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Ali Soofastaei

AI Program Leader, International Keynote Speaker, and a Professional Author

Address Brisbane City, Australia
E-mail ali[@]soofastaei.net
Mobile +61 4 2212 5935
Phone +61 7 3870 9609
Available 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM (AEDT)

Dr. Ali Soofastaei is a global artificial intelligence (AI) industrial projects leader, an educational programs instructor, international keynote speaker, academic editor, and professional scientific author.

He established the Soofastaei Institute aimed to develop the innovative application of advanced analytics and AI to tackle business challenges in different industries. This institute covers a variety of businesses, education, and publications activities in the field of applied AI for prediction, optimization, and making decisions for multidimensional systems.

Dr. Soofastaei has been involved in industrial research and development projects in several industries, including oil and gas (Royal Dutch Shell); steel (Danieli); and mining (BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, and Vale). His extensive practical experience in the industry has equipped him to work with complex industrial problems in highly technical and multi-disciplinary teams. Currently, Ali is leading the Soofastaei-Businesses, an organization focused on digital transformation, practical innovations, and value chain improvement by applying integrated AI solutions.

Ali completed his Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia, in the field of AI applications in mining engineering, where he led a revolution in the use of Deep Learning and AI methods to increase energy efficiency, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in surface mines. In the past 15 years, he has provided practical guidance to postgraduate students in different prestigious universities across the world as a principal industrial advisor. Recently, he founded an educational organization named Soofastaei-Educations. This establishment facilitates and presents educational short-term, medium-term, and long-term courses for different industrial companies and universities as Bootcamp or semester programs.

Dr. Soofastaei has been known as an internationally famous keynote speaker in the field of advanced applied analytics and AI solutions to improve safety, productivity, energy efficiency and decrease total product costs. He is also directing a publication institute called Soofastaei-Publications to publish scientific journal papers and academic reference books with impressive publishers such as Springer, McGraw Hill, CRC Press, Lambert, and IntechOpen.

Leading actively industrial analytical based projects in giant industrial companies, designing and presenting innovative educational programs, keynote speaking in important conferences around the world, having more than one hundred published papers, books, and technical documents, and working with prestigious publishers to provide the scientific resources has made him a pioneer leader in creating a digital revolution in industry 4.0.

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Soofastaei Institute

Soofastaei Publication

Publishing:
Books
Journal Papers
Magazines
Podcasts

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Soofastaei Educations

Providing Training Programs for:
Individuals
Organizations
Institutions
Industries

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Soofastaei Business

Providing Services in:
Consulting
Coaching
Solutions Development
Maturity Assessment

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Soofastaei-Institute is a community of leading authors, researchers, and experts in the field of Advanced Analytics, AI, and data science. Its activities are divided into three areas: education, publications, and business.

Industrial Work Experiences

2023 till now

CEO

Innovative Artificial Intelligence is a forward-thinking company dedicated to leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to transform businesses across various industries.
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2017 -2023

AI Program Leader

Vale is a multinational corporation engaged in metals and mining. It is one of the world’s foremost producers of iron ore and the largest producer of nickel. Dr. Ali Soofastaei is the leader of AI program at Vale Artificial Intelligence Centre.
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2016-2017

Data Scientist

Mining3 is an industry-driven, global leader in mining research and innovation. Dr. Soofastaei, as a data scientist at Mining3, was using advanced statistical and predictive modeling techniques to build, maintain, and improving on multiple real-time decision systems.
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2012-2016

Research Officer

CRCMining was the pre-eminent mining research organisation on a global basis, with an international reputation for delivering excellence in mining-focused research. Dr. Soofastaei's research focused on improving energy efficiency, reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions by using computer models, and increased utilisation of renewable energies in mine environments.
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2004-2012

Mechanical Engineer / Research and Development Manager

Shell is one of the oil and gas "supermajors" and, measured by 2020 revenues, the fifth-largest company in the world. Dr. Soofastaei was working with Shell an Engineering projects management in different phases of equipment design, purchase manufacturing, and installation.
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Research Projects

