As part of the Alliance strategic pillar and our Mission Mine Autonome program, Groupe MISA hosted a major conference bloc titled “On the Road to the Autonomous Mine – A Future That Rocks!” on November 19, 2024, alongside the Québec Mines + Énergie conference organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF), at the Québec City Convention Centre. This space for reflection and exchange brought together researchers, practitioners, tech entrepreneurs, and industry representatives to explore the challenges and opportunities of automation in the mining sector.
In line with its mission as a catalyst for innovation, MISA focused on cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing and open collaboration to help move the vision of a connected, sustainable, and autonomous mine forward.
Professor Hatem Mrad (Ph.D., Eng.) from the School of Engineering at UQAT, in collaboration with Hyperflo, kicked off the discussions with a talk on the stability and reliability of mine ventilation systems. He proposed innovative approaches using digital modelling and simulation tools to improve working conditions and energy efficiency in underground operations.
Julien Pons, a student at Polytechnique Montréal and intern at Sayona, presented emerging solutions to optimize greenhouse gas emissions tracking in the mining sector through blockchain technologies. This forward-thinking approach aims to boost environmental transparency, a key component of both social acceptability and ESG strategies.
In a context where production constraints are evolving rapidly, Professor Michel Gamache from Polytechnique Montréal shared his research on short-term and real-time production planning for underground mines. His work highlights how increased computing power can enable the development of adaptive, intelligent algorithms for more responsive planning aligned with field conditions.
Led by Alain Beauséjour, Executive Director of Groupe MISA, this session offered a strategic perspective on the evolving concept of the autonomous mine. It included a recap of the Mission Mine Autonome, an update on IoT advancements within the group, and emphasized the importance of data valorization as a foundation for next steps. The talk also helped lay out a roadmap of key priorities to accelerate digital transformation in the industry.
The closing session, moderated by François-Alexandre Tremblay (Baseline), in collaboration with Éric Beauchesne (Neuromines) and Guillaume Poudrier (Geothentic), showcased real-world use cases of artificial intelligence in mining operations. From fleet optimization to automated data mapping, the speakers demonstrated that AI is no longer theoretical—it’s actively reshaping mining operations. They also addressed implementation challenges, operational benefits, and the future potential for AI adoption across Québec’s mining landscape.
This event created a constructive forum for dialogue among experts, researchers, developers, and industry leaders, driven by a shared goal: co-developing the solutions of tomorrow. Discussions highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to tackle the technical, environmental, and social challenges involved in the path toward an autonomous mining future.
As part of the Alliance pillar, this conference bloc reaffirms MISA’s commitment to accelerating technological convergence, pooling expertise, and facilitating knowledge transfer within the mining ecosystem.
The 2024 edition of the Mission Mine Autonome conference bloc marks a pivotal moment in the mobilization of Québec’s innovation ecosystem around this essential transformation. Groupe MISA will continue its work to support high-impact projects and realize the vision of a truly autonomous mine.
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