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13/Nov/2024

Opinion piece: Spatial computing and AI – where no man has sustainably gone before

By Johan Potgieter, Cluster Industrial Software Lead at Schneider Electric

13 November 2024,

Some will argue that we now live in a Sci-Fi world where we dream of electric sheep and today’s technology – unlike HAL – can provide us with the answers we seek. To the realist it might seem a bit implausible, but when you start using terms like “spatial computing realises sustainable AI,” it doesn’t seem that farfetched.

To place it into context, there’s no doubt that AI is powering a new future; however, we are also facing a tremendous challenge, how do you meet the growing energy demands of these intelligent systems whilst keeping its environmental impact in check?

Indeed, AI’s hunger for computational power has driven a sharp increase in energy consumption, putting the quest for sustainability at odds with technological advancement. And as demand for AI services continues to grow, so does the strain on our energy resources.

Fortunately, there’s also an answer. Enter spatial computing. a technology that integrates the physical and digital worlds through augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Spatial computing has the potential to optimise AI systems’ energy efficiency by reshaping how its managed, particularly within data centres.

Quenching datacentres’ thirst

Today’s datacentres use three-dimensional spatial mapping which generate highly detailed models of their physical environments. This allows for the precise placement of for example AI hardware, optimising airflow and minimising hotspots, which, in turn, improves cooling efficiency.

Sensors embedded within the data centres can then monitor environmental parameters like temperature and humidity, ensuring that hardware is always placed in the most energy-efficient configuration.

To take it one step further, spatial computing also supports dynamic resource allocation. By balancing electrical loads across different components and preventing overloading, the technology ensures a more even distribution of power.

Furthermore, analysing spatial data helps identify underutilised hardware, enabling data centres to redistribute workloads and reduce unnecessary power consumption.

Spatial computing also allows for targeted cooling, where specific areas (requiring additional cooling) are identified in real-time, reducing the need for energy-intensive blanket strategies. Adaptive cooling systems can also adjust automatically based on current conditions, again ensuring optimal energy use.

Open standards and sustainability

An important part of integrating spatial computing into AI infrastructure is ensuring that solutions are built on open standards, such as the IEC 61499 framework championed by UniversalAutomation.org of which Schneider Electric is a member.

This vendor-agnostic approach allows organisations to break free from proprietary constraints, fostering interoperability and sustainability. By adhering to open standards, organisations can create AI ecosystems that are not only more adaptable and efficient but also better aligned with long-term environmental goals.

Spatial computing at work

Spatial computing can also be integrated with energy management systems to control and optimise power consumption. For example, AI-enabled predictive maintenance can detect potential failures in advance, reducing downtime and preventing energy waste. Additionally, spatial computing facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, by dynamically adjusting AI workloads based on energy availability.

By using spatial intelligence, organisations can therefore reduce the energy footprint of AI while simultaneously enhancing performance. In essence, spatial computing offers the ability to transform AI infrastructure from being energy-intensive to energy-efficient.

Spatial computing also has broad applications that contribute to sustainability across industries:

Agriculture – Spatial computing helps optimise crop yields while minimizing environmental impact. By integrating spatial data with advanced analytics, farmers can monitor soil health, water usage, and crop conditions in real-time, enabling precise application of fertilizers and pesticides.

Urban mobility – in cities, spatial computing platforms promote greener transportation methods. These systems use real-time data to offer insights into traffic patterns, air quality, and safe cycling routes, encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly transportation options

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06/Nov/2024

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05/Nov/2024

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17/Sep/2024

Supporting customers in achieving optimal plant performance is more vital than ever. These concerns are behind FLS’s service focus at Electra Mining Africa this year, where the company is driving sustainable productivity through its solid and growing support and maintenance infrastructure. According to Alistair McKay, Vice President Mining: Europe, Arabia and Africa at FLS, this includes engaging visitors at the event on the value of the company’s innovative digital solutions. melbet

“In addition to our market leading solutions for mining plants, we will be sharing our extensive foundation of expertise, technical services, spares and consumables to support customers,” says McKay. “The show gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how these resources can lower operating costs and drive profitability.”

Key to FLS’s success in doing this is its understanding of exactly how its solutions are performing in customers’ processing facilities. As the original equipment manufacturer, he argues, the company is best placed to partner with mines to optimise performance and to maintain equipment health at the highest level.

FLS quality portfolio

“There is a global shortage of skills to conduct this important work, making it essential that we continue to both replenish and enhance the necessary levels of expertise for our ever-advancing equipment,” he explains. “This is why we invest so heavily in our training facilities and trainers – to upskill not only our own people but those of our customers.”

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17/Sep/2024

Capital equipment like pumps operate only as well as their components and wear parts allow, so it makes little sense to risk this performance by installing a replicated part.

