10078412Innovative software for the mining industry that automatically designs optimally shaped slopes in any lithology within a suitably short runtimeClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKOptimalSlope, a UK-based mining SME, is collaborating with SLRConsulting. OptimalSlope has a core project team of Stefano Utili (CEO and professor of geotechnical engineering), Andrea Agosti (mining and geotechnical engineer), Dainius Jenkus (software engineer) and Caleb Arden (software engineer). The goal of achieving net zero by 2050 requires the mining industry to reduce its carbon footprint, which currently accounts for approximately 8% of the global carbon footprint. By implementing more efficient pit walls, the industry could save 200M metric tonnes of CO2-equivalent carbon emissions and $7B per year in direct excavation costs globally. Open-pit mines in the Cornwall and Dorset areas of the UK could benefit from direct cost reductions of tens of millions and rock waste reductions of millions of metric tonnes. To address this challenge, OptimalSlope is developing software that automatically designs optimally shaped slopes in any lithology within a suitably short runtime. OptimalSlope's innovation (Slope Optimiser) can determine the steepest, optimal slope profiles for any given input lithology, as well as visualise and export the output into strategic mine planning software. By using Slope Optimiser, mine owners (paying customers) can increase their mine excavation efficiency, leading to profitability increases of up to 50%. Additionally, Slope Optimiser can help reduce the mine carbon footprint in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 20% on average and decrease the number of rock tailings. Mine designers will benefit from a much more automated design process that requires fewer manual operations. This will result in a safer and more consistent mine design process.