Mine Planning Software Compared: MiningIQ vs Deswik, Whittle, XPAC, Minemax, Spry and Accumine
An independent capability comparison of the major mine planning, scheduling, haulage simulation, and cost modelling platforms used across the global mining industry in 2026. This guide covers what each tool does, where it fits in the mine study workflow, and where the gaps are — so mining engineers, study managers, and technology teams can make informed decisions.
Why This Comparison Matters
Mining feasibility studies require multiple software tools — pit optimisation, scheduling, haulage modelling, cost estimation, and financial analysis. Most operations use a patchwork of vendors connected by manual spreadsheet handoffs. This comparison examines seven platforms used across the global mining industry in 2026.
The Platforms
Seven vendors covering mine planning, scheduling, haulage, cost modelling, and financial analysis.
IMC Mining — MiningIQ + MineCost
Integrated mine study platform. Drillhole QA/QC → block model → pit optimisation → schedule optimisation → haulage DES + physics → zero-based cost model → enterprise financial model. Web app with study collaboration and private AI.
Deswik
End-to-end desktop suite. CAD pit design, drill & blast, scheduling (rate/duration), GO (direct block scheduling + multi-pit optimisation), LHS haulage planning, Bolt supply chain, MDM data governance. No cost or financial modelling.
GEOVIA — Surpac, Whittle, MineSched
Dassault Systèmes geological + planning suite. Surpac (geology, block models), Whittle (pit optimisation via LG + Pseudoflow), MineSched (tactical scheduling). No haulage, no cost modelling.
RPMGlobal — XPAC/MinePlanner + HAULSIM
Industry-standard scheduling (40+ years). MinePlanner: heuristic Smart Scheduling, destination scheduling, product optimiser. HAULSIM: separate 3D DES haulage simulation with EV/hydrogen modelling.
Minemax
MILP strategic optimisation. Planner (pit shells + scheduling), Scheduler (NPV-optimised schedules), Tempo (operational planning). No haulage, no cost modelling, no geological tools.
Micromine Spry + Enable Accumine
Spry: soft-rock scheduling + haulage estimation (coal/potash). Accumine: cloud-based cost modelling with structured data blocks and Power BI integration. Both are niche specialists.
Capability Comparison
| Capability | MiningIQ | Deswik | GEOVIA | RPMGlobal | Minemax | Spry | Accumine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drillhole DB & QA/QC | ✓ Built-in | ✗ | ✓ Surpac | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Block Model Analysis | ✓ Full | ✓ CAD | ✓ Surpac | Import | Import | Visual | ✗ |
| Pit Optimisation | ✓ Pseudoflow | ✓ GO (DBS) | ✓ Whittle | ✗ | ✓ Shells | ✗ | ✗ |
| Schedule Optimisation | ✓ BZ + MILP | ✓ GO + Planning | ✓ MineSched | ✓ Heuristic | ✓ MILP | ✓ Gantt | ✗ |
| Haulage Simulation | ✓ DES + Physics | ~ LHS planning | ✗ | ✓ HAULSIM DES | ✗ | ~ Routes | ✗ |
| Zero-Based Costing | ✓ MineCost | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Cloud DB |
| Financial Modelling | ✓ NPV/IRR/DCF | ✗ | ~ Whittle NPV | ✗ | ~ In scheduler | ✗ | ✗ |
| Study Collaboration | ✓ Docs, Kanban, AI | ~ MDM | ~ 3DX | ~ Enterprise | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Multi-user |
| Private AI | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Deployment | Web app | Desktop | Desktop/cloud | Desktop | Desktop | Desktop | Cloud SaaS |
| End-to-End | ✓ Full chain | ~ Design→sched | ~ Geo→pits | ~ Sched+haul | ~ Sched only | ~ Sched+haul | ~ Cost only |
Key: ✓ full capability ~ partial/limited ✗ not available
IMC Mining — MiningIQ + MineCost
The only platform covering the complete mine study workflow in one web application: drillhole QA/QC, block model analysis, pit optimisation (Pseudoflow), schedule optimisation (BZ LP + MILP), haulage simulation (DES + first-principles physics), zero-based cost modelling, and enterprise financial modelling with multi-price-deck NPV/IRR. Includes study collaboration tools and private AI.
Competitor Profiles
How the established vendors compare across the mine study workflow.
