1114 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
shared. The importance of standardization within an indus-
try, especially considering much of the work with interop-
erability by partners involved has been internal so far, was
lifted as a key point. Collaboration and engagement were
also mentioned again key enablers from previous experi-
ence as well, reinforcing the importance of collaboration
for improving inter-company connectivity. Connected to
data management, the importance of clear data sources
and types from the beginning of a project was lifted from
previous experiences, along with stability in the systems to
ensure continuous data sharing.
Implications for DEQ Project
The results indicate that a decent level of data interoperabil-
ity has been reached for environmental assessment. Further
challenges appear in the integration level which is in line
with previous literature, indicating this is the most complex
level of data interoperability. As differences in interoper-
ability understanding could be linked to different use cases,
it is possible that further challenges will arise in this level as
more use cases emerge in the final stages of the project. In
keeping with the main findings, collaboration is indicated
to overcome this along with establishing clear expectations
on the final goals.
Work is recommended in the project for improving
data management practices, as well as working towards
more standardization that can be applicable to the rest of
the industry in the future. This can help avoid the need for
translation of data in the future and is in line with general
observations from the literature. The results indicate there
can still be advantages gained from digitizing and address-
ing data gaps which are recommended to be explored to
gain extra benefits from the digitalization transitions. Lastly,
consideration of the verification of data interoperability is
encouraged to be investigated moving forward.
Limitations
This study was designed as an exploratory study and so vali-
dation of the categories and themes identified cannot be
conducted at this stage. Based on the results, further con-
firmatory studies are suggested to establish if the challenges
and enablers discussed can be generalized to the broader
extraction industry. Further, the researchers are part of the
project which can bring benefits from a more in-depth
understanding of the work conducted, but can also have
brought in bias during the data analysis. The study sample
was limited to six participants, representing 29% of the
involved partners, however, not all these partners are pro-
viding or consuming data relevant for the environmental
assessment. Nonetheless, further interviews to identify if
data saturation has occurred would increase the reliability
of the results. To improve the validity of the study, similar
data collection is encouraged in similar projects to gain fur-
ther insights.
There are some issues lifted in the literature that were
not addressed in the study that can be important to con-
sider. This includes, but is not limited to, issues with ad hoc
implementation (Smith &Sepasgozar, 2022), and chal-
lenges concerning governance related to semantic interop-
erability (Morales &Orrell, 2018). More general challenges
for Industry 4.0 were also noted, specifically addressing the
cost and effort to produce data resulting in more data out-
put and leading to the need for more advanced data man-
agement practices that should be considered (Owolabi et
al., 2024).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXTRACTION
INDUSTRIES
The results of this study lead to several avenues where fur-
ther research can be conducted to validate the challenges
and enablers discussed, however, some initial suggestions
can be made for similar projects in the future aimed at real-
izing Industry 4.0 benefits for environmental assessment.
These recommendations include advocating for the early
involvement of internal IT experts. As this could be a bar-
rier for SMEs, early work in identifying feasible access for
SMEs to IT competence is suggested. Formal training is
identified as a strategic avenue to enhance the industry’s
use of tools associated with Industry 4.0. Collaboration is
acknowledged as pivotal, with a call for the allocation of
adequate human resources to this end. Despite strides in
digitization, there are still data gaps seen which can arise
from a need to convert data into digital formats, or for
improved data collection at sites. The use of the platform
interoperability framework emerges as valuable for identify-
ing necessary levels of, and issues with, data interoperability
in inter-company scenarios with multiple use cases for data.
