall slope angle you set surface ore geotechnical limit overall slope 45° · 8 benches of 15 m · crest width 420 m
Parametric pit design: one slope parameter drives every bench and the crest. Drag the handle to flatten or steepen the pit.
Parametric designPit, ramp and dump options generated from parameters, not redrawn.
Geotechnical inputsSlope, berm and access limits built into the design, so safety is by design.
Pit Optimizer linkDesigns start from the optimised shell and report back reserves.
Surpac SDM and DTMNative strings, surfaces and solids used directly on the platform.
Open Mining FormatExchange with third-party geology and planning software.
Design reviewsTasks, change actions and 3D dashboards for sign-off across teams.
Surface Mine Designer: parametric pit design
Surface Mine Designer: pits, pushbacks and ramps generated and evaluated parametrically. Image from the GEOVIA brochure distributed by ACALA.

The problem this solves

Most mine designs are rebuilt from scratch every time an input changes.

A new slope recommendation, a moved crusher, a revised pit shell: each one used to mean days of redrawing and a reserve figure nobody trusted until the next revision. Parametric design keeps the intent and regenerates the geometry, so options are cheap and the numbers follow.

Eight generated design outcomes plotted against value, with the first one marked in red low on the scale and the best one marked in navy near the topMANY OUTCOMES, THEN THE BEST ONEvaluethe first onethe optimal designrapid generation of pit, ramp and dump outcomes

Options instead of one answer

Rapid generation of multiple pit, ramp and dump outcomes lets you assess optionality and identify the optimal design rather than defend the first one.

A pit section whose left wall flattens exactly where a red dashed geotechnical feature passes through the rock behind it, and beneath it an underground opening drawn inside a dashed safety clearance envelopeLINKED TO THE GROUND, NOT JUST DRAWNgeotechnical featureunderground accesssafety clearancepit, ramp and dump designs linked to the ground

Safe and technically valid

Pit, ramp and dump designs stay linked to geotechnical features, and underground access respects safety standards for excavations.

The geological model and the design meeting at one shared source, from which grade, mass and volume are reportedTHE DESIGN REPORTS ITS OWN NUMBERSgeological modelthe designthe same sourcegrademassvolumeproduction plans and visuals come from the same source

Reserves that report themselves

Integrated with the geological model, so grade, mass and volume are reported from the design, and production plans and visuals come from the same source.

What is covered

Surface and underground, from the optimised shell to the review pack.

1Open pit

Parametric pit, ramp and dump design

Close integration with Pit Optimizer, simulation and operational inputs.

Highlights

  • Parametric pit, ramp and dump design with multiple design options.
  • Geotechnical inputs integrated to ensure safety and stability.
  • Visualisation of design outputs; reports and analytics as tables and graphs.
  • Outputs consumed directly by downstream scheduling products.

Benefits

  • Optionality assessment and identification of optimal designs.
  • Safe, technically valid pit, ramp and dump designs linked to geotechnical features.
  • Significant workflow improvements and time savings.
2Underground

Parametric access and level design

Safety by design, with data continuity between levels and development areas.

Highlights

  • Parametric assessment of alternatives for secondary underground access development.
  • Modularised development of design components through predetermined profiles.
  • Geotechnical inputs integrated; design outputs visualised.

Benefits

  • Dynamic optionality and design flexibility.
  • Safety standards for underground excavations considered from the start.
  • Robust access and level designs linked to physical constraints; transparent continuity between mining levels.
3Platform

Surpac on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform

One data structure for design, review and hand-over.

Highlights

  • Surpac SDM data inside the unified product structure and in 3DDashboard widgets.
  • 3DEXPERIENCE widgets accessible from within Surpac; formalised collaboration with tasks and change actions.
  • Import and export of DTM, SDM and Open Mining Format data; polyhedral surfaces to and from CATIA mesh.

Benefits

  • Collaborate by connecting the Surpac desktop and its data to the platform.
  • Eliminate copying and translating Surpac data between applications.
  • Hold design reviews on imported geology and design data for better project quality.

Products and services behind it

Software you can licence, or work you can hand over.

Every solution page maps to the GEOVIA products that deliver it and the ACALA service that delivers it for you. Pick the route that fits the team you have.

Other solutions

Where mine design sits in the chain.

Reading

On design and optimisation

In the software

Surface Mine Designer on screen.

Screen from the GEOVIA Surface Mine Designer role brochure.

Surface Mine Designer on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform

Parametric pit design

Benches, ramps and the pit shell regenerated when a parameter or the model changes.

Download: Surface Mine Designer role brochure (PDF, 3.4 MB)

Questions we get

Mine design FAQ

Do I need the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, or is Surpac enough?
Surpac alone designs pits, ramps, dumps and underground layouts. The platform adds parametric regeneration, geotechnical rules, design reviews and data exchange across teams. Start with Surpac; add platform roles when more than one team touches the design.
Can it read our existing designs from other software?
Yes. DTM and SDM data from Surpac, and Open Mining Format data from most geology and planning packages, import into the platform and export back out for third-party tools.
How does the design connect to scheduling?
Design outputs are consumed directly by scheduling products such as MineSched and by the strategic planning roles, so staged designs become production plans without re-export.
Can ACALA do the design for us instead?
Yes. The open pit and underground design services use the same tools, and hand back the project files, so your team can carry on in-house afterwards.

Next step

Bring a pit shell and a slope recommendation. Leave with three designs.

A working session on your own data is the quickest way to see what parametric design changes for your team.

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Bekasi, Indonesia
+62 21 8066 9600
office@acala.co.id
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