You can assign a tag or label to a payload cycle; this label adds further information to a load cycle and is known as a load group.
For example, the load group value could be a reduced level (RL) value, which is an indication of height or elevation. Materials change at different heights; by knowing how far you have progressed through the overburden, you can then calculate your distance from the ore. Alternatively, if the ore quality changes at a certain RL, you can track what RL each load is taken from to estimate each load's contents.
Generally, loader operators select a load group from the list on their SQS display.
Just like materials and destinations, load groups are automatically pushed from loaders to trucks while they are paired. Therefore, when a truck and loader are paired, the truck always has the same load group as the loader. This includes the No Load Group option. However, truck operators can also manually select a load group from the list on their SQS display.
Further, employees who have access to the Data Editor in iControl can update the load group value for historical load cycles.
The load group can also be included in reports and dashboards.
Example use cases
Rise/Run information
Some customers are paid on a Rise and Run matrix for material movement. Rise and run are usually split into horizontal increments (Run) of 100m and vertical increments (Rise) of 5m. The truck haul cycles are measured by a supervisor or surveyor and the results are entered in a bulk fashion to the loads for the shift.
Some examples of rise and run values are:
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1000/45 (1000 m run, 45 m rise)
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800/30
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1200/35
A supervisor can use the Data Editor in iControl to enter the rise and run information into the load group field after the shift is complete.
Location/Material groups
To give further detail to a customer’s material listing and to be able reconcile a block resource model, they can use the load group field to save very granular detail in their data structure.
Loader operators add location/material groups as they load trucks.
Location geofence by shot number
Shots are typically 10m benches but are mined in 3m flitches.
Each flitch is assigned an RL (altitude), and is then given the subset of materials available, so that material is parented by flitch.
As a model ore body is excavated the material in-situ is not true to the model. Therefore, the material changes but the ore body must be recorded. For this reason the Load Group is the unique ore body name.
In this situation the customer can fully reconcile the model of ore and control the material name to then be used in material tracking, and also make use of the Material Mismatch Rules.
Other load group possibilities
Train/Carriage loading
A unique set of load cycles can be grouped to form one identity.
Time-based units
A shift could be divided into morning, midday, and afternoon splits.
Stockpile management
Further attributes might be added to data info depending on site status. For example, Stockpile A could be "wet" or "dry".