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Caterpillar has acquired Skycatch to strengthen its mining technology portfolio with near-real-time spatial data and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities designed to improve mine planning, execution and operational decision-making.
Caterpillar has expanded its mining technology capabilities through the acquisition of Skycatch, a provider of spatial data capture, processing and analysis solutions for the mining industry.
The acquisition builds on Caterpillar’s recent acquisition of RPMGlobal (RPM) and is designed to enhance the company’s data-driven mining technology solutions, helping customers optimise material movement and improve mine site performance.
Mining Technology and Data Integration
Skycatch’s technology captures high-frequency, high-precision, large-scale spatial data and combines it with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to analyse and interact with operational information.
Integrating Skycatch’s technology with its RPM and MineStar solutions is intended to provide mining customers with improved visibility of site conditions and support faster, more accurate decision-making across staffed and autonomous fleets.
“Acquiring Skycatch aligns with our strategy to solve our customers’ toughest challenges,” said Denise Johnson, Group President, Caterpillar Resource Industries. “By integrating near-real-time, high-resolution spatial data into both RPM and MineStar solutions, we can help customers improve mine site performance by enhancing safety, productivity and predictability across their operations using both staffed and autonomous fleets.”
Denise Johnson, Group President, Caterpillar Resource Industries.
AI-Powered Spatial Data for Mine Planning
Skycatch’s technology enables the creation of near-real-time digital twins of mining sites, allowing current operational data to be incorporated directly into planning and execution workflows.
Caterpillar said the technology provides mining companies with a more up-to-date view of their operations, improving the speed, accuracy and precision of decisions.
“Skycatch’s ability to process large volumes of spatial data at dramatically improved speeds opens up a fundamentally different way of operating,” said Richard Mathews, CEO of RPMGlobal. “With a near real-time spatial view of the operation, miners can adjust plans as conditions change, improve alignment between planning and execution, and deliver more predictable outcomes.”
Improving Operational Performance
By integrating accurate spatial data into existing software platforms, mining operators can better align planning activities with site execution, helping reduce delays and improve confidence in daily operations.
Caterpillar said the combined capabilities will support customers seeking improved safety, productivity and operational predictability across complex mining environments.
“We’re incredibly proud of what Skycatch has built over the past decade and excited for this next chapter with Caterpillar,” said Christian Sanz, Skycatch Founder & CEO. “This next step strengthens our ability to support our customers while increasing the value we can deliver.”
This article was produced by the editorial team at Mining Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across mining, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, supply chains, food production, and sustainability.
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