Using a digital twin to explore potential failures in tailing storage facilities

Safe management of tailings storage facilities requires a transparent and dynamic process that documents the evolution of the facilities’ performance throughout its lifecycle, with ongoing monitoring, site characterization, and geotechnical analyses.

The digital twin is a data-driven representation of the physical system that documents the changing conditions, along with the rationale underlying adaptive design changes. This presentation demonstrates the value of a digital twin through an illustrative review and re-analyses of a recent tailings dam failure.

Overview