1. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
A Human Factors Perspective on
Open Pit Haul Truck Traffic
Mine Traffic Optimization Project
Patrick Stahl

2. 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

3. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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

4. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
2. The Truck Cockpit: Steering Controls
Komatsu Cockpit (930E) Caterpillar Cockpit (785B)

5. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
2. The Truck Cockpit: Dispatch Displays
Goldstrike Dispatch
Display (Komatsu 930E)
Bald Mountain Dispatch
Display (Caterpillar 785B)

6. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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

7. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
4. Challenges for Vehicle Control
 Physical dimensions of
equipment
 Very limited view
 Exact positioning needed
 Extreme and rapidly
changing environmental
conditions

8. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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

9. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
6. Operator Perspective: Demographics
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
<1 1-2 2-3 3-5 5-7 7-10 10-15 15-20 >20
NumberofDrivers
Years of Employment at Goldstrike
14
139
Gender
female
male
Individual differences will influence
driver attitudes towards technology

10. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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

11. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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

12. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
7. Prospects for Research
Human-Automation Collaboration
 Automation Reliance
Operator Distraction (and Mitigation)
 Attention Allocation
Operator Fatigue (and Mitigation)

13. Cognitive Engineering Laboratory
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