PastSuccess came from better information Only experts had access Protect information
NowInformation is abundant, ability to process is bottle neck!Diversity and breadth of ideas winsOpen Information up to extract value
What’s changed?
Less credible, not experts
Collective insightsRisky, Unknown
Immediate feedback loop
Difficult to collaborate
Technology enabled
Mining was leading the way
In 2000, GoldCorp opened up all geological data
$575,000 CAD won by Fractal Graphics in West
Perth
Over 110 targets ($6bn) identified, 50% unknown
GoldCorp now top 5 gold producer
Ore-X Challenge with GoldFields
Automatically classify underground rock face into high, medium, low grade and waste
$10,000 for 1st Prize, one month
Ore-X Results
Algorithm with 80% accuracy in secondsRemoves subjective bias270 ParticipantsWinner: Brian Lynch, CanadaPayback in less than two month
Phase-X Challenge with BHP Billiton
Create the best algorithm for open pit mining phases based on block model dataOpen and hidden data sets$50,000 prize money & $10,000 travel prizeSix month competitionSupport forum and webinar sessions
Inputs and Constraints
Maximum mining rate
Process plant capacity
Annual discount rate
Benchmark NPV
Maximum Slope Angle
Phase Design Constraints
1 1 11
1111
1 22
2 1 1 11
1111 1 22
2
x1 2 2
111
11 2 22
1
x
Participation across the globe
284 Sign Ups53 Cities from 6 ContinentsParticipants from ETH Zurich, University of Southampton, University of KU Leuven, Colorado School of Mines and many more
And the first prize goes to …
Alan Bye, VP Technology BHP Billiton & Thomas Li
Thomas LiPhD in Applied MathematicsAustralian National University Canberra“Optimising open pit mining phases using multi grid search”$35,000 for winning algorithm
When do online challenges work?
Data driven challenges
When you know what you are looking for, and want the best
When you want to connect with talent globally