Eramet customer story banner image showing detector in action

Customer stories

Autonomy in analysis: Eramet’s journey with Picterra toward autonomous GeoAI solutions

Industry:

Mining

Business type:

Metal production and processing

Overview

Eramet, a global leader in the mining and metallurgy industry, has been at the forefront of sustainable mineral development and innovation. With a diverse portfolio ranging from manganese and nickel to lithium, Eramet is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of its operations. The company continuously seeks advanced technological solutions to optimize its geospatial data management and analysis as part of this commitment.

Picterra, a pioneering platform in GeoAI analysis, offers cutting-edge AI-powered solutions for various industries, including mining. Its platform empowers professionals to leverage geospatial data without extensive data science expertise, making it ideal for companies like Eramet.

This case study illustrates the transformative impact of Picterra’s platform on Eramet’s operations.

Achievements

Empowered teams with greater autonomy

Picterra’s accessible tools have enabled more users to engage directly with geospatial data, reducing reliance on centralized resources.

One solution for diverse challenges

Picterra provides a flexible platform to handle multiple geospatial needs with seamless integration and rapid deployment.

Faster, more accurate results

Picterra has improved turnaround times and data quality, enabling quicker decisions and more agile responses across operations.
Eramet customer story image

Challenge

One of the key challenges Eramet faced in managing and analyzing geospatial data across its global operations was identifying a solution that could make GeoAI analysis tools accessible and user-friendly for a broader range of users. Eramet’s teams, spread across various regions and disciplines, needed to utilize geospatial data without relying on a centralized, dedicated data science team. This decentralization ensured that geospatial insights could be swiftly integrated into daily operations, from exploration and site rehabilitation to environmental monitoring and geotechnical assessments.

"The main issue for us was autonomy. We needed a solution that our teams could handle without extensive data science expertise. Picterra has met this need by providing a powerful yet user-friendly platform."
Hani Zahiri
GIS Product Manager at Eramet

Solution

Initial engagement and journey with Picterra

During the pilot phase, Eramet worked closely with Picterra to identify and develop relevant use cases. This phase was crucial for understanding the platform’s capabilities and how it could be integrated into Eramet’s existing workflows. The collaboration involved extensive testing and refinement, ensuring that the solutions provided by Picterra could meet the specific needs of different teams within Eramet.

Interoperability and integration

A key aspect of Picterra's implementation was its interoperability with other Eramet platforms. Picterra’s ability to seamlessly integrate with Eramet’s existing GIS systems, such as ESRI ArcGIS, was vital. This integration allowed for a smooth transition and ensured that geospatial data could be efficiently managed and analyzed within Eramet's established technological ecosystem.
Picterra’s API capabilities were particularly beneficial, enabling Eramet to integrate Picterra’s tools into their custom workflows and data pipelines. The interoperability extended to various data sources, including public satellite data and Eramet's high-resolution imagery, making incorporating diverse datasets into their analyses easier.

Learnings and adaptations

Throughout the implementation process, Eramet gained valuable insights into how best to leverage Picterra’s platform. One key learning was the importance of tailored training and support. Picterra provided comprehensive training sessions that equipped Eramet's staff with the necessary skills to utilize the platform effectively. This training focused on understanding AI concepts, handling geospatial data, and optimizing model accuracy.
Another significant learning was Picterra’s platform's adaptability to different user profiles within Eramet. The platform's intuitive interface allowed users with varying technical expertise to engage with geospatial data and develop custom detectors without extensive coding knowledge. This adaptability ensured widespread adoption across Eramet’s teams, from GIS specialists to mining engineers.

Scaling up

After a successful pilot phase, Eramet began scaling up the use of Picterra’s platform. This transition involved expanding the use cases and integrating Picterra into regular and critical operations. Eramet established criteria for scaling up, which included evaluating the platform's impact on project turnaround times, data accuracy, and overall operational efficiency—the positive feedback from initial users and the demonstrated benefits led to broader adoption across the organization.