“Mining and other industrial applications rely heavily on continuous operations to reach the productivity levels that make them profitable,” says Marnus Koorts, General Manager Pumps at Weir Minerals Africa. “This productivity is in turn the result of decades of partnership with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Weir Minerals, who provide much of the technological foundation underpinning a mining operation.”

Koorts emphasises that the lifecycle cost of key equipment like pumps is many orders of magnitude higher than its upfront capital cost – as they all need a high standard of maintenance that matches the quality of their initial manufacture. As long as the equipment performs to expectation, it will contribute to the mine’s success.

OEM

“What is often not fully understood, however, is that OEM spare parts are as carefully designed and manufactured as the core equipment itself,” he explains. “As an OEM with over 150 years of field experience, we have deep insights into how our parts perform – and can confidently provide our customers with performance predictions and service intervals.”

These promises that an OEM makes become the basis of its long term partnerships with customers, he says, and allow the mining industry to effectively mitigate operational risk so that mines succeed. By contrast, a replicated part is a reverse-engineered product that tries to look the same as the original, and must simply fit in the appropriate space.

“This is where the similarity with the OEM part ends,” argues Koorts. “The performance and longevity of the replicated part can seldom be guaranteed, and this undermines the principles of risk mitigation and productivity that the mine is trying to achieve.”

Weir Minerals’ original spares form an essential part of the journey that it walks with customers toward sustainability and commercial success, he explains. While the efficiency and robustness of the parts reduce mines’ energy consumption and carbon footprint, the sustainability efforts of Weir Minerals also contribute to improving customers’ Scope 3 emissions.

“Having a parts supplier with a concerted sustainability commitment – including the use of renewable energy in many of our facilities – further assists our customers in reaching their strategic corporate objectives,” he concludes.

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17/Sep/2024

Taking place at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 2-6 September, this year’s Electra Mining Africa was the biggest show in its history with 950 exhibitors occupying over 40,000m² of exhibition space across 6 exhibition halls and 4 outside exhibit areas.

Visitors were able to explore thousands of new products, ground-breaking machinery, latest innovations and world-class technologies, with the many live demonstrations giving them an opportunity to see products and machinery in action during the five days of the exhibition. The show also afforded visitors the opportunity to speak to the technical experts on the stands and compare products and brands. betwinner apk

“We have had excellent feedback from our exhibitors,” says Gary Corin, MD of Specialised Exhibitions, a division of Montgomery Group, and organisers of the show. “Many of our exhibitors have been exhibiting with us consistently for many years whilst others were previous exhibitors who came back this year after a short break or exhibiting at Electra Mining Africa for the first time. Those we have spoken to have met their exhibiting objectives, whether that’s brand awareness or generating sales leads, or both.”

By the end of the show, 39 883 visitors had attended this year’s Electra Mining Africa, which was about 27% higher than the previous show in 2022.

“But it’s not just about the numbers,” explains Corin. “It’s about the quality of the visitors that come through. And it’s been impressive. Visitors were from across the industry sectors represented at the show, looking for the latest products, innovations and technologies relevant to them. And they weren’t disappointed by what they saw. Electra Mining Africa has built its reputation as a platform for trade; the place where buyers and sellers meet to do business, contributing to the stimulation of trade in the industrial, manufacturing and mining sectors of the South African economy.”

The New Products and Innovation Awards competition attracted entries from local and international manufacturers exhibiting at Electra Mining Africa. The winners were announced at an exhibitors function which took place on the Wednesday evening.

Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions says that the the Awards celebrate remarkable ingenuity and outstanding levels of innovation. “The innovation displayed across the show was of a world-class standard and this was also reflected in the entries received for the innovation awards competition. Many of the new products and innovations are likely to be exported into Africa and other parts of the world in the coming months now they have been launched to market at the show.”

On the Thursday morning, the Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Ms. Nemadzinga-Tshabalala visited Electra Mining Africa. The deputy minister said she was visiting the show to see what technology and innovation as well as investment is taking place in the mining industry. She says she was very impressed by what she saw at Electra Mining. “From my walkabout it is clear that Electra Mining is booming and growing.” She adds that she would like to see the relationship between the expo and her department grow stronger. “Government is interested in such partnership.”

Attributes of a successful 2024

Asked what made Electra Mining Africa the success it was this year, Hefer said that it’s all about collaboration. “We have a great team who have worked really hard to ensure the success of the show, but it’s also the collaboration we have with the industry associations, the trade media, our suppliers, and of course, our exhibitors. We launched a brand new exhibitor training programme this year and spent three days training just over 350 of our exhibitors, and we could see the difference at the show, how they have implemented what they learned. From how they approached build-up and the effort they put into their stands, to the way they were interacting with visitors and how they embraced our theme days. It made a real difference. They took their exhibiting to the next level!”

