From mining operations to lunar resource engineering
Experience in gold mining operations and mining automation research, bringing together mine design, safety and the study of new resources.
Mine design, simulation and operational safety.
Planning for open-pit and underground operations.
Research in autonomous vehicles and computer vision.
Geomechanics and simulation of lunar soils.
Yamile Isabel Casasbuenas Cabezas is a Mining and Metallurgical Engineer from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, with a master’s in Mining and Earth Systems Engineering and is a PhD candidate in Space Mining at Colorado School of Mines, with degree conferral pending. Her experience connects geomechanical research, numerical simulation, mine design and automated-operation safety.
At Colorado School of Mines she has worked on lunar soil mechanics and space resources, emphasizing validation of wheel–soil interaction simulations using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). This work examines sinkage and terrain deformation, key variables in understanding equipment mobility on regolith. She has also supported teaching in space resources and engineering dynamics.
Her experience at Nevada Gold Mines during the May–August periods in 2023 and 2024 included open-pit design using Deswik, alternative analysis under different gold-price assumptions, ramp configurations and geotechnical factors. She also ran stope optimization simulations and supported underground mine design and scheduling.
As an ORISE Fellow at NIOSH she researched mining safety implications of autonomous vehicles and the adaptation of computer-vision indicators to surface operations. She contributed operational context to a multidisciplinary team connecting artificial-intelligence technologies with mining safety needs.
In Colombia she coordinated technical delivery of a Universidad Nacional project examining environmental, health and socioeconomic effects of mining activities. Her experience also includes technical assistance for an expert report on tunnels and TBMs, combining engineering analysis and bilingual documentation.
January 2021 – present
Research on lunar soil mechanics, geomechanics and space resources; DEM wheel–soil interaction validation. Teaching support in space resources and dynamics.
January–March 2025
Researched autonomous-vehicle safety and adaptation of computer-vision indicators to mining environments. Presented internal findings to support decisions.
May–August 2023 and 2024
Analyzed pit designs, ramps and economic scenarios using Deswik. Ran over 50 stope-optimization simulations and supported mine-life, resource/reserve and drilling/blasting analyses.
October 2021–January 2022
Coordinated assessment of environmental, community and socioeconomic impacts of mining, incorporating stakeholder engagement and sustainability.
September 2020–January 2021
Supported an expert technical report on tunnels and TBMs and translation of engineering documents between Spanish and English.
The challengeUnderstanding how lunar soil affects equipment mobility.
Applied experienceValidation of DEM simulations to assess sinkage and wheel–soil interaction.
The challengeComparing mining alternatives considering gold prices, ramps and geotechnical constraints.
Applied experienceDesign analysis and stope optimization using Deswik during her Nevada Gold Mines experience.
Equipment–terrain interaction, deformation and model validation.
Open-pit and underground design, stopes and operating scenarios.
Lunar soil mechanics and engineering applications for mobility.
Autonomous vehicles, computer vision and operating context.
Colorado School of Mines · Golden, Colorado
Colorado School of Mines · 2021–2025
Colorado School of Mines · 2018–2020
Universidad Nacional de Colombia · 2011–2018
Her research connects soil characterization and mechanical interaction with exploration technology development. She also participates in lunar geomechanics outreach and has received recognition through mining-community initiatives.
Co-authored conference contribution on lunar site preparation.
View contribution ↗Geomechanics, simulation and mine planning connecting terrestrial experience with the challenges of space resources.
A professional perspective for examining problems, discussing assumptions and interpreting alternatives.
How can a simulation be checked against terrain behavior?
How does a mine-design alternative change under new economic conditions?
How can geotechnical and safety constraints inform a new technology?
Explore GAE graduate education and its applied approach.
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24 months · 42 credits · 100% online
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