Condition Based Maintenance in Mine Railway Transportation Systems Based on Big Data Analysis
Streaming Data Analysis (SDA) of Big Data Streams (BDS) for Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) in the context of Rail Transportation Systems (RTS) in the mining industry is a state-of-the-art field of research.
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Vale – The University of Genova 12 – February – 2019, 36 Months
Different Techniques for Predicting Mineral Product Prices
Predicting Mineral Product (MP) prices have been a significant and difficult task usually addressed by econometric, stochastic-Gaussian and time series methods.
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Vale – UNSW 21 – Jun – 2019, 24 Months
An Enhanced Wavelet–ARIMA Method for Predicting Metal Prices
Metal price predictions support evaluations of future profits from metal exploration and mining and inform purchasing, selling and other day-to-day activities in the metals industry.
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Vale – Cranfield University 28 – July – 2018, 24 Months
Predictive Modelling of Nickel Potential with the Integration of Multisource Information Based on
Random Forest
Mineral exploration activities require robust predictive models that result in the accurate mapping of the possibility that mineral deposits can be found at a specific location.
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Vale – University of Granada 02 – August – 2018, 24 Months
Artificial Neural Networks as a Tool for Mineral Potential Mapping with GIS
A back-propagation Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is proposed to discriminate zones of high mineral potential in the Sudbury nickel field, Ontario, Canada, using remote sensing and mineral exploration data stored in a GIS database.
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Vale – University of Granada 01 – May – 2018, 24 Months
Development of a Maturity Scale for Mining Performance and Maintenance Analytics
Since the onset of the lump in commodity prices in mid-2012, the mining industry has sought to enhance productivity and lower labour and cost inputs significantly.
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Vale – The University of Queensland From 01–January–2016 To 15 – December – 2018
Advanced Predictive Analytics
In the current [mining] economic climate, minimising costs is critical. Equipment reliability must be stepped up to increase production and to reduce delays.
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Vale – The University of Queensland From 12–Jun–2015 To 20 – November – 2017
Discrete-Event Simulation of Payload Variance Effects on Truck Bunching
Data collected from payload management systems at some surface mining operations show significant variance. Heavily loaded trucks travel slower up ramps than lightly loaded trucks.
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BHP – The University of Queensland From 01 – July – 2013 To 31 – December – 2015
The Effects of Payload Variance on Haul Truck Energy Consumption, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Cost
The data collected from truck payload management systems at various surface mines show that the payload variance is significant and must be considered in analysing the mine productivity, diesel energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and associated costs.
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Rio Tinto – The University of Queensland From 04 – November – 2013 To 28 – February – 2014
Development of a Multi-layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network Model to Determine Haul Trucks Energy Consumption
Diesel fuel is a significant source of energy in surface mining operations. Haul trucks are the primary users of this energy resource. Based on the analysis of the data collected from mine sites, Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Truck Speed (S) and Total Resistance (TR) were identified to be the most influential parameters affecting the fuel consumption.
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Anglo American – The University of Queensland From 10 – December – 2012 To 07 – June – 2013

PMP Certified

The Project Management Professional (PMP)®️ is the world’s leading project management certification. Now including predictive, agile and hybrid approaches, the PMP®️ proves project leadership experience and expertise in any way of working. It supercharges careers for project leaders across industries and helps organizations find the people they
need to work smarter and perform better.

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Management Skills

Project Integration Management

Project Time and Cost Management

Project Human Resource Management

Risk Management

Scope Management

Quality Management

Communication Management

Procurement Management

Academic Background

2012-2015

Artificial Intelligence Application, Mechanical and Mining Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis: Development of AI models to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Haul Trucks in Mines
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2006-2008

Industrial Engineering (System Management and Productivity)

Master of Engineering

Thesis: Energy Consumption Improvement in Residential Buildings by Value Engineering
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1999-2004

Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering

Dissertation: Energy Consumption Audit and Management
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Achievement

14

Awards

3

Patents

4

Software Packages

83

Publications

Awards

Australia to USA Fellowship, American Australian Association, USA, July 2016
Graduate School International Award, The University of Queensland, Australia, June 2015
School of Engineering Award, The University of Queensland, Australia, July 2014
CRCMining Award, Mining3 Transforming Mining, Australia, July 2014
CRCMining Research Higher Degree Scholarship, Mining3 Transforming Mining, Australia, January 2012
International Scholarship, The University of Queensland, Australia, December 2011
National Top Inventor, National Elites Foundation, Presidency of Iran, July 2011
Certificate of top lecturer, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran, July 2010
First-rank graduate, Department of Industrial Engineering at Yazd University, Iran, January 2009
Certificate of the top researcher in the field of energy management, Power Ministry of Iran, June 2005
First-rank graduate, Department of Engineering, Shahrekord University, Iran, February 2004
Ranked first in National Computer Olympiad, Ministry of Education, Iran, February 1997
Ranked second in National Physics Olympiad, Ministry of Education, Iran, November 1996
Ranked first in National Mathematics Olympiad, Ministry of Education, Iran, December 1995

