Analysis of Roadway Development Systems and Assessment of Research Requirements

In 1994 it was proposed by the ACARP Mining Systems Task Force, to formulate a detailed strategy and business plan for the future direction of roadway development research and specifically to use a systems approach in this formulation.

This study forms the first stage of this initiate. Its objective is, by the use of a systems approach, to identify key roadway development issues that would form the basis for the formation of a business plan for future roadway development research priority and funding.

The second stage of the initiative would be to develop the business plan with the assistance of key industry personnel and a facilitating consultant.

The thirds stage would be to coordinate the implementation of this business plan under the authority of the Mining Systems Task Force in a role similar to that played by John Hanes for drilling research.

The process used in this study to identify the issues was:

• Identification and documentation of four mine environments that broadly characterise major industry sectors.
• Description of the roadway drivage parameters and current systems at mines within each environment.
• Identification of long term development targets and current systems barriers within each environment
• Identification and description of changes including research issues within each environment that would remove those barriers.