Professor Peter Knights
Professor

Peter Knights

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53915

Background

Prof Peter Knights’ research interests are in: engineering asset management, mine maintenace and systems engineering applied to mine safety and mine planning.

Professor Knights is Discipline Lead for Mining within the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering..

From 2006-2015 he held the BMA Chair in Mining Enginereing with the University of Queensland. From 1996 to 2004 he was employed as an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Engineering of the Catholic University of Chile, based in Santiago, Chile. He was subsequently named as Associate Professor and Canadian Chair in Mining. Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering for the University of Melbourne, Australia, a Masters degree in Systems Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from McGill University, Canada.

His recent work has focussed on incorporating ESG concerns into early stage mine planning and electrification systems for decarbonising mine haulage. He has a number of publications in prestigious international journals such as the Journal for Quality in Maintenance Engineering and the Journal of Reliability Engineering and System Safety.

Capability areas

  • Asset management and mine maintenance
  • Incorporating ESG into eary styage mine design
  • Systems safety.

Availability

Professor Peter Knights is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, University of Melbourne
  • Masters (Coursework) of Engineering, University of Melbourne
  • Doctor of Philosophy, McGill University

Research impacts

Prof. Knights has an extensive history of research collaboration with industry. In Chile, Prof Knights produced a series of pioneering papers that applied statistical cost modelling to quantify unscheduled/scheduled maintenance ratios for mobile mining equipment. He developed the Jack-knife approach for classifying chronic unplanned maintenance downtime events, now incorporated into GE Wabtec’s APS software which is in regular use by a number of large mining companies. Whilst Program Leader for the Smart Mining Systems group for CRCMining (2005-2014) Prof. Knights led the development of ValueTree software that was later adopted for use by Rio Tinto Iron Ore and is now available as a software product from Concerto Analytics. Prof. Knights also led a team evaluating the use of fully mobile in-pit crushing conveyor systems (FMIPCC) in large surface mines. This includes the development of an integrated Time Usage Model and a novel algorithm for determining ultimate pit limits for metalliferous mines employing FMIPCC systems. More recently, his work has focused on how to incoporate ESG concerns into easrly stage mine planning and safety improvements related to wheel and tyre handling for mining haul trucks, a leading cause of fatalities and accidents in surface mining.

Search Professor Peter Knights’s works on UQ eSpace

153 works between 1990 and 2024
All (153) Journal Article (75) Book Chapter (8) Conference Publication (68) Book (1) Edited Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 153 works

2024

Journal Article

The effect of stope size and cut-off grade on the design and scheduling of an underground mining operation in the presence of a pre-concentration system

Sotoudeh, Farzad, Nehring, Micah, Kizil, Mehmet, Knights, Peter and Mousavi, Amin (2024). The effect of stope size and cut-off grade on the design and scheduling of an underground mining operation in the presence of a pre-concentration system. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2024.2387989

The effect of stope size and cut-off grade on the design and scheduling of an underground mining operation in the presence of a pre-concentration system

2024

Journal Article

A Systems Engineering Approach to Incorporate ESG Risks and Opportunities in Early-Stage Mine Design and Planning

Nehring, Micah and Knights, Peter (2024). A Systems Engineering Approach to Incorporate ESG Risks and Opportunities in Early-Stage Mine Design and Planning. Mining, 4 (3), 546-566. doi: 10.3390/mining4030031

A Systems Engineering Approach to Incorporate ESG Risks and Opportunities in Early-Stage Mine Design and Planning

2024

Journal Article

Analysis of tire/gripper slip forces during the handling of large off-the-road tires

Knights, P.F., Joseph, S., McInnes, L. and Heitzmann, M.T. (2024). Analysis of tire/gripper slip forces during the handling of large off-the-road tires. Journal of Industrial Safety, 1 (1) 100007, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jinse.2024.100007

Analysis of tire/gripper slip forces during the handling of large off-the-road tires

2024

Journal Article

Energy Consumption and Battery Size of Battery Trolley Electric Trucks in Surface Mines