Patents

Medical Thermal Luminescent Dosimeter Finger Rings, I.R. Patent, 390070309, October 2011
Industrial and Medical Filter Holders, I.R. Patent, 390050214, July 2011
Building Energy Consumption Indicator, I.R. Patent, 390060408, February 2012

Books

Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring in Mining 4.0

Books

Increasing global demands for minerals pushed mining to go deeper and more challenging geotechnical conditions and stresses. Therefore, the importance of ground behaviour and stress monitoring is getting more attention to guarantee zero harm and stable mines.

After the Brumadinho dam disaster in Brazil in 2019, which killed more than 300 people, public concerns about mining operations increased, and many different international organizations, including ICMM, asked miners to improve geotechnical monitoring on their sites. As a result, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring solutions evolved from manual and standalone dataloggers to remote and remote sensing technologies by developing digital technologies.

Monitoring ground behavior in underground mines, as well as surface mines, have been used in the past few decades by various vibrating wire, MEMS, and other types of instruments. The main challenge in these monitoring plans was using manual readouts or standalone data loggers, which increased reading the required time for readings and exposed technicians/engineers to the risk of being in the area under monitoring.

Presence of industry 4.0 provides the opportunity for these instruments to be connected and record and transfer data remotely. Digital makes it possible to have data in near real-time, which enhance the quality of monitoring and decision making. In addition, digital added new technologies in monitoring solutions, including laser and radar-based technologies to remotely monitor mine sites and increase the level of awareness.

Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring in Mining 4.0 book, which will be published by CRC Press, will provide a comprehensive technical and practical reference for the available technologies in monitoring underground and surface mines as well as tailing.

This book will discuss inground and remote monitoring technologies that can monitor ground behaviour, movements, stresses, and detect major failures before the event in eight chapters. These chapters will include lots of case studies and data to make these technologies and applications clearer. The power of data analytics and AI tools in evaluating, analyzing and interpreting recorded data and digital twin tools for providing a powerful visualization and monitoring solution will be presented in the next two chapters. In the last four chapters, it will be discussed the application of presented technologies in surface mines, underground mines, tailings, and mine railway networks.

This book also would be an excellent reference for graduate mining and geotechnical students to familiarize them with the most recent technologies in geotechnical monitoring in mine 4.0 and prepare them for the future of mining. Also, it could be a valuable handbook for mine, geotechnical and ground engineers to educate them about different technologies and help them choose the right one for the mine.

Life 4.0

Books

Numerical Simulations

Books

Chapter Books

Soofastaei, Ali, et al. “Energy-efficient loading and hauling operations.” Energy Efficiency in the Minerals Industry. Springer, Cham, 2018. 121-146.

Soofastaei, Ali. “The application of artificial intelligence to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the mining industry.” Green Technologies to Improve the Environment on Earth. London, UK: IntechOpen, 2018.

Soofastaei, Ali, et al. “Improve Energy Efficiency in Surface Mines Using Artificial Intelligence“. Energy Efficiency, edited by Dr. Wakil, IntechOpen, 2021. 10.5772/intechopen.101493.

Soofastaei, Ali, et al. “Application of Advanced Data Analytics to Improve Haul Trucks Energy Efficiency in Surface Mines.” Extracting Innovations: Mining, Energy, and Technological Change in the Digital Age (2018): 163-179.

