Software · head to head
Caterpillar MineStar vs Carlson Mining
Caterpillar MineStar
Software
Integrated technology for mining fleet management
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management, Carlson Mining covers Pit design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Caterpillar MineStar and Carlson Mining actually diverge.
| Attribute | Caterpillar MineStar | Carlson Mining |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Cloud-based, Remote operation stations | Windows |
| Founded | 1925 | 1983 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Caterpillar MineStar
- Fleet management
- Real-time tracking
- Terrain management
- Equipment health monitoring
- Autonomous haulage
- Drill guidance
- CAT Equipment
- Third-party OEM
Only in Carlson Mining
- Pit design
- Grade control
- Production planning
- Survey integration
- Mapping
- AutoCAD
- ArcGIS
- GPS
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Caterpillar MineStar
- Fleet optimizationnot Carlson Mining
- Autonomous operationsnot Carlson Mining
- Equipment monitoringnot Carlson Mining
- Production trackingnot Carlson Mining
Carlson Mining
- Pit designnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Grade controlnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Mine planningnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Surveyingnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Mappingnot Caterpillar MineStar
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Caterpillar MineStar
- Requires significant capital investment and integration with existing fleet infrastructure
- Complex implementation requiring specialized training for operators and management personnel
- Primarily designed for large-scale mining operations; less suitable for smaller mines
Carlson Mining
Nothing recorded yet. See the Carlson Mining review.
Pricing, plan by plan
Caterpillar MineStar
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Caterpillar MineStar review.
Carlson Mining
On request- Carlson Mining Standard$7000/year
- Mining design
- Pit design
- Grade control
- Carlson Mining Professional$15000/year
- Advanced mine planning
- Production scheduling
- Equipment management
Which should you pick?
Choose Caterpillar MineStar if
- You need fleet management.
- You work on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations.
- You also want real-time tracking.
Choose Carlson Mining if
- You need pit design.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want grade control.
Questions people ask
- Is Caterpillar MineStar or Carlson Mining better?
- Neither clearly leads. Caterpillar MineStar starts at On request and Carlson Mining at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Caterpillar MineStar or Carlson Mining?
- Caterpillar MineStar starts at On request and Carlson Mining at On request.
- Does Caterpillar MineStar or Carlson Mining run on more platforms?
- Caterpillar MineStar runs on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations. Carlson Mining runs on Windows.
- What is Caterpillar MineStar best used for?
- Caterpillar MineStar is most often used for fleet optimization, autonomous operations, equipment monitoring, production tracking. Of those, fleet optimization and autonomous operations are not what Carlson Mining is typically brought in for.
- What can Caterpillar MineStar do that Carlson Mining cannot?
- Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management, Real-time tracking, Terrain management, Equipment health monitoring. Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Grade control, Production planning, Survey integration.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Caterpillar MineStar: Does MineStar work with equipment from other manufacturers?
Yes. MineStar Solutions work with all types of assets and integrate with any brand of equipment, sharing data across existing machines, systems and technologies.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: What are the main components of MineStar?
MineStar comprises five configurable features: Fleet for equipment tracking, Terrain for haul path optimization, Detection for safety monitoring, Health for equipment maintenance, and Command for autonomous operations.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: Can MineStar be used for underground mining?
Yes. MineStar Solutions are available for both surface and underground mining operations, with dedicated technology offerings for underground safety and productivity.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: Is MineStar a cloud-based or on-premises solution?
MineStar is a cloud-based, subscription-managed application that reduces costs of deployment, service, and training by allowing customers to select offerings by role, function, or task.
Source