Corin spoke about the collective when it came to the marketing of the show. “To achieve the number of visitors this year, yes, the marketing was good. But not just ours as organisers. It is the collective effort that makes a show successful. The industry has really bought into this and I think that’s what makes the difference. No individual, no one organisation, can put an event like this together on their own. It was the collective effort of all stakeholders that ensured the success of this year’s show.’

Looking ahead to Electra Mining Africa 2026

When asked where Electra Mining Africa goes from here and what it will look like in 2026, Hefer says that the good news is that already a couple of months ago they started planning for 2026. “There are many new initiatives in the pipeline and some areas that we want to improve for the next show. We will engage with our exhibitors, visitors, sponsors, associations and media partners to get their input too. There’s a lot in our planning mix already, but their input is also crucial for us.”

Gary also reflected on what the industry might look like in 2026. “In two years’ time new technologies will be out there, new solutions, and our exhibitors will be showcasing and demonstrating these new innovations and technologies, whatever they will be. Artificial intelligence is having a major impact, even in our business. How we communicate, how people register to attend, tools that help both exhibitors and visitors on site. We don’t even know yet what will be available in 2026. It will be an exciting couple of years as the unknown becomes known,” concludes Corin.

Electra Mining Africa is the largest mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, power and transport trade exhibitions in Southern Africa and one of the largest global mining and industrial shows. It is recognised as a ‘5-in-1 Trade Show’ with its five incorporated shows: Electra Mining Africa, Automation Expo, Elenex Africa, POWERex, and Transport Expo. Local manufacturing also played a prominent role at this year’s Electra Mining Africa, and, for the first time, the Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo was incorporated within the show.

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17/Sep/2024

Latest from Pilot Crushtec International is the Metso HRC™ 8 high pressure grinding roll crusher for producing manufactured sand. In addition, the machine can also be deployed in the mining sector as a pre-grinder to help improve mill efficiency.

The demand for economical and efficient ways to produce crushed sand is growing, as natural sand deposits located near growth centres are being depleted and environmental regulations are becoming stricter. As a result, manufactured sand is becoming a high-demand material. The arrival of the Metso HRC™ 8 ushers in a new era for manufactured sand-makers. 1win

The machine uses a method of inter-particle comminution by drawing in a bed of material between two rotating rollers. The rollers, one of which is in a fixed position and another one floating, generate an extremely high pressure, extruding the feed material down to the desired smaller grain sizes.

Quality upgrade

“The HRC 8 is the ultimate solution to produce excellent quality sand that can substitute natural sand from natural deposits such as rivers. The quality of sand can be adjusted and optimised, thus reducing the amount of cement and asphalt required in concrete mixes or asphalt. The machine produces a gradation according to customer needs and delivers a perfect cubical shape for concrete and asphalt sands,” explains Oldemar Meneses, Product Manager, HRC Technology at Metso.

In addition, the HRC™ 8 can convert quarry waste into sellable product. The machine can reprocess non-sellable waste materials to correct the gradation curve and particle shape, converting them into high-value sellable products. This not only addresses the cost factor, but also speaks to the manufactured sand market’s drive for sustainable operation.

Not only is the machine suited for manufactured sand, but also for pre-milling applications across commodities such as chrome, lithium, gold, and copper, amongst others, says Francois Marais, Sales and Marketing Director at Pilot Crushtec.

“In mining, chrome and lithium will be the perfect applications for the HRC 8. In these commodities, sizing material down to a minus 5 mm size has traditionally been done with impactors. While the capital cost of using impact crushers seems lower, it is outweighed by the extremely high wear costs, especially when processing highly abrasive ores,” says Marais.

Both sand manufacturers and mines will benefit from the HRC™ 8’s increased throughput in a single pass, energy efficiency, reduced ultra fines and reduced operating costs as well as safety and ease of maintenance.

The HRC™ 8 provides a notable increase in production efficiency. The flange design maximises the amount of material that is crushed by pulling the feed into the crushing zone. This method prevents the material passing the rollers and increases efficiency and throughput. The patented arch-frame, on the other hand, eliminates downtime caused by skewing.

The machine uses a combination of high pressure and a unique patented roller design to achieve a fine product with minimal energy input. In fact, the machine consumes up to 50% less power in sand production compared to other technologies for the same volume of net product.

“By reducing energy consumption and increasing wear life of components, the HRC 8 helps lower operational costs. Its efficient grinding mechanism also reduces the need for secondary crushing, further cutting down operational expenses,” concludes Meneses.