Keynote Speaker

Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “Scaling AI Across the Value Chain by Increasing Data Maturity,” Scaling AI Online APAC, 28 – 29 June 2022, Melbourne, Australia
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “AI Application in Mining 4.0” Mines and Money, 04 – 05 May 2022, London, United Kingdom
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “AI Application in Mining, Opportunities, and Challenges,” MiningTech World Conference & Exhibition, Hilton Hotel, 27 – 28 April 2022, London, United Kingdom
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Smart Coaching in Digital Mines,” Data Science in Mining, Swedish Mining Innovation and AI Impact Lab, 30 March 2022, Stockholm, Sweden
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “How AI Can Lead Hauling Operations in Smart Mines?”, Future of Mining Australia, 28 – 29 March 2022, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney, Australia
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “AI Challenges and Expectations,” Corinium’s Global Series CDAO Brisbane, 08 – 09 March 2022, Hilton Hotel, Brisbane, Australia
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Applications in Mining Operations,” American Exploration & Mining Association’s 127^th Annual Meeting, 06 – 10 December 2021, Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, Nevada, USA
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Application of Artificial Intelligence in Mining Engineering,” The First Conference on Mining and Technology, 18 May 2021, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Artificial Intelligence for Mining,” MiningTech World Conference & Expo, 27 – 28 April 2021, Hilton Hotel Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Digital Transformation in The Mining Industry,” Innovation in Mining Engineering, 03 March 2021, Colorado, USA
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “The Strategic Use of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics in Digital Engineering,” The 2^nd International Digital Engineering and Design Summit, 27 – 28 January 2021, Sydney, Australia
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Advanced Analytics in Mining Industry; Opportunities and Challenges,” Artificial Intelligence in Mining Conference, 17 November 2020, Ormstown, Quebec, Canada
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “2nd Digital Mines 2020”, Future Smart Mines With Artificial Intelligence: Vale’s New Artificial Intelligence Mining Center, 12 – 14 October 2020, Pan Pacific, Perth, Australia
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “Industry of Things World Asia 2020”, Sands Expo Convention Center, 20-21 July 2020, Singapore
Soofastaei Ali(Keynote Speaker), “Future Technologies for Mining Industry,” Future of Mining Australia, 23 – 25 March 2020, Sydney, Australia
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “COBOTS 2020: Intelligent and Collaborative Robotics Automation Forum”, Future Mining With Robots And Intelligent Machines, Sands Expo Convention Center, 11-12 July 2019, Singapore
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “Digital Maintenance Field Service Automation Forum”, The Use of AI to Reduce Maintenance Costs, 11 – 13 March 2020, Marriot Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “AI for Sustainable Mining”, Innovation in Digital Mining Center, 18 October 2019, Santiago, Chile
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “COBOTS 2020: Intelligent and Collaborative Robotics Automation Forum”, Future Mining With Robots And Intelligent Machines, Sands Expo Convention Center, 11-12 July 2019, Singapore
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker), “1st Digital Mines 2019”, Building Fully Autonomous Mines from Pit to Port, Pan Pacific, 10 – 12 April 2019, Perth, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “Advanced Data Analytics: A Practical Method to Increase Rail Energy Efficiency in Mining Industry,” 19^th RailTech Europe, 26 – 28 March 2019, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Netherlands
Soofastaei Ali (Keynote Speaker),“Blockchain for Mining,” Digital Transformation in Mining Conference, 20 – 21 February 2019, Perth, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “How to Cost-Effectively Develop and Deploy AI Capabilities in Mining Operations for a Step-Change in Performance,” 4th Annual Mines and Technology Americas, 15 – 17 October 2018, Toronto, Canada.

