WVU mining students secure first place at 27th annual Carlson Mining software competition

At the Carlson Software Senior Design competition, students were tasked with designing and implementing an analysis for an unmined mineral project (WVU Photo).

Mining engineering students from the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University have swept the competition yet again, earning first place for the ninth time since 2000 in this year’s 27th annual Carlson Software Senior Design Competition. 

Story by Kaley LaQuea, Communications Specialist
Photos supplied

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

While competition rules and aims have remained constant, the evolving needs of the mining industry continue to produce new and exciting challenges for students to prepare them for real-world industry experience.

Senior mining engineering students Mallak Al Balushi, Camden Renehan, Richard Ferenchak, Miky Alves and Dylan Bennett analyzed a limestone mineral resource. They designed an aggregate quarry in which they developed an understanding of mine regulations and researched practices and region demographics. The team took market demands into consideration as they revised their mine plans over the course of the capstone.

The project, a culmination of two semesters of work, challenged students to design and produce an analysis for extraction of unmined mineral or coal resources. The competition is the final stage in the project.

Faculty advisor and mining engineering teaching assistant professor Amy McBrayer has come full circle, having completed her own capstone project as a mining undergraduate student in 2012.

“I’m proud of this group of students for their success in this year’s competition,” McBrayer said. “Completing my own capstone project helped me to understand the importance of allowing the students some creative license when completing their projects within the bounds of safety and efficiency. The skills I learned in the capstone taught me how to solve a real-world problem without significant design constraints and evaluate multiple solutions. I believe this understanding made me a better mining engineer and allowed me to adapt and excel in a changing industry.”

The competition includes capstone reports from the 13 ABET-accredited mining engineering programs in the US. Industry professionals ranked student projects based on design, risk assessment, market analysis and presentation quality. 

“The class significantly boosted my confidence and equipped me with essential skills for my career,” Al Balushi said. “Leading my team and successfully managing our project were valuable experiences. I learned the importance of hard work and patience in achieving desired results.”

Ferenchak says the capstone’s hands-on experience helped prepare him for his future career. 

“You work on a large project where you don’t get to just find a textbook answer to a textbook problem,” he said. “You actually have to use your best judgment as an engineer, be independent, and be confident in both your ability and your group's ability.”

“Analyzing real-world data and designing a fully functional open-pit surface mine, we gained valuable experience in project management, teamwork, and problem-solving under a multitude of real-world conditions,” Miky Alves said. “The project also highlighted the significance of sustainability and environmental considerations in mining operations, which are upheld to the highest standards throughout the industry.”

Upon graduation, Ferenchak accepted a position as a mine engineer with Cargill and Renehan started a position as a project engineer with a civil engineering firm.

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