Results and impact

Picterra’s platform has proven to be a valuable asset across various operational areas, from the initial pilot projects to the scaled-up services.

"Our exploration teams, already stationed in various parts of the world, need accurate and readily available data to understand their environments better and more effectively target their objectives."
Lilian Desmarres
GIS Engineer - Exploration department at Eramet

Our exploration teams, already stationed in various parts of the world, need accurate and readily available data to understand their environments better and more effectively target their objectives.

Lilian Desmarres, GIS Engineer - Exploration department

Benefits

Empowerment and autonomy

Hani Zahiri, GIS Product Manager at Eramet, emphasized how Picterra has enhanced the autonomy of its team members. By providing accessible tools to non-specialists, Picterra has empowered a broader range of users to engage directly with geospatial data and model development. This democratization of access has reduced the reliance on a centralized data science team, fostering greater independence and innovation within Eramet's operations.

One solution for multiple use cases and challenges

Picterra offers a single, flexible platform that empowers Eramet to address a wide range of geospatial needs—from exploration to environmental monitoring—without requiring different tools for each problem. Its seamless integration with existing systems ensures rapid deployment and cross-company access to high-quality results, enabling teams to respond swiftly and consistently to diverse operational demands.

Efficiency, turnaround times, and data quality

Picterra’s user-friendly interface and powerful AI capabilities have significantly improved project turnaround times, enabling Eramet's teams to conduct complex geospatial analyses much faster than traditional methods. This enhanced efficiency has led to quicker decision-making and more agile operational responses. At the same time, the precision and reliability of the data have been a key advantage, with users reporting high satisfaction in areas such as environmental monitoring and site rehabilitation, where accurate data is critical for compliance and sustainability.

use-cases

Exploration for new sites

Picterra has been instrumental in automating and accelerating the evaluation of potential mining sites. By quickly analyzing large and remote areas, Picterra has helped Eramet identify viable targets more efficiently, supporting its exploration strategies.

Geotechnical analysis

Detailed geotechnical assessments are necessary to ensure the stability and safety of mining operations. Picterra has enabled Eramet to integrate geospatial data with other geological information, providing a comprehensive view of site conditions. This integration has facilitated proactive risk management and improved the safety of mining activities.

Water bodies detection

Proper water management is essential to avoid operational disruptions and environmental impacts. Picterra’s platform has allowed Eramet to detect and monitor water bodies around their mining sites accurately. This capability has supported better water resource management and planning.

Results and impact

The partnership between Eramet and Picterra has demonstrated the transformative power of advanced GeoAI analysis in the mining industry. By addressing Eramet’s challenges in geospatial data management, Picterra has enabled the company to achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and autonomy in its operations. The successful implementation and scaling of Picterra’s platform have underscored its value as a strategic tool for Eramet’s diverse use cases, from exploration and rehabilitation to geotechnical analysis and water management.

Strategic importance

Picterra’s impact extends beyond immediate operational benefits. It aligns closely with Eramet’s broader strategic goals of sustainability and innovation. By facilitating precise and timely GeoAI analyses, Picterra has enhanced Eramet’s ability to monitor and manage environmental and social commitments. This capability is crucial for ensuring that Eramet’s mining practices are sustainable and responsible, meeting both regulatory requirements and community expectations.

Picterra aligns with our strategic goals by providing rapid, high-quality data that supports our sustainability and innovation objectives. It helps us manage our environmental and social engagements more effectively.

Hani Zahiri, GIS Product Manager at Eramet
"Picterra aligns with our strategic goals by providing rapid, high-quality data that supports our sustainability and innovation objectives. It helps us manage our environmental and social engagements more effectively."
Hani Zahiri
GIS Product Manager at Eramet
Start using Picterra

Would you like to discuss your project and see how Picterra can help you?

Get started

other Customer stories

View all customer stories