Conference Papers

Soofastaei Ali, “The Digital Transformation of Mining,” Mine and Technology, 26 – 29 November 2018, London, United Kingdom
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “An Innovative Method to Decrease Fuel Consumption of Haul Trucks in Surface Mines,” The 7th Brazilian Conference on Intelligent Systems (BRACIS), 22 – 25 October 2018, São Paulo, Brazil
Soofastaei Ali, “How to Cost-Effectively Develop and Deploy AI Capabilities in Mining Operations for a Step-Change in Performance,” 4th Annual Mines and Technology Americas, 15 – 17 October 2018, Toronto, Canada.
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Continuous Quality Improvement and Cost Reduction Using Value Engineering,” International Conference on Mine Science and Accounting, Tehran University, 07 – 09 July 2017 Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Increasing Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings Using Value Engineering,” International Conference on Value Engineering and Cost Management, 01 – 02 August 2016, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali et al. “Using Artificial Intelligence Models to Increase Energy Efficiency in Mining Industry,” Fuel Cell Science and Technology Conference, 05- 08 June 2016, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Reducing Fuel Consumption of Haul Trucks in Surface Mines Using Artificial Intelligence Models,” Coal Operators’ Conference, University of Wollongong, 08 – 10 March 2016, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Simulation of Payload Variance Effects on Truck Bunching to Minimize Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” Coal Operators’ Conference, University of Wollongong, 10 – 12 March 2015, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Increasing Haul Trucks Energy Efficiency in Surface Mines Using Artificial Intelligence Methods,” EAIT Postgraduate Conference, The University of Queensland, 02-04 February 2015, Brisbane, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Development of an Artificial Intelligence Model to Determine Trucks Energy Consumption,” Future Energy Conference, University of New South Wales, 01 – 03 December 2014, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “Innovative Models for Energy Management in Oil and Gas Industry,” 10th International Energy Conference, 10 – 12 April 2014, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Haul Truck Operations by Genetic-Algorithm-Based Multi-Function Optimization,” EAIT Postgraduate Conference, The University of Queensland, 18 – 21 November 2013, Brisbane, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “Energy Management Systems in Mining Industry,” Energy Efficiency Opportunities Conference and Workshop, 08 – 10 October 2013, Novotel, Brisbane, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, and et al. “The Integration of Energy Management (EM) with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to reduce the energy consumption across mining and processing plants,” The Australian Mining Technology Conference, University of Western Australia, 21 – 23 July 2012, Perth, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “Australian Energy Bandwidth,” Mechanical and Mining Conference, The University of Queensland, 11 – 12 June 2012, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Soofastaei Ali, “Steam Traps Maintenance as a Solution for Saving Energy,” The 8th International Energy Conference, IRIB International Conference Centre, 24 – 25 May 2011, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Saving Energy in Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers by Using Genetic Algorithm,” The 2nd International Conference on Heat Exchanger Application in Oil and Energy Industries, TALASH Conference Centre, 10 – 11 November 2010, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Optimized Biogas Production Technologies for Landfills in Urban Areas,” The 1st Iranian Conference, IRIB International Conference Centre, 13 October 2010, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Energy Recycling Potential from Urban Waste,” The 7th National Conference on Energy, IRIB International Conference Centre, 22 – 23 December 2009, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Ethanol as a Future Clean Fuel,” 16th Annual International Conference on Mechanical Engineering, Kerman University, 13 – 15 May 2008, Kerman, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Development of Fuel Cell’s Technology Outlook in Iran,” The 5th Conference on Fuel Conservation in Building, Iranian Fuel Conservation Company (IFCO), 14 – 15 June 2007, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Design System for Providing Hybrid and Photovoltaic Power,” Energy Research and Technology Centre, 22 – 23 April 2007, Isfahan, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Heating Intelligent Control Systems for Buildings,” Energy Research and Technology Centre, 22 – 23 April 2007, Isfahan, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, “Energy Conservation in Public Buildings,” 3rd Conference on Fuel Conservation in Building, 09 – 10 February 2007, Hall Summit, Tehran, Iran
Soofastaei Ali, et al. “Energy Saving, Audit and Management Software Packages,” 2nd Conference on Fuel Conservation in Building, 17 – 18 February 2006, Hall Summit, Tehran, Iran

Journal Papers

Soofastaei Ali, and et al. “Haul Trucks Queuing Prediction in Open Pit Mines“, Australian Resources and Investment, Volume 14, No 1, (2020), P:28-31
Soofastaei Ali, and et al. “Living in a Digital World“, Australian Resources and Investment, Volume 14, No 1, (2020), P:34-37
Soofastaei Ali. “The Application of Blockchains to Mining“, Australian Resources and Investment, Volume 13, No 1, (2019), P:28-30.
Soofastaei Ali, and et al. “Development of a Maturity Scale for Mining Performance and Maintenance Data Analytics“, Australian Resources and Investment, Volume 12, Issue 1, (2018), P:10-13.
Soofastaei Ali “Haul Truck Tire Life Improvement using Water Cooling System“, Australian Resources and Investment, Volume 12, Issue 1, (2018), P:18-20.
Soofastaei Ali “A Discrete-Event Model to Simulate the Effect of Truck Bunching Due to Payload Variance on Haul Trucks Fuel Consumption“, Australian Resources and Investment, Under Press (2020)
Soofastaei Ali, and et al. “Reducing Fuel Consumption of Haul Trucks in Surface Mines Using Genetic Algorithm”, Applied Soft Computing Journal, Under Press (2020).

