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)

41 - 60 of 153 works

2018

Journal Article

Potential of on-board energy recovery systems to reduce the costs of diesel–electric mine truck haulage

Terblanche, Petrus J., Kearney, Michael P. and Knights, Peter F. (2018). Potential of on-board energy recovery systems to reduce the costs of diesel–electric mine truck haulage. Mining Technology: Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 127 (4), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/25726668.2018.1451611

Potential of on-board energy recovery systems to reduce the costs of diesel–electric mine truck haulage

2018

Journal Article

A comparison of strategic mine planning approaches for in-pit crushing and conveying, and truck/shovel systems

Nehring, M., Knights, P. F., Kizil, M. S. and Hay, E. (2018). A comparison of strategic mine planning approaches for in-pit crushing and conveying, and truck/shovel systems. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 28 (2), 205-214. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2017.12.026

A comparison of strategic mine planning approaches for in-pit crushing and conveying, and truck/shovel systems

2018

Book Chapter

Energy-efficient loading and hauling operations

Soofastaei, Ali, Karimpour, Elnaz, Knights, Peter and Kizil, Mehmet (2018). Energy-efficient loading and hauling operations. Energy Efficiency in the Minerals Industry: Best Practices and Research Directions. (pp. 121-146) edited by Kwame Awuah-Offei. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-54199-0_7

Energy-efficient loading and hauling operations

2018

Book Chapter

Application of advanced data analytics to improve haul trucks energy efficiency in surface mines

Soofastaei, Ali, Knights, Peter and Kizil, Mehmet (2018). Application of advanced data analytics to improve haul trucks energy efficiency in surface mines. Extracting innovations: mining, energy, and technological change in the digital age. (pp. 163-179) edited by Martin J. Clifford, Robert K. Perrons, Saleem H. Ali and Tim A. Grice. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.

Application of advanced data analytics to improve haul trucks energy efficiency in surface mines

2018

Book Chapter

Technology selection and sizing of on-board energy recovery system to reduce fuel consumption of diesel-electric mine haul trucks

Terblanche, Petrus J., Kearney, Michael P., Hearn, Clay S. and Knights, Peter F. (2018). Technology selection and sizing of on-board energy recovery system to reduce fuel consumption of diesel-electric mine haul trucks. Energy efficiency in the minerals industry: best practices and research directions. (pp. 301-333) edited by Kwame Awuah-Offei. Cham, Switzerland: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-54199-0_17

Technology selection and sizing of on-board energy recovery system to reduce fuel consumption of diesel-electric mine haul trucks

2017

Journal Article

Making data analytics work in mining

Knights, Peter (2017). Making data analytics work in mining. The AusIMM Bulletin.

Making data analytics work in mining

2017

Journal Article

Dozers the answer to IPCC Woes

Knights, Peter (2017). Dozers the answer to IPCC Woes. Mining Magazine.

Dozers the answer to IPCC Woes

2017

Journal Article

The equipment utilisation versus mining rate trade-off in open pit mining

Arteaga, Felipe, Nehring, Micah and Knights, Peter (2017). The equipment utilisation versus mining rate trade-off in open pit mining. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 32 (7), 1-24. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2017.1306674

The equipment utilisation versus mining rate trade-off in open pit mining

2017

Journal Article

Value-based optimisation of replacement intervals for critical spare components

Godoy, David R., Knights, Peter and Pascual, Rodrigo (2017). Value-based optimisation of replacement intervals for critical spare components. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 32 (4), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2017.1278660

Value-based optimisation of replacement intervals for critical spare components

2017

Conference Publication

Configuration management for the maintenance of mobile autonomous mining systems

Wilcock, Greg and Knights, Peter (2017). Configuration management for the maintenance of mobile autonomous mining systems. 14th International Congress on Mining Maintenance, Santiago, Chile, 6-8 September, 2017. Chile, South America: Gecamin.

Configuration management for the maintenance of mobile autonomous mining systems

2017

Conference Publication

An approach for the through-life assurance of the technical integrity of impact bag inflators

Wilcock, Greg and Knights, Peter (2017). An approach for the through-life assurance of the technical integrity of impact bag inflators. 25th Enhanced Safety for Vehicles (ESV) Conference, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 5-8 June 2017. Detroit, Michigan, USA: NHTSA.

