Carlson Surface Mining

Design, Modify, and Simulate Your Surface Mine

Carlson Surface Mining is a comprehensive mine planning and simulation software designed to support surface mining operations from early design through production scheduling. With powerful tools for volume calculations, tonnage reporting, pit design, and 3D visualization, the software enables accurate planning and informed decision-making at every stage of the mining lifecycle.

Built with Carlson Software’s renowned ease of use, Surface Mining allows engineers and planners to inspect mine designs in plan, section, and full 3D view while generating detailed, customizable reports that reflect real-world conditions.

3D Pits and Spoil Design

• Design pits with variable highwall angles and bench parameters
• Construct spoil piles in multiple shapes and configurations
• Incorporate ramps with automatic berms and ditches or use RoadNetwork from Carlson Civil
• Define benches by strata, elevation, width, or depth

Pit, Property, and Spoil Layouts

• Apply multiple pit layout algorithms to model full pits or subdivide reserves into production blocks
• Subdivide pits using property lines to automatically calculate royalties
• Calculate reserves dynamically from drillholes, block models, or stratified geologic models
• Choose between vertical quantities, overall highwall slopes, or bench-specific layback designs
• Store quantities and quality data directly within pits for scheduling
• Generate detailed reports including volume, tonnage, quality, area, and strip ratios
• Classify reserves as measured, indicated, inferred, or hypothetical using Surface Mine Reserves

Haul Truck Cycle Analysis

• Define and analyze fleet productivity
• Incorporate multiple truck types within a single fleet
• Create haul road networks using color-coded 3D polylines representing slope and distance
• Calculate cycle times, overall productivity, or required fleet size
• Simulate haulage operations in 3D movies
• Link haul analysis directly to spoil and dump scheduling

Civil Module for RoadNetwork

• Use Carlson Civil as the foundation for surfaces, sections, profiles, and roads
• Quickly design, edit, and refine haul roads and ramps
• Output updated sections and surfaces with color-coded road features
• Simulate vehicle movement along designed road networks

Scheduling and Timing

• Establish surface mining rates for overburden removal or ore production
• Define equipment calendars for individual units or entire fleets
• Create multiple calendars to evaluate “what-if” production scenarios
• Produce color-coded timing maps
• Report timing by calendar period, tonnage, or volume
• Apply precedence rules to manage timing constraints
• Sequence pits using 3D Pick for short-range scheduling
• Generate 3D surfaces per time period to simulate mine progression
• Link spoil and dump scheduling to pit advancement
• Visualize mine progression through 3D simulations

Dragline Range Diagrams

• Test interactive dragline range diagram configurations
• Quickly update range requirements by modifying strata or pit dimensions
• Analyze dragline height, reach, and digging depth based on design geometry
• Evaluate designs using real geologic sections with Cut and Place tools
• Output final pit sections to 3D surfaces for visualization

Dozer Push and Auxiliary Equipment

• Combine dozer push analysis with cast blasting, spoil flattening, and dragline operations
• Determine optimal equipment types and sequencing strategies
• Process section designs into 3D pits and spoil surfaces
• Visualize surfaces colored or textured by actual geologic outcrops

How it fits into your workflow

Use Carlson Surface Mining to plan, analyze, and simulate every phase of surface mining operations. The software integrates seamlessly with geological modeling, haul analysis, civil design, and scheduling workflows, providing a unified platform for accurate planning and efficient production management.