Recommendation

I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Ali Soofastaei over the last 2 years and it was a learning period for me. Ali is fully engaged in delivering nothing but the best for every product he is working at. A good example of this commitment was the Energy Efficiency program we started for a corridor of mines in the Brazilian South and Southeast regions. Ali provided guidance from the initial definitions to the roadmap phase and today this project become a successful program across the world. Ali is very kind and it is easy to deal with him. He has a talent to build relationships

Edson Antonio Global Artificial Intelligence Manager at Vale | Speaker
I worked with Ali on some Artificial Intelligence projects involving diesel engines and other engineering issues. Ali always acted with a lot of availability, assertiveness in his indications, and willingness to listen and also learn. Having Ali on the team is very relevant and contributes significantly to deliveries and decision making.

Jessica Prata Engineer at Vale
I have been working with Ali in the Artificial Intelligence Center at Vale. During this time, I could perceive some of his skills, like how he tries to understand deeply Vale’s supply chain with a vision towards improving the process. He is also intelligent, he has great communication skills, he can deal with problems in different situations and prospects and he is always available to help the team when requested. With all that said, I really like to work with Ali, I have been learning a lot with him and I hope we continue working together.

Lirielly Vitorugo Data Scientist | Artificial Intelligence | Engineer | Optimization
I have been working with Ali for ~2 years now and am impressed by his technical skills, eagerness to learn and his transparent and very direct (yet kind) communication style. It has been a very fruitful partnership for us (clients) and I hope it will continue for quite some time. Thanks, Ali!

Daniel C. Weiss Head of Shipping Strategy & Freight Derivatives at Vale
“I have been involved in the supervision of more than 25 RHD students one of whom was Dr. Ali Soofastaei. I can honestly say that Ali was one of the top students. He is a very hard-working, very efficient and enthusiastic researcher. He has a great personality, creating a very positive atmosphere where he works and is academically outstanding. I used to call him a paper publishing machine, every supervisor's dream student. Wishing him good luck and all the best for his future career.”

Mehmet Kizil Associate Professor in Mining at The University of Queensland
“Dr. Ali Soofastaei is a highly skilled scientist and engineer, with experience in Oil & Gas and Mining sectors and deep expertise in the simulation and analysis of complex systems and processes. We worked together in the mining industry over the last 12 mths during which time Ali undertook an analysis of truck, shovel, and mining operating and maintenance activities for coal mines. His work focused on identifying production throughput and cost reduction opportunities. Ali developed novel, leading-edge analytical tools, validated with data from operating mines, presented in a practical, systemized way. His work is thorough, accurate, innovative, and supported by his engineering experience and pragmatic approach to solving real problems. Ali is a very well organized individual, easy to work with and I have no hesitation in highly recommending him to colleagues.”

Jeremy Davies Director at ALI4Business
“Ali is driven and motivated in his work. Always maintain a positive attitude to research projects. Ali always comes early and is very conscientious of timelines and resources. The most outstanding characteristic of what I have seen is his attitude towards continuous improvement. Keep it up!”

Zhongwei Chen Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland
“Ali and I regularly engage in reporting meetings for the Mine Production and Performance Optimisation program at Mining3. What stands out the most is Ali's passion for his work as well as his high level of professionalism, and attention to detail. Ali is highly regarding by Mining3 executive staff and is a valuable asset at Mining3.”

Eddie Prochon Mining3 - Project Leader - Drilling Technologies
“I have great pleasure in introducing Dr. Soofastaei as one of my great masters in during life. I have found him to be a hard-working, intelligent, and creative person. Also, he has excellent ability, talent, and perseverance in educational, research, and leading activities. Ali is an asset to any organization he is a part of. I am so proud to give my highest possible recommendation for any responsibility that it may concern.”

Mohamad Khajekhabaz Mechanical Engineering Master Student at Islamic Azad University
“I am writing this note to give my highest possible recommendation for Dr. Ali Soofastaei I found him to be uniquely capable of capturing my attention. I worked under his supervision in the mining3 during which time Ali undertook the analysis of truck, shovel, and mining operating and maintenance activities for coal mines. Dr. Ali Soofastaei is a highly skilled scientist and engineer, with experience in the Oil & Gas and Mining sectors. I would be hard-pressed to find someone more organized and passionate about his work. His technical skills are admirable, and his project management and communication skills are astonishing. I strongly recommend him for any challenging job demanding strategic thinking, smart solution development, and communication skills.”

