Mining Research Centre (MRC)

About

Mining Engineering at the University of Wollongong (UOW) is a major provider of research outcomes to the Australian minerals industry. Academics are actively engaged in a number of fundamental and applied research projects which are externally funded and industry sponsored in various areas of mining engineering.

Objectives

  • To be an international provider of research outcomes to the minerals industry.
  • To support the mining industry with established expertise in mine safety, ground control, and mine design.

Research projects

  • Mine Safety - in the areas of coal gas migration mechanisms, underground mine dust control, dust suppression technologies, coal mine outburst control and prediction.
  • Mining Geotechnical Engineering and Ground Control – with a focus on strata reinforcement, rock bolting, numerical modelling, and mine subsidence prediction.
  • Computer Applications and Operations Research Methodologies – an active programme of system approach to mine productivity improvements. The work currently being conducted focuses on discrete simulation modelling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and numerical modelling of ground movement.

Industry collaboration

Current research collaborators include Australia Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), BHP Billiton, Glencore and BASF International.