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17/Sep/2024

Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards held in August this year, celebrated the great strides that women are making in the sector. In order to further discuss how an enabling environment can be created for gender transformation within the construction sector, the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) hosted a webinar on the 7 October in which winners of the Awards were joined by their male counterparts to discuss what needs to happen within the industry to create an enabling environment for gender transformation.

Nombulelo Monyana, Editor at 3S Media and host for the webinar kicked the session off by stating, “The construction industry has traditionally been a male-dominated industry; however, women are increasingly assuming positions once considered ‘male’ roles, overcoming outdated stereotypes and thriving and succeeding in the construction industry”. 1xbet apk

First to speak was Bongani Dladla, Acting CEO of the cidb who discussed, ‘Supporting the Gender Agenda’. In his opening remarks, Dladla stated that he looked forward to engaging and learning from his fellow panelists. He went on to state: “The cidb has a mandate to both regulate and guide the industry and must be at the forefront of operationalizing government’s 40% set aside for women owned businesses”.

Dr. Julia Nkgomeleng Petla, CEO of Amedzo Trading and Projects discussed ‘Overcoming challenges due to lack of access to projects’ and stated that entrepreneurs needed to be resilient as the path to success is not easy. She added: “Women must embrace the power of collaboration versus competition – as a collective we can embrace greater opportunities.” She went on to question, “How ready are we as women to participate in government’s 40% set aside – do you have the capacity and the resources?” In concluding, she stated that women need to be aware of what government is offering and that more awareness needs to be created.

Lebogang Zulu, CEO of Tshitshirisang Construction and Projects, and multiple award winner discussed ‘The Power of Networking and the impact of Innovation and Technology’. Zulu stated that it is important to be conscious of how we spend our time; the power of the collective and networking; and the importance of collaboration when gearing for opportunities. Zulu says, “We need to capacitate to become relevant by embracing 4IR and all of the technological advancements and embrace the disruptive technologies within our sector”. She concluded by calling on the cidb to take the lead in becoming gender sensitive in relation to procurement policies.

Mark Mfikoe, National Director of ECASA and ERWIC Awards Judge discussed ‘The Critical Role Men play in promoting Gender Diversity’. Mfikoe said: “The single most important element to ensure an enabling environment for women to succeed in the industry is access to market and work opportunities”. He went on to state that the challenge is to change attitudes and perceptions, to challenge the stereotypes embedded in society.

Perseverence Mashale, MEO of Ke Nale Modisa Construction and projects, and award winner discussed, ‘Striving for Success in a Male Dominated Industry’. Mashale stated: “The recognition received from the ERWIC Awards has been a call to commit to work harder and in the process pull other women up with me”.

In a closing, it was agreed that women need to support each other, ‘lift as we rise’ and that empowerment of women in construction cannot happen without the contribution and collaboration of men in the sector. It was also agreed that dialogue and a collaborative approach between government, industry and society collectivism – is critical.

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19/Jun/2024

In South Africa’s dynamic and frequently volatile steel sector, succession planning and the creation of robust synergies are often the exception to the rule, but dynamic structural steel company Cousins Steel International (CSI) demonstrates that these can indeed be successful and enduring.

The company – which adeptly blends its decades-old legacy with modern steel technology and insights – is very proud of its roots and track record, and equally, of its current synergies which energise and drive the business forward.

Strong steel relationships

Cousins Steel CC, a 55-year-old fabrication company located in Pietermaritzburg was started by brothers Lynton and Craig Cousins. Highly experienced structural steel fabricators, and well- connected, savvy businesspeople, the brothers grew their business into a respected large-scale fabrication facility with a sound reputation.

Meanwhile in Durban, professional engineer Mike Oldfield had opened his own business on the Berea, specialising in residential, commercial and industrial projects – and building his own very successful civil and structural engineering practice, completing many successful projects.

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19/Jun/2024

Processing and transporting coal happens in harsh operating conditions. This is largely due to the presence of fine coal particles, called duff, and their corrosive impact on mechanical parts.

This means that it’s essential to use lubricants designed to repel duff and dirt to protect equipment at all stages across the coal-handling ecosystem. Gavin Ford, National Marketing Manager at Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa says that coal industry operators should take a two-pronged approach by using high-quality lubricants, applied in the right quantities and at the necessary intervals, in conjunction with key maintenance techniques.

“Along with fine particles, heavy loads, shocks and jars are typical of coal operations and lubricants designed to withstand these conditions are essential to ensure maximum efficiency; but these do need to be paired with making sure that key components are cleaned well before a lubricant is applied,” says Ford.

As duff is by nature extremely fine and pervasive, managing contamination in components like gear teeth surfaces, fill pipes, grease fittings and plugs need to get special attention in coal-processing environments. Correct storage of lubrication supplies is also important, so that foreign matter is not re-introduced when lubricants are applied.

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