Elnaz karimpour Electrical Engineer (Mechatronics and Automation Control)
“Ali is very passionate about his work and is extremely dedicated to the task at hand. It is a pleasure to work with Ali as his positiveness rubs on to others around him. Ali would be an asset to any organization. Keep up the great work Ali.”

Eve (Ivana) McDonald EMESRT Coordinator and Mining3 Web Administrator
“Few mentors approach their work with the passion and enthusiasm that Ali displays. I had the pleasure of working with Ali on a research project at the University of Queensland and is especially impressed with his attention to detail and his passion for Mining Research. It would be a pleasure to work with him again, as he is an outstanding mentor and teacher. Ali is an asset to any organization he is a part of, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

Luke Adair Mechanical Engineer at Aurecon
“Ali is a very detailed orientated professional, and I am very happy to recommend him to anyone desirous of his services.”

Ray Parkin Mining Engineer
“Ali is an impressive engineer who is committed to producing results. During my time under him as a research assistant, he showcased an exceptional dedication and cared for his work. He is thorough with his calculations and writing which is demonstrated in the quality of his research. When faced with a challenge at work, Ali will commit 100 % to overcome it. This reveals his strong sense of responsibility and passion for his work. Moreover, it is for these reasons that I recommend Ali Soofastaei.”

Matthew De Francia Graduate Mining Engineer
“I had the opportunity to know Ali when I started my Ph.D. in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering in 2015. His teamwork, organizational skills, and professionalism seemed quite intriguing to me from the beginning. Due to his outstanding managerial skills and academic competence, he has been able to collaborate successfully in various projects. I have also observed his effective supervision and mentoring for undergraduate and his peer postgraduate students. All in all, I would say he is a committed and inspiring member and a valuable asset to any organization.”

Amin Kamyar Mechanical Engineer at RPMGlobal
“Ali is one of the best engineers around. He has a way of understanding complicated problems and coming up with simple solutions to the problems. As a Mine Ventilation tutor, he simplified teaching and was always available and happy to provide further assistance. He is committed to his work and shows professionalism in his work. Ali has much respect for students, fellow professionals and people around him. One of the best kind-hearted human beings around.”

Maddox Mawondo Graduate Underground Geotechnical Engineer at Anglo American
“Dr. Ali Soofastaei is a very dedicated teacher at the University of Queensland. He has a caring nature and likes to look after students. He also has good knowledge in underground ventilation and mechanics. He provides excellent feedback which helps students with understanding concepts and reasons. FYI, Ali was my teacher for ventilation.”

Aram "Cindy" Hong Mining Engineer at BHP
“Ali is a dedicated and hardworking person who takes challenges to stay motivated to accomplish his goals in life. He pushes the boundaries, and nothing can cease him from what he wants to achieve. I highly recommend him for any positions linked to his field.”

Nima Danesh Ph.D. Student at The University of Queensland
“I am very pleased to write a recommendation for Ali. He is motivated and diligent in his study. Always maintain a positive attitude to the research problem. Ali always came early and stay late working and very conscientious of timelines and resources. The most outstanding characteristic of what I have seen is his attitude towards continuous improvement. Good job, Ali.”

Chunshan Zheng Ph.D. Student at The University of Queensland
“Ali is a highly commendable and extremely likable, well-presented individual. I had the pleasure of working closely with Ali for over four years and can say that the feedback I had for Ali was never short of excellent. I would recommend Ali as a top Engineer and someone who would be an asset to any business.”

Ray Safaee Project Engineer
I have been working with Ali since 2019 when Vale engaged IBM for advanced analytics projects. He is very energetic and has to drive to lead projects to completion by guiding the team and removing roadblocks. He has deep expertise in where to apply advanced analytics technologies in the mining industry for digital transformation. It has been a pleasure to work with him to deliver many projects and drive business benefits for the shipping team.

Abhishek Kaul
Ali is driven and motivated in his work. Always maintain a positive attitude to the research problem. Ali always came early and stay late working and very conscientious of timelines and resources. The most outstanding characteristic from what i have seen is his attitude towards continuous improvement. Keep it up!

Ben Yang
I’ve been working together with Dr. Ali Soofastaei since 2017. We were able to implement several mine projects for increasing sustainability, reducing cost and bringing performance gains to the mine and its equipment. Dr. Ali is not only a great researcher, he is able to put theory into practice and adapt his studies according to the specificity of each location. Congratulations and thanks for the partnership!

Douglas Pimenta Senior Information Technology Analyst at Vale