Development of Measurement Systems and Modelling of Operational Processes in Mining and Related Facilities (REMEASURE)

Development of Measurement Systems and Modelling of Operational Processes in Mining and Related Facilities (REMEASURE)

https://www.croris.hr/projekti/projekt/16383

Funding source: European Union (NextGenerationEU)

Duration: 1. 10. 2025. – 30.9.2029

Project Leader: Assoc. Prof.  Tomislav Korman, PhD

Budget: 86.397,72 EUR

Call for project proposals: Poziv za financiranje institucionalnih istraživačkih projekata financiran iz izvora 581 – Mehanizam za oporavak i otpornost (2025.) / Call for Funding of Institutional Research Projects Funded from Source 581 – Recovery and Resilience Facility (2025)

Project summary

The REMEASURE project is focused on the development and application of advanced measurement systems and numerical modelling of key operational processes in mining and related facilities. The aim is to increase energy efficiency, safety, and long-term sustainability through interdisciplinary research in the fields of ventilation, transport, raw material extraction, and radioactive waste management. Field and laboratory research will be conducted at the underground research laboratory St. Barbara Mine, as well as at surface mines and laboratories of the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering. The project comprises several work packages, including the measurement and prediction of radon concentration, analysis of thermo-hydro-mechanical changes in radioactive waste disposal systems, optimization of ventilation systems, modelling of the behaviour of granular materials, and investigation of the tribology of cutting picks of chain cutters used in the exploitation of carbonate rocks. The project’s innovativeness is reflected in the development of integrated measurement systems, the combination of experimental and numerical methods, and the linkage of scientific knowledge with practical solutions for industry. The results will contribute to the development of smart management of mining facilities, optimization of cutting tools and processes, reduction of costs and emissions, and strengthening of scientific excellence through publications and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Project Goals:

The primary objective of the project is the development and application of advanced measurement systems and the numerical modelling of key operational processes in mining and related facilities.

With regard to the types of facilities, the project is divided into work packages within which research is conducted on operational processes in underground mines and similar facilities (PP work packages), whose activities are carried out at the underground research polygon. It is further divided into work packages involving research conducted in surface mines (VS work packages), which are implemented at surface mining sites of mining companies.

The project has the following main objectives:

1. Development and validation of measurement systems for:

• Field measurement of rimpull force and transport route characteristics (VS A)
• Measurement of active radon concentration in mines (heavy-duty conditions) with remote data transmission (PP A)
• Measurement of water pressure/stress, soil temperature, and soil moisture (PP B)
• Monitoring of operational parameters of autonomous mining machines (VS B)

2. Development and validation of numerical models for:

• Behaviour of granular materials using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) (VS C)
• Assessment of wear of chain cutter picks (VS D)
• Interaction between polyester strips and crushed stone aggregate (VS E)
• Numerical analysis of thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes (PP B)
• Assessment and prediction of radon concentration (PP A)

3. Additional objectives:

• Improvement of the underground research polygon through expansion of the sensor network
• Long-term collection and storage of large datasets (big data)
• Publication of at least eight scientific papers (Q1–Q2 WoS/Scopus)

Strengthening interdisciplinarity and research capacities

Team members

Members from faculty:
	Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Korman, PhD – project manager University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris		Assoc. Prof. Želimir Veinović, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris
	Assoc. Prof. Mario Klanfar, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris		Vjekoslav Herceg, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris
	Full Prof. Dalibor Kuhinek, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris		Assoc. Prof. Dubravko Domitrović, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris
	Full Prof. Ivo Galić, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris		Assist. Prof. Karolina Herceg, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris
	Full Prof. Trpimir Kujundžić, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris		Hrvoje Vukošić, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia Croris
External collaborators:
	Full Prof.. Krunoslav Minažek, PhD Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture  Croris

Research Methodology

Dissemination

Conferences

Published papers