To ensure safety and reliability of Anglo American’s Barro Alto Nickel mining operations in Brazil, Anglo initiated a project to digitalize geotechnical risk management processes. Traditional manual methods and disconnected software proved unreliable and error prone. Anglo needed an integrated technology solution to combine geochemical, geological-structural, and geotechnical data into a dynamic 3D model bringing agility, reliability, and collaboration to their workflow, and minimizing risk of geotechnical failures that could damage the environment and jeopardize lives.

Anglo selected Leapfrog to create dynamic 3D models and a digital twin, and Seequent Central and Bentley ProjectWise to ensure that all stakeholders have seamless access to the models. The applications reduced model update time by 75% and centralized document and data management. The collaborative digital workflows and digital twin provide real-time, accurate data and insight into the geotechnical conditions of the mine. Anglo’s new digital methodology can be replicated across their global mining operations, representing a significant step forward in risk management, operational safety, and technical data governance.