A Data-driven Framework to Reduce Diesel Spillages in Underground Mines

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study adapted a recently developed open cast mining diesel management tool in the underground mining environment, which used the data information knowledge wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy to make decisions and gain insights to minimize diesel wastage. The remarking results can provide some valuable information for safe and green open cast mining.

1. The section of introduction can be further improved to show the innovation of this study.

2. In figure 2, the information in textbox RCA is incomplete.

3. Figure 5. case study mine’s monthly diesel balances can be changed into Table.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This study adapted a recently developed open cast mining diesel management tool in the underground mining environment, which used the data information knowledge wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy to make decisions and gain insights to minimize diesel wastage. The remarking results can provide some valuable information for safe and green open cast mining.

1. The section of introduction can be further improved to show the innovation of this study.

2. In figure 2, the information in textbox RCA is incomplete.

3. Figure 5. case study mine’s monthly diesel balances can be changed into Table.

Author Response

Reviewer 1 comments	Amendment	Location
The section of introduction can be further improved to show the innovation of this study	Problem statement and objectives have been expanded.	Page 2, Lines 67 – 76
In figure 2, the information in textbox RCA is incomplete.	The figure has been removed. It is explained more clearly now in the new Figure 1.	Page 2, Line 93
Figure 5. case study mine’s monthly diesel balances can be changed into Table	Changed from Figure 5 to Table 1.	Page 8, Line 237

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Studying diesel fuusefulel management decisions to minimize diesel fuel wastage is useful for reducing economic waste in mining. This paper discusses open cast mining diesel man-information knowledge wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy, which has a certain value, and I think it can be modified to accept.

1. There are too many keywords in the paper, and a few should be appropriately removed.

2. The background of Figure 4 should be modified, it is currently affecting the presentation of the data.

3. Table 2 is just a basic description of the structure of the composition, and the authors are kindly asked to consider whether it is necessary to add it.

 

4. line 300-303, The source of these numbers should be explained

Author Response

Reviewer 2 comments	Amendment	Location
There are too many keywords in the paper, and a few should be appropriately removed	Two of the keywords have been removed.	Page 1, Line 22
The background of Figure 4 should be modified, it is currently affecting the presentation of the data	Figure 4 is now Figure 5. Chart background has been changed to white, the legend and axis titles have been bolded and colour changed to black.	Page 7, Line 213
Table 2 is just a basic description of the structure of the composition, and the authors are kindly asked to consider whether it is necessary to add it.	Table has been removed and a brief summary provided in text.	Page 9, Lines 273 – 277
line 300-303, The source of these numbers should be explained	Updated to indicate the origin of the numbers from Table 1.	Page 12, Lines 360 – 361

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article addresses a highly significant issue pertaining to fuel wastage. The subject matter is of great importance and is particularly relevant in the context of responsible resource management.

Suggestions:

The manner of presenting results should be standardized, primarily to enhance clarity for the audience. I have observed various table formats and some charts that may appear unclear. I believe that a slight effort in harmonizing the format for presenting results can contribute to improving the quality of the material and, above all, its readability.

It would be highly interesting to have a description of how the loss values were measured and to present this information in the form of a case study. This will facilitate better comprehension of the material for individuals who are not professionally involved in mining.

A valuable idea would be to expand upon the section concerning measurement methodology. This should include details about the measurement devices utilized and the data acquisition system. I consider this section to be highly important since the integration of information systems in mines is a highly complex issue, especially when dealing with various types of data.

Author Response

Reviewer 3 comments	Amendment	Location
The manner of presenting results should be standardized, primarily to enhance clarity for the audience. I have observed various table formats and some charts that may appear unclear. I believe that a slight effort in harmonizing the format for presenting results can contribute to improving the quality of the material and, above all, its readability	The dashboard background and font has been changed. The table format was also changed to be more consistent.	Figures 1 & 5 Table 1
A valuable idea would be to expand upon the section concerning measurement methodology. This should include details about the measurement devices utilized and the data acquisition system. I consider this section to be highly important since the integration of information systems in mines is a highly complex issue, especially when dealing with various types of data	Section 3 has been amended to include formulas of how the table is generated. Figures indicating how the two data types are measured and collected are added. The system description has also been amended to provide broader understanding.	Page 7, Lines 224 – 235 Figures 3 & 4. Page 5, Lines 171 – 175 and Lines 181 – 183.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

According to statistics, in many countries, there are catastrophic situations with accidents related to the storage and transportation of oil, petroleum products, oils, fuels, etc. Therefore, in any country, much attention is paid to the problem of monitoring the environmental situation, and technological safety at the place of work.

Therefore, the authors' research is relevant and up-to-date. 

The obtained research results are impressive. The tool uses the data information knowledge wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy to make decisions and gain insights to minimize diesel wastage. The adapted methodology on a case study mine identifies diesel spillages and highlights that power failures due to loadshedding are the biggest contributor to these diesel spillages. A root cause analysis was used to determine why the relevant systems fail, followed by the identification of practical solutions to eliminate up to 200 ML of diesel spillages, and allow the mine to 17 adapt to the new power failure normal. With this methodology, the mine stands to save more than 18 US$175 000 per annum.

Diesel usage in underground mines has increased over the years, however the management thereof has not received the required attention. Ample literature is available on the underground mining environment; however, no studies have focused primarily on diesel usage and wastage management. The DIKW hierarchy method was adapted for use in this study to identify diesel wastages at a case study mine and assist management with more effective decision-making. This study further expanded the DIKW hierarchy to include RCA, resulting in a new method, DIKW-RCA.

Introduction, literature analysis, keywords, abstract correspond to the research topic

The research methodology is consistent with other authors.

Graphic and tabular material is made with high-quality

There are no furhter comments.

Accept for publication.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that storing diesel fuel underground is not so difficult in principle.

 

Author Response

Reviewer 4 comments	Amendment	Location
In conclusion, it is worth noting that storing diesel fuel underground is not so difficult in principle.	Now also mentioned in the Conclusion section.	Page 12, Lines 369 – 370