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)

141 - 153 of 153 works

2004

Journal Article

Benchmarking system for evaluating management practices in the construction industry

Ramirez, Ricardo R., Alarcón, Luis Fernando C. and Knights, Peter (2004). Benchmarking system for evaluating management practices in the construction industry. Journal of Management in Engineering, 20 (3), 110-117. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(2004)20:3(110)

Benchmarking system for evaluating management practices in the construction industry

2004

Journal Article

A model for optimal armature maintenance in electric haul truck wheel motors: A case study

Lhorente, Benjamin, Lugtigheid, Diederik, Knights, Peter F. and Santana, Alejandro (2004). A model for optimal armature maintenance in electric haul truck wheel motors: A case study. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 84 (2), 209-218. doi: 10.1016/j.ress.2003.10.016

A model for optimal armature maintenance in electric haul truck wheel motors: A case study

2001

Journal Article

Statistical Correlation of Off-Highway Tire Failures with Openpit Haulage Routes

Knights, P. F. and Boerner, A. L. (2001). Statistical Correlation of Off-Highway Tire Failures with Openpit Haulage Routes. Mining Engineering, 53 (8), 51-56.

Statistical Correlation of Off-Highway Tire Failures with Openpit Haulage Routes

2001

Journal Article

Labor productivity and comparative advantage in mining: The copper industry in Chile

Garcia, Patricio, Knights, Peter F. and Tilton, John E. (2001). Labor productivity and comparative advantage in mining: The copper industry in Chile. Resources Policy, 27 (2), 97-105. doi: 10.1016/S0301-4207(01)00010-1

Labor productivity and comparative advantage in mining: The copper industry in Chile

2001

Journal Article

Guest editorial

Knights, P. F. and Daneshmend, L. K. (2001). Guest editorial. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 7 (4), 239-240.

Guest editorial

2001

Journal Article

Rethinking pareto analysis: Maintenance applications of logarithmic scatterplots

Knights, Peter F. (2001). Rethinking pareto analysis: Maintenance applications of logarithmic scatterplots. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 7 (4), 252-263. doi: 10.1108/13552510110407041

Rethinking pareto analysis: Maintenance applications of logarithmic scatterplots

2000

Journal Article

Open systems standards for computing in the mining industry

Knights, P. F. and Daneshmend, L. K. (2000). Open systems standards for computing in the mining industry. CIM Bulletin, 93 (1042), 89-92.

Open systems standards for computing in the mining industry

2000

Journal Article

Pareto analysis and condition-based maintenance of underground mining equipment

Hall, R. A., Knights, P. F. and Daneshmend, L. K. (2000). Pareto analysis and condition-based maintenance of underground mining equipment. Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. Transactions. Section A: Mining Technology, 109 (JAN/APRIL)

Pareto analysis and condition-based maintenance of underground mining equipment

2000

Journal Article

Measuring labor productivity in mining

Garcia, Patricio, Knights, Peter F. and Tilton, John E. (2000). Measuring labor productivity in mining. Minerals and Energy - Raw Materials Report, 15 (1), 31-39. doi: 10.1080/14041040009362549

Measuring labor productivity in mining

1999

Journal Article

Applications of discrete mine simulation modeling in South America

Knights, Peter F. and Bonates, Eduardo J.L. (1999). Applications of discrete mine simulation modeling in South America. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 13 (2), 69-72.

Applications of discrete mine simulation modeling in South America

1998

Journal Article

Simulation of queuing time losses in automated underground haulage systems

Knights, Peter F. and Muñoz, Juan-Carlos (1998). Simulation of queuing time losses in automated underground haulage systems. Mineral Resources Engineering, 7 (3), 203-210. doi: 10.1142/S0950609898000213

Simulation of queuing time losses in automated underground haulage systems

1996

Journal Article

Drawpoint control using radio frequency identification systems

Knights, P. F., Henderson, E. and Daneshmend, L. K. (1996). Drawpoint control using radio frequency identification systems. CIM Bulletin, 89 (1003), 53-58.

Drawpoint control using radio frequency identification systems

1990

Conference Publication

Dragline productivity improvements through short-term monitoring

Knights, P. F. and Shanks, D. H. (1990). Dragline productivity improvements through short-term monitoring. Publ by IE Aust.

Dragline productivity improvements through short-term monitoring

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

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