Newsletter December 2014
> In this issue Monitoring crusher wear rates Stratigraphic tools in Vulcan 9.1 Integrated scheduling strategy New coal quality tracking system Blast analytics with BlastLogic Sentry tracks movement trends PerfectDig design conformance I-Site defines road expansion Maptek South America celebrates 20 years 2014 marks 20 years since Maptek became operational in Chile.
‘Since 1994 we have faced The renowned course has been ‘Maptek has always enjoyed the different challenges, both conducted continuously for 13 support and commitment of our professionally and technologically,’ years in partnership with the customers. A mark of this respect said Vice-President Maptek South University of Alberta, Canada, is participation in the regular South America Marcelo Arancibia. through the Geostatistics Center American Users Conferences,’ led by Dr Clayton Deutsch. added Arancibia. ‘What has remained the same is our purpose. We provide our Vulcan software maintains a strong ‘We now offer a range of technical customers with products and position in South America with solutions covering mine planning, services of excellence and global more than 1,300 licences in use. blast management and 3D laser quality.’ These are supported by a local scan survey, all of which are team of developers and technical focused on helping our customers.’ ‘From simple beginnings in 1994 experts who provide support 24/7. in Santiago, Chile the South ‘In South America, we know that American contingent has grown to The founder of Maptek, Dr Bob if we did not have the support and a taskforce of nearly 100. Besides Johnson congratulated the team trust of our customers, none of this the main office in Viña del Mar, in South America, acknowledging would have been possible. We take Chile, dedicated sales teams are their dedication and commitment this opportunity to thank you again located in Lima, Peru and Belo to our users and the mining for letting us share with you our Horizonte, Brazil.’ industry. 20 years in South America!’
‘This expansion has been driven by our customers. More than ‘South America leads in pushing the 7,000 mining professionals have received product training, and 150 technology envelope to allow our specialists have completed the customers to gain continuous benefits graduate Geostatistics course.’ from using the Maptek products.’
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014
Maptek South America celebrates 20 years 2014 marks 20 years since Maptek became operational in Chile. 7 9 12
In this issue Contents The technical mining systems I-Site 8200 monitoring crusher wear rates 2 landscape changes almost as quickly Safe solution provides timely, accurate data as an advancing mine face. More connected, efficient and integrated Vulcan 9.1 stratigraphic updates 4 systems use volumes of data an order New modelling options for making the most of your data of magnitude above what we see now. Optimised haulage strategy cuts costs 6 Shorter planning cycles will drive the Integrated schedules consider haulage and waste need for real time data to monitor Maptek IT coal quality tracking system 7 performance against design. All Monitoring system enhances site wide efficiency technical systems, plant and equipment will be able to access that data to better BlastLogic blast analytics 8 meet production targets. Blast by blast analysis guides production improvements Maptek measurement and modelling Sentry tracks surface movements 9 systems quickly record, analyse and Visualising trends helps meet safety objectives communicate this data. Feeding it back PerfectDig design conformance reporting 10 into the mine production cycle is a key Efficient reporting boosts site productivity enabler to success and continuous improvement. I-Site technology defines safe route 12 Geological and geotechnical survey for road expansion Businesses must be agile and flexible if they are to meet their performance University partnerships 13 targets. Maptek technology systems Queensland students immersed in the survey workflow help them by providing accurate data and powerful analysis tools to guide Calendar of events 13 decision making.
MAPTEK / LEARN Learn new software skills and how to apply the latest tools Introducing Maptek Learn Maptek Learn is your hub for gaining new skills. Learn more about Haulage Profile with this tutorial and case study. Watch the videos by Stratigraphic Development Manager, Peter Odins, where he outlines a few of his favourite things in Vulcan 9.1. And see what other Vulcan technical services staff rate highly in this release. www.maptek.com/learn CONTENTS / DECEMBER 2014 1 Monitoring wear rates in crushers Maptek™ technology proves to be a cost-effective and safe solution for monitoring wear rates of ore crushers.
Wear and tear in ore crushers can vertically to maintain a consistent Physically entering the crusher impact fragmentation size, cause spacing for generating constant cavity exposes team members