An approach for the through-life assurance of the technical integrity of impact bag inflators

2017

Conference Publication

Applying configuration management to manage the design and operation of critical mining systems

Wilcock, Greg and Knights, Peter (2017). Applying configuration management to manage the design and operation of critical mining systems. MINE Excellence 2017: 2nd International Seminar on Operational Excellence in Mining, Santiago, Chile, 29-31 March, 2017. Chile, South America: Gecamin.

Applying configuration management to manage the design and operation of critical mining systems

2016

Journal Article

A comprehensive investigation of loading variance influence on fuel consumption and gas emissions in mine haulage operation

Soofastaei, A., Aminossadati, S. M., Kizil, M. S. and Knights, P. (2016). A comprehensive investigation of loading variance influence on fuel consumption and gas emissions in mine haulage operation. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 26 (6), 995-1001. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2016.09.006

A comprehensive investigation of loading variance influence on fuel consumption and gas emissions in mine haulage operation

2016

Journal Article

A discrete-event model to simulate the effect of truck bunching due to payload variance on cycle time, hauled mine materials and fuel consumption

Soofastaei, A., Aminossadati, S. M., Kizil, M. S. and Knights, P. (2016). A discrete-event model to simulate the effect of truck bunching due to payload variance on cycle time, hauled mine materials and fuel consumption. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 26 (5), 745-752. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2016.05.047

A discrete-event model to simulate the effect of truck bunching due to payload variance on cycle time, hauled mine materials and fuel consumption

2016

Conference Publication

Truck and shovel versus in-pit conveyor systems: a comparison of the valuable operating time

Dzakpata, Isaac, Knights, Peter, Kizil, Mehmet Siddik, Nehring, Micah and Aminossadati, Saiied Mostafa (2016). Truck and shovel versus in-pit conveyor systems: a comparison of the valuable operating time. 2016 Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, Australia, 10-12 Feb 2016. Wollongong, Australia: The University of Wollongong Printery.

Truck and shovel versus in-pit conveyor systems: a comparison of the valuable operating time

2016

Conference Publication

Building resilient mining engineering programs

Knights, Peter (2016). Building resilient mining engineering programs. Society of Mining Professors 27th Annual General Meeting, Washington, DC, United States, 21-23 September 2016.

Building resilient mining engineering programs

2016

Conference Publication

Enhancing mining education through the use of virtual reality learning and assessment tools

Harrod, Jovan, Knights, Peter and Kizil, Mehmet S. (2016). Enhancing mining education through the use of virtual reality learning and assessment tools. Virtual Reality and spatial information applications in the mining industry conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, 15-16 July 2015. Johannesburg, South Africa: SAIMM.

Enhancing mining education through the use of virtual reality learning and assessment tools

2016

Conference Publication

Strategies for successful campaign life assurance

Knights, Peter (2016). Strategies for successful campaign life assurance. Mapla-Mantemin Plant Maintenance Conference, Antofagasta, Chile, 7-9 September 2016.

Strategies for successful campaign life assurance

2016

Conference Publication

Reducing fuel consumption of haul trucks in surface mines using artificial intelligence models

Soofastaei, Ali, Aminossadati, Saiied Mostafa, Kizil, Mehmet Siddik and Knights, Peter (2016). Reducing fuel consumption of haul trucks in surface mines using artificial intelligence models. 2016 Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, Australia, 10-12 Feb 2016. Wollongong, Australia: The University of Wollongong Printery.

Reducing fuel consumption of haul trucks in surface mines using artificial intelligence models

2016

Conference Publication

Dynamic life cycles of publicly funded R&D consortia: case analyses from mining and beyond

Pinto, Pablo E., Hine, Damian C., Knights, Peter F. and Nehring, Micah (2016). Dynamic life cycles of publicly funded R&D consortia: case analyses from mining and beyond. Academy of Management Meeting, Anaheim, California, 5 - 9 August 2016. Briarcliff Manor, NY, United States: Academy of Management. doi: 10.5465/AMBPP.2016.14430abstract

Dynamic life cycles of publicly funded R&D consortia: case analyses from mining and beyond

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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