Underground Mining Technology & Safety Advisory · Brisbane, Australia

ZERO
HARM
MINING

Zero Compromise. Zero Harm.

Strategic consulting for underground mine technology, safety systems, and automation — led by 30+ years of hands-on experience at the world's most demanding operations.

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30+
Years Underground Mining
6
Countries of Operation
#1
World's First Automated UG Truck System
4
Global Mining Majors
About

The Consultant Who's Been There

ZeroHarm Mining Technology Advisory Pty Ltd was founded by Daniel Burger — a mining engineer who has spent over three decades not just advising on underground technology, but implementing it at the world's most complex and high-stakes operations.

From leading Rio Tinto's global underground technology strategy across assets in the USA, Mongolia, and beyond, to delivering the world's first fully automated driverless underground truck system at De Beers Finsch Mine, Daniel brings a depth of operational credibility that no generalist consultancy can match.

He has worked across Australia, South Africa, Chile, Canada, Finland, and Mongolia with organisations including Rio Tinto, Anglo American, De Beers Group, and Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology — always with one overriding goal: protecting people from harm while making mines more productive and future-ready.

Mission
"People should not die in underground mines. Technology is how we make that happen."
Career
Daniel Burger underground at Rio Tinto
Daniel Burger
Founder & Principal Consultant
2019–2026
Chief Advisor — Underground Technology
Rio Tinto Services Ltd · Centre of Excellence
2017–2019
Principal — Underground Excavation
Anglo American Operations Ltd
2015–2017
Senior Mining Manager Systems
De Beers Group · Venetia Underground Project
2012–2014
Vice President — Offering Development
Sandvik Mining · Product Area Drilling
2002–2009
Mining Systems Manager & Senior Advisor
De Beers Consolidated Mines · Finsch Mine
AusIMM
Member · Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy
BTech Mining Engineering · University of Johannesburg
Services

What ZeroHarm Delivers

Every engagement draws on real-world implementation experience — not just theory. Daniel has designed, procured, and commissioned the systems he now advises on.

01
Underground Technology Roadmaps

Long-range strategic planning for underground mine technology — automation sequences, BEV transition timelines, digital system architectures, and vendor partnership frameworks. Built to survive capital cycles and operational reality.

Strategy Roadmapping Technology Selection
02
Safety System Design & Procurement

End-to-end specification, evaluation, and procurement of Collision Avoidance Systems, fatigue and heat stress monitoring, diesel particulate management, and proximity detection — with direct experience implementing these across Kennecott UG and Oyu Tolgoi.

CAS Proximity Detection Zero Fatality
03
Mine Automation & BEV Strategy

Strategy and implementation support for autonomous loading and hauling, battery electric vehicle transitions, and remote operations centres. Covers equipment selection, staged rollout plans, OEM negotiations, and operational readiness frameworks.

BEV Automation Driverless
04
Operational Readiness Planning

Structured transition planning for new underground operations moving from development to production — defining technology systems, training frameworks, competence models, and vendor integration strategies before first ore.

Ramp-Up Training Systems Integration
05
Technology Partner Selection

Independent, vendor-neutral assessment and selection of mining technology providers — drawing on direct relationships built over 30 years with OEMs, automation specialists, research organisations, and industry bodies across 6 countries.

OEM Relations Procurement Due Diligence
06
Block Cave & Mass Mining Advisory

Specialist advisory for block caving, sublevel caving, and large-scale underground mass mining operations — covering cave management systems, draw control integration, and automation of ore extraction. Backed by Oyu Tolgoi, Venetia, and Finsch experience.

Block Cave Draw Control Cave Management
Track Record

Proven at World Scale

Daniel's career is defined not by reports delivered, but by systems built and running — underground, at depth, in some of the most demanding environments on earth. These are not case studies. They are lived achievements.

Sandvik mining truck at Finsch Mine
2005 · De Beers · Finsch Mine, South Africa
World's First Fully Automated Underground Truck Hauling System

Project managed the design, installation, and commissioning of the world's first driverless underground truck hauling system — integrated with cave management and mine planning systems.

▶ Watch 2005 Project Implementation ▶ Finsch Mine SABC News - 16 Feb 2006
Venetia Underground Mine, South Africa
2015–2017 · De Beers · Venetia Underground, South Africa
Venetia Underground Technology Roadmap & Training Centre

Developed the complete UG mining and equipment technology strategy for the Venetia Underground Project. Designed and delivered the Underground Mining Competence Training Centre blueprint for open pit to underground transition.

▶ Exploring Venetia's Autonomous Mining Style ▶ Venetia Underground Project Milestones
Daniel Burger at Los Bronces Underground, Anglo American Chile
2017–2019 · Anglo American · Technical & Sustainability
Underground Technology Strategy Across South Africa, Chile & Zimbabwe

Secured Technical Board funding and led implementation of 500 Epiroc electro-hydraulic rockdrills at Amandelbult. Developed the Los Bronces UG Technology roadmap through innovative supplier and technology partnerships, rolled out narrow reef safety systems to reduce injuries and fatalities, and deployed simulation-based technology assessments with Simulation Engineering Technologies.

Oyu Tolgoi underground operations — Rio Tinto
2019–2024 · Rio Tinto · Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia
Collision Avoidance, Automation & Electrification at Oyu Tolgoi Block Cave

Deploying Normet SmartDrive utility vehicles and Sandvik Loader and Truck at Oyu Tolgoi Block Cave — with integrated Collision Avoidance, Automation & Electrification. Supported OT operational readiness with technology procurement and implementation.

▶ Watch Project Video
Sandvik TH550B underground truck at Kennecott
2019–2024 · Rio Tinto · Kennecott, USA
Battery Electric Vehicle Demonstrators & Mobile Equipment Strategy

Led BEV technology demonstrators and Collision Avoidance Proof of Concept trials at Kennecott Underground. Supported and guided the BEV Fleet roll out with Sandvik loaders and trucks, and implementation of L9 Collision Avoidance with PBE, Nerospec and Geomoby for location tracking.

▶ Collision Avoidance Project 2020 to 2025
Rio Tinto Group Technology Roadmap digital systems
2019–2026 · Rio Tinto · Group Technical Centre of Excellence
Group Underground Technology Roadmap to 2030

Developed Rio Tinto's Group Underground Technology Roadmap to 2030 — enabling sites to proof test and deploy technologies including cognitive heat exposure monitoring, shaft scanning, and AI-driven tyre and DPM monitoring. Delivered the Group Mobile Equipment Strategy to reduce diesel particulate exposure, automate loaders and drills, and transition full underground mining fleets to battery electric vehicles.

Organisations Worked With
Rio Tinto
Anglo American
De Beers Group
Sandvik Mining
AusIMM
SAIMM
University of Queensland
"People should not die in underground mines.
Technology is how we make that happen."
— Daniel Burger · Founder, ZeroHarm Mining Technology Advisory
ZERO
Get in Touch

Let's Talk Underground

If your operation is facing a technology decision — a safety system procurement, an automation strategy, a BEV transition, or a new underground project — bring in someone who has done it before.

ZeroHarm Mining Technology Advisory Pty Ltd offers engagements from focused advisory sessions to full project support. Every conversation is confidential.

📧
Email
sales@zeroharm-advisory.com.au
📞
Phone
+61 414 052 235
📍
Location
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia