This teaching activity is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of excavation techniques and mining plants. It focuses on selecting appropriate equipment and methods for executing the work. Emphasis is placed on organizing and performing tasks technically soundly and safely. The content is regularly updated to reflect evolving operational conditions, ensuring it remains a dynamic and relevant resource. Numerous examples are included to encourage research and personal reflection. Additionally, the course introduces students to international technical terminology used in the mining sector.

The required skill set encompasses various technical and analytical competencies for executing excavation works across diverse environments, including open-cast, underground, and underwater construction sites. These activities span various geological conditions, such as hard rock, weak rock, and soft ground. Students must develop the ability to estimate key numerical parameters for standard reference cases, apply conceptual understanding of the topics covered, and perform the necessary calculations using appropriate analytical and computational tools. A critical component of these skills involves evaluating and selecting suitable equipment based on site-specific constraints. This includes recognizing and choosing the most appropriate tools, and constructing a coherent and logical sequence of operations tailored to the available resources. Students must also assess and determine the most effective excavation techniques, considering safety, technical feasibility, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the course encourages the development of independent thinking and the capacity for critical analysis. Learners are trained to identify optimal solutions from various possible alternatives by contextualizing technical decisions within real-world constraints. In doing so, they strengthen their problem-solving abilities and potential for lifelong learning in a constantly evolving field.

Chemistry: Fundamental chemical reactions Physics: Principles of electric circuits Materials Science and Technology: Properties of alloys and related materials Applied Geology: Rock classification and their key characteristics Geomechanics: Fundamentals of rock mass and soft ground behavior, including concepts of force, strength, stress, strain, stability analysis, and the selection of appropriate techniques and equipment based on specific site conditions

Course topics General Concepts. Fundamental principles and definitions. Mechanical properties and material behavior. Specific gravity, abrasiveness, and hardness. Excavation site geometry. Organization of work phases. Part I: Rock Excavation by Drilling and Blasting (D&B). Explosives: Chemical and physical properties; explosive reactions; classification and selection criteria. Initiation Systems: Safety fuses; Blasting caps; Electric blasting caps (instantaneous, long-delay, short-delay); Detonating cords; Relays; Nonelectric detonators and trunk line delays; Non-primary explosive detonators (NPEDs) and electronic detonators. Blast Holes: Definition and blasting mechanics. Blasts: Definitions, blasting patterns, powder factor, specific drilling requirements, detonator consumption, cost estimation, firing line and blasting circuit calculations. Open-Cast Blasting: Bench blasting (single-row and multi-row), trench blasting, contour blasting, and mitigating unwanted effects. Special Techniques: Dynamic splitting. Underground Blasting and Tunneling: Charge geometry and initiation sequences, types of cuts, muck pile geometry. Environmental Considerations: Vibration, fly rock, dust, air blasts. Drilling Equipment and Tools: Types of machines, rock drillability, equipment for open-pit and underground applications. Mucking and Transportation: Common systems used in open-cast, underground, and underwater excavations Part II: Mechanical Excavation (Opencast and Underground). General Overview: Equipment types and productivity. Machinery: Description of commonly used machines. Material and Tool Considerations: Rock hardness and toughness, tool materials, service life, consumption. Tool Mechanics: Tool motion types, mechanisms of action, classification. Rock-Tool Interaction: Theoretical models, equipment performance, and selection based on rock type and project requirements. Productivity and Efficiency: Estimation based on specific energy consumption. Dimension Stone Excavation: Cutting techniques including diamond wire saws, chain saws, water jets, and other systems. Part III: Earthmoving Machinery. Cyclic Equipment: Weight, power, productivity, definitions. Hydraulic shovels; Loaders; Backhoes; Dozers; Graders; Scrapers and drag scrapers; Continuous Equipment: Excavation and transportation systems. Dredging Equipment: Cyclic and continuous dredges.

Lectures will be held in the classroom and include theoretical instruction and practical exercises demonstrated by the professor on the blackboard. During the sessions, students are encouraged to actively participate through questions, discussions, and problem-solving activities. To support learning, a tutor will be available to provide additional assistance, clarify concepts, and help with exercises outside of class hours. Furthermore, technical site visits to active construction or excavation projects will be organized to offer students first-hand exposure to real-world applications of the topics covered in the course.

The teaching program comprises approximately 50 hours of classroom lectures and about 25 hours of practical exercises. The practical sessions primarily focus on calculating and evaluating key parameters influencing different excavation techniques. As part of the learning process, students will also engage in group work to analyze and discuss real-world case studies provided by the professor. Additionally, subject to class size and logistical feasibility, technical visits to excavation sites may be organized. These visits, lasting up to one day, are intended to give students practical insight into the operations and technologies discussed during the course.

The course materials are regularly updated and made available to students via the educational portal at the start of the course. These materials include references to many textbooks and suggest additional resources for those seeking deeper insight into specific topics. To remain informed about the latest developments in the field, students are encouraged to consult recent international journals and conference papers recommended or provided by the professor. Lecture slides are designed to be as comprehensive as possible, supporting students in understanding the course's core concepts. Supplementary resources—such as recommended readings, technical data sheets, and summaries from industry manuals—are also accessible through the portal. During tutorial sessions, the professor works through exercises on the board and provides guidance to help students develop problem-solving skills directly in class.

Slides; Dispense; Esercizi;

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto individuale;

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Individual essay;

... The exam is designed to evaluate the extent to which students have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the topics outlined in the official course syllabus. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying the subject matter, as well as proficiency in applying appropriate quantitative solutions to specific problems. Assessment is based on both written and oral components, with the final grade expressed on a 30-point scale. A minimum cumulative score of 18/30 is required to achieve a passing mark. Students are required to produce a clear and technically detailed report documenting the exercises assigned during the course. The report must include all methodological steps taken to derive the solutions, along with scaled technical drawings and schematics that accurately represent the operational context (e.g., construction site typology and corresponding design dimensions). This individual technical report must be submitted at the oral examination and may be awarded up to 3 additional points to the final grade. The written examination, lasting 120 minutes, consists of approximately 5–6 theoretical questions and an equivalent number of calculation-based exercises, addressing the full range of topics covered in the course. The aim is to assess the students' understanding of excavation methods and design procedures, as well as their ability to apply analytical and computational techniques to real-world scenarios. Notebooks, textbooks, or prepared notes are not permitted during the exam. However, students are allowed to use a portable calculator. To qualify for the oral examination, students must achieve a minimum score of 15 out of 30 on the written test, which is assessed on a 30-point scale. The oral examination consists of a discussion and critical review of the results obtained in the written test, along with additional theoretical questions covering topics not addressed in the written section. Students are also expected to demonstrate familiarity with the exercises included in their technical report. The final grade is determined by averaging the written and oral exam scores, with up to 3 additional points awarded for the quality and completeness of the individual report. The exam results are published on the course portal, together with the scheduled date for students who did not pass the written exam to review their work and request clarifications, if needed

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilita o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unita Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione piu idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.