Bao, Haiming, Knights, Peter, Kizil, Mehmet and Nehring, Micah (2024). Energy Consumption and Battery Size of Battery Trolley Electric Trucks in Surface Mines. Energies, 17 (6) 1494, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/en17061494

Energy Consumption and Battery Size of Battery Trolley Electric Trucks in Surface Mines

2024

Journal Article

Developing a digital twin for a laboratory ball mill operation – a step towards mining metaverse

Qu, Juncong, Kizil, Mehmet S., Yahyaei, Mohsen and Knights, Peter F. (2024). Developing a digital twin for a laboratory ball mill operation – a step towards mining metaverse. Mining Technology: Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, 133 (1), 1-14. doi: 10.1177/25726668231222990

Developing a digital twin for a laboratory ball mill operation – a step towards mining metaverse

2024

Journal Article

Productivity estimation of battery trolley mining truck fleets

Bao, Haiming, Knights, Peter, Kizil, Mehmet and Nehring, Micah (2024). Productivity estimation of battery trolley mining truck fleets. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 38 (2), 144-166. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2023.2278013

Productivity estimation of battery trolley mining truck fleets

2023

Journal Article

A new mathematical programming formulation for production scheduling optimisation of sublevel stoping operations in the presence of pre-concentration systems

Sotoudeh, Farzad, Nehring, Micah, Kizil, Mehmet, Knights, Peter and Mousavi, Amin (2023). A new mathematical programming formulation for production scheduling optimisation of sublevel stoping operations in the presence of pre-concentration systems. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 40 (6), 2255-2267. doi: 10.1007/s42461-023-00843-w

A new mathematical programming formulation for production scheduling optimisation of sublevel stoping operations in the presence of pre-concentration systems

2023

Journal Article

Environmental, social, and governance considerations in production scheduling optimisation for sublevel stoping mining operations: a review of relevant works and future directions

Ullah, G. M. Wali, Nehring, Micah, Kizil, Mehmet and Knights, Peter (2023). Environmental, social, and governance considerations in production scheduling optimisation for sublevel stoping mining operations: a review of relevant works and future directions. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 40 (6), 2167-2182. doi: 10.1007/s42461-023-00869-0

Environmental, social, and governance considerations in production scheduling optimisation for sublevel stoping mining operations: a review of relevant works and future directions

2023

Journal Article

Digital twins in the minerals industry – a comprehensive review

Qu, Juncong, Kizil, Mehmet S., Yahyaei, Mohsen and Knights, Peter F. (2023). Digital twins in the minerals industry – a comprehensive review. Mining Technology, 132 (4), 267-289. doi: 10.1080/25726668.2023.2257479

Digital twins in the minerals industry – a comprehensive review

2023

Conference Publication

Road map for incorporating ESG risks and opportunities into the mine planning and design process

Leiva, Orlando, Nehring, Micah, Knights, Peter, Dzakpata, Isaac and Perkins, Bridget (2023). Road map for incorporating ESG risks and opportunities into the mine planning and design process. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26-29 June 2023.

Road map for incorporating ESG risks and opportunities into the mine planning and design process

2023

Conference Publication

A review of low emissions mining systems options for large surface mines

Bao, Haiming, Knights, Peter, Kizil, Mehmet and Nehring, Micah (2023). A review of low emissions mining systems options for large surface mines. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26 - 29 June 2023. South Brisbane, QLD, Australia: ICMS Australasia.

A review of low emissions mining systems options for large surface mines

2023

Journal Article

Economic benefits of load volume scanning of underground mining trucks

Knights, P. and Reuter, M. (2023). Economic benefits of load volume scanning of underground mining trucks. CIM Journal, 14 (3), 185-191. doi: 10.1080/19236026.2023.2186642

Economic benefits of load volume scanning of underground mining trucks

2023

Journal Article

Electrification alternatives for open pit mine haulage

Bao, Haiming, Knights, Peter, Kizil, Mehmet and Nehring, Micah (2023). Electrification alternatives for open pit mine haulage. Mining, 3 (1), 1-25. doi: 10.3390/mining3010001

Electrification alternatives for open pit mine haulage

2022

Journal Article

The effect of carbon tax and optimal slope profiles on profitability and emissions of open pit mines