However, clarity between interoperability and integration
is still recommended from these initial results. The impor-
tance of standardization is emphasized, and advocating for
the establishment of common data structures and defini-
tions for improved data management early in the process
to avoid translation work later is encouraged. Furthermore,
considerations surrounding concerns about confidentiality
and governance are urged when advancing towards higher
levels of interoperability.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge all the partici-
pants who gave their time for the interviews, along with
shared. The importance of standardization within an indus-
try, especially considering much of the work with interop-
erability by partners involved has been internal so far, was
lifted as a key point. Collaboration and engagement were
also mentioned again key enablers from previous experi-
ence as well, reinforcing the importance of collaboration
for improving inter-company connectivity. Connected to
data management, the importance of clear data sources
and types from the beginning of a project was lifted from
previous experiences, along with stability in the systems to
ensure continuous data sharing.
Implications for DEQ Project
The results indicate that a decent level of data interoperabil-
ity has been reached for environmental assessment. Further
challenges appear in the integration level which is in line
with previous literature, indicating this is the most complex
level of data interoperability. As differences in interoper-
ability understanding could be linked to different use cases,
it is possible that further challenges will arise in this level as
more use cases emerge in the final stages of the project. In
keeping with the main findings, collaboration is indicated
to overcome this along with establishing clear expectations
on the final goals.
Work is recommended in the project for improving
data management practices, as well as working towards
more standardization that can be applicable to the rest of
the industry in the future. This can help avoid the need for
translation of data in the future and is in line with general
observations from the literature. The results indicate there
can still be advantages gained from digitizing and address-
ing data gaps which are recommended to be explored to
gain extra benefits from the digitalization transitions. Lastly,
consideration of the verification of data interoperability is
encouraged to be investigated moving forward.
Limitations
This study was designed as an exploratory study and so vali-
dation of the categories and themes identified cannot be
conducted at this stage. Based on the results, further con-
firmatory studies are suggested to establish if the challenges
and enablers discussed can be generalized to the broader
extraction industry. Further, the researchers are part of the
project which can bring benefits from a more in-depth
understanding of the work conducted, but can also have
brought in bias during the data analysis. The study sample
was limited to six participants, representing 29% of the
involved partners, however, not all these partners are pro-
viding or consuming data relevant for the environmental
assessment. Nonetheless, further interviews to identify if
data saturation has occurred would increase the reliability
of the results. To improve the validity of the study, similar
data collection is encouraged in similar projects to gain fur-
ther insights.
There are some issues lifted in the literature that were
not addressed in the study that can be important to con-
sider. This includes, but is not limited to, issues with ad hoc
implementation (Smith &Sepasgozar, 2022), and chal-
lenges concerning governance related to semantic interop-
erability (Morales &Orrell, 2018). More general challenges
for Industry 4.0 were also noted, specifically addressing the
cost and effort to produce data resulting in more data out-
put and leading to the need for more advanced data man-
agement practices that should be considered (Owolabi et
al., 2024).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXTRACTION
INDUSTRIES
The results of this study lead to several avenues where fur-
ther research can be conducted to validate the challenges
and enablers discussed, however, some initial suggestions
can be made for similar projects in the future aimed at real-
izing Industry 4.0 benefits for environmental assessment.
These recommendations include advocating for the early
involvement of internal IT experts. As this could be a bar-
rier for SMEs, early work in identifying feasible access for
SMEs to IT competence is suggested. Formal training is
identified as a strategic avenue to enhance the industry’s
use of tools associated with Industry 4.0. Collaboration is
acknowledged as pivotal, with a call for the allocation of
adequate human resources to this end. Despite strides in
digitization, there are still data gaps seen which can arise
from a need to convert data into digital formats, or for
improved data collection at sites. The use of the platform
interoperability framework emerges as valuable for identify-
ing necessary levels of, and issues with, data interoperability
in inter-company scenarios with multiple use cases for data.
However, clarity between interoperability and integration
is still recommended from these initial results. The impor-
tance of standardization is emphasized, and advocating for
the establishment of common data structures and defini-
tions for improved data management early in the process
to avoid translation work later is encouraged. Furthermore,
considerations surrounding concerns about confidentiality
and governance are urged when advancing towards higher
levels of interoperability.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge all the partici-
pants who gave their time for the interviews, along with