Topic: Machine Learning / Data mining for equipment health monitoring

Introduction: Data mining, sometimes referred to as, Knowledge Discovery in

Databases (KDD) involves the discovery of useful information from a large collection
of data-set [1]. The knowledge discovered in this case could be sets of rules
describing the properties of the data-set, a continuously re-occurring pattern,
attribute or a cluster of objects in the database etc. The database or data-set which
is permanently increasing alongside its numerous attributes is collected and used in
modeling the systems behaviour precisely. As a result of the increasing complexity
of the data-set, data extraction procedure and knowledge discovery methods,
generic techniques and tools for the automated extraction of this valuable
knowledge is desired. Data mining involves the application of mathematical models
to determine, automatically, various patterns existing in a data-set. This process
encompasses several steps [1,2]:
-

Understanding the application domain

Preparing the data set
Discovering patterns
Post processing the revealed patterns and
Putting the results into use.

With the discovery of an existing pattern, future trends can be accurately predicted,
equipment health status can be monitored and system/ machinery failure or
breakdown date can be precisely forecast with little or no errors. This will largely
reduce system downtime, improve productivity and quality control [1,3].
Importance of the research to industry: This project is very important as it
involves the monitoring and identification of the health status of industry
machinery/ systems and early prediction of system failures before eventual system
crash. This project is applicable in the Mining industry amongst other engineering
industries like the oil and gas, construction and manufacturing industries where
automated machineries are employed [3].
Mining in Australia is a very significant industry and a primary contributor to the
Australian economy. The growth recorded in the Australian Mining industry has
encouraged immigration to Australia and has had a great environment impact in
some parts of the country. Therefore to improve and support the growth of this
industry, the health status of the machineries and equipments employed in carrying
out the mining operations need to be maintained at its best peak at all times [4].
My solid foundation in the subject areas concerned with the research work
(Robotics, System reliability and fault diagnosis, Predictive control etc.) avails me
the theoretical knowledge required to embark on this research. In addition to this,
my skill-set (as mentioned in my resume) especially in computer simulation
applications like MATLAB, LabVIEW, MultiSIM amongst others, good interpersonal
communication and an ever-growing passion for research studies motivates my

mind towards the proposed research. Without any iota of doubt on my mind, I know
Rio Tinto Centre for Mine Automation (RTCMA) within the Australian Centre for Field
Robotics at the University of Sydney is the perfect place for me to develop and
validate my proposal and an enabling environment for me to achieve more
academic excellence in research and development.

References:
[1] Andre Bergmann, Data Mining for Manufacturing: Preventive Maintenance,
Failure Prediction, and Quality Control.
[2] T.W. Brotherton and G. Charddedon. Automated rule extraction for engine
health monitoring. In evolutionary programming VII: 7 th International Conference,
EP98. Pages 725-734, 1998.
[3]Zhongdong Duan and Kun Zhang. Data mining technology for structural health
monitoring: Pacific science review, vol. 8, pp. 27-36, 2006.
[4] Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Australia