Deswik
Broadest desktop suite: CAD pit design, drill & blast, rate/duration scheduling, data governance (MDM). GO adds direct block scheduling + multi-pit optimisation. LHS for route-based haulage planning (not simulation). Bolt for supply chain. No cost or financial modelling.
GEOVIA (Dassault Systèmes)
Industry-standard geology (Surpac). Whittle pit optimisation via LG + Pseudoflow with shell-level NPV. MineSched for tactical scheduling. No haulage, no cost modelling. Full integration needs 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
RPMGlobal — XPAC/MinePlanner + HAULSIM
XPAC: 40+ year standard. MinePlanner: script-free, automated reserving, heuristic Smart Scheduling (not LP/MILP). HAULSIM: separate 3D DES haulage with EV/hydrogen modelling, empirically calibrated. No cost or financial modelling.
Minemax
Strongest MILP optimisation — schedule for max NPV. Multi-pit, multi-process, blending, stockpiling. Tempo for operational planning. No pit design, haulage, cost modelling, or geological tools.
Micromine Spry
Purpose-built for soft-rock (coal, potash, phosphate). Reserving, Gantt scheduling, road-network haulage estimation, fast scenario analysis. No pit optimisation, cost modelling, or financial analysis.
Enable Advisory — Accumine
Cloud-based cost modelling (Brisbane). Structured data blocks for repeatable, auditable models with Power BI/OData integration. Cost modelling only — no planning, scheduling, haulage, or financials.
The Integration Gap
Most mining operations use 4–6 different software tools across a single feasibility study, connected by spreadsheet exports. MiningIQ + MineCost is the only platform covering the complete chain — drillhole QA/QC through to investment-committee-ready financial models — in one connected workflow with study collaboration tools and private AI.
Which Tool for Which Job?
Geology + Design
IMC Mining uses Maptek Vulcan and Deswik for mine planning and design. Geological modelling is outsourced — clients typically use Leapfrog, Surpac, or Vulcan for resource models.
Desktop Scheduling
IMC Mining uses MiningIQ's BZ scheduler for simpler schedules and Minemax for complex multi-pit, multi-process scenarios — with BZ outcomes often informing the Minemax optimisation. Deswik Planning and XPAC/MinePlanner remain common at operational sites.
MILP Optimisation
Minemax Scheduler for pure mathematical optimisation. MiningIQ for BZ + MILP integrated with the full workflow.
Haulage Simulation
HAULSIM for DES fleet simulation. MiningIQ for DES haulage simulation with first-principles physics — rimpull curves, rolling resistance, and grade-speed profiles per road segment.
Cost & Financial Modelling
MiningIQ + MineCost is the only mining-focused platform with integrated zero-based cost modelling and enterprise-level financial modelling (NPV/IRR/DCF). No other vendor connects schedule outputs directly to first-principles costs and investment-ready financials.
End-to-End Studies
IMC Mining MiningIQ + MineCost — drillhole → pits → schedule → haulage → costs → financials in one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best mine planning software?
IMC Mining uses Maptek Vulcan and Deswik for mine planning and design work, with MiningIQ + MineCost handling the integrated study workflow from pit optimisation through to financial modelling. We outsource geological modelling — our clients typically use Leapfrog, Surpac, or Vulcan for their resource models. The choice of planning tool depends on the operation and commodity.
What software does IMC Mining use for haulage modelling?
MiningIQ's built-in haulage module combines discrete event simulation (DES) with first-principles physics — manufacturer rimpull curves, rolling resistance by road segment, and grade-speed profiles. Unlike HAULSIM which uses empirically calibrated travel times, MiningIQ calculates from physics. Unlike Deswik LHS which is route-based planning, MiningIQ is full simulation.
What is zero-based cost modelling in mining?
Zero-based cost modelling builds every cost from physical drivers — equipment hours, fuel rates, manning rosters, consumable wear rates — rather than historical averages. MineCost and Accumine both take this approach.
Can one platform replace all mine planning software?
Not entirely. MiningIQ + MineCost covers the integrated workflow from drillhole QA/QC through pit optimisation, scheduling, haulage simulation, cost modelling, and financial modelling. However, IMC Mining still uses Vulcan or Deswik for detailed pit designs, and Minemax to supplement our systems for strategic scheduling, stockpiling optimisation, and cutoff grade strategy on complex projects. The strength is in how these tools connect — MiningIQ ties the full study together.