Agosti, Andrea, Utili, Stefano, Tasker, James, Zhang, Chao, Knights, Peter, Nehring, Micah and Zia, Soab (2022). The effect of carbon tax and optimal slope profiles on profitability and emissions of open pit mines. Mining Technology: Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 132 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/25726668.2022.2122336

The effect of carbon tax and optimal slope profiles on profitability and emissions of open pit mines

2022

Conference Publication

A novel methodology to implement carbon tax and optimal slope profiles into strategic open-pit optimization

Agostia, A., Utilia, S., Taskera, J., Zhanga, C., Knights, P., Nehring, M. and Ziad, S. (2022). A novel methodology to implement carbon tax and optimal slope profiles into strategic open-pit optimization. CIM Convention 2022, Vancouver, Canada, 1-4 May 2022.

A novel methodology to implement carbon tax and optimal slope profiles into strategic open-pit optimization

2022

Journal Article

Applying principal component analysis (PCA) to the selection of forensic analysis methodologies

Booker, Nigel K., Knights, Peter, Gates, J. D. and Clegg, Richard E. (2022). Applying principal component analysis (PCA) to the selection of forensic analysis methodologies. Engineering Failure Analysis, 132 105937, 105937. doi: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2021.105937

Applying principal component analysis (PCA) to the selection of forensic analysis methodologies

2022

Journal Article

Objective selection of forensic analysis methodologies

Booker, Nigel K., Knights, Peter, Gates, Jeffrey D., Clegg, Richard E. and Woodhouse, John (2022). Objective selection of forensic analysis methodologies. Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 22 (1), 241-258. doi: 10.1007/s11668-021-01297-2

Objective selection of forensic analysis methodologies

2021

Conference Publication

Application of use case modelling to achieve safe, efficient mining equipment automation

Tong, W. X., Knights, P., Phillips, T., Kizil, M. and Nehring, M. (2021). Application of use case modelling to achieve safe, efficient mining equipment automation. Fifth International Future Mining Conference 2021, Perth, WA, Australia, 6 - 8 December 2020. Carlton, VIC, Australia: AusIMM.

Application of use case modelling to achieve safe, efficient mining equipment automation

2021

Journal Article

A scale model experimental study for estimating the productivity of bulk push dozer operations in hard rock mining

Rea, Royal, Knights, Peter and Kizil, Mehmet (2021). A scale model experimental study for estimating the productivity of bulk push dozer operations in hard rock mining. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 39 (1), 63-75. doi: 10.1007/s42461-021-00505-9

A scale model experimental study for estimating the productivity of bulk push dozer operations in hard rock mining

2021

Journal Article

A novel cut-off grade method for increasing the sustainability of underground metalliferous mining operations

Sotoudeh, Farzad, Nehring, Micah, Kizil, Mehmet, Knights, Peter and Mousavi, Amin (2021). A novel cut-off grade method for increasing the sustainability of underground metalliferous mining operations. Minerals Engineering, 172 107168, 107168. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107168

A novel cut-off grade method for increasing the sustainability of underground metalliferous mining operations

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Development of machine health indicators RUL algorithms and intervention actions for select Cat793C components
    PT Bukit Teknologi Digital
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment (ARC ITRP administered by the University of Wollongong)
    University of Wollongong
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Research Services to Elaborate a Road Map for the Mine Design 4 ESG Initiative
    Anglo American Technical & Sustainability Services
    Open grant
  • 2022
    Loadscan White Paper
    Loadscan Australia Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting guidelines
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Design, construction and commissioning of a skid-mounted tyre handler testing rig
    Australian Coal Research Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Design optimisation of Cascade Australia's Tyre handler
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Trail of Dragline Chain Innovation, Stage 3: Hoist Chain Site Trial and Cost/Benefit Analysis
    Cast Equipment & Chain Products Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Product innovation project: cascade tyre handler
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2014
    True triaxial cell for advanced testing of porous media
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2014
    CRC Mining ongoing funding
    Cooperative Research Centre for Mining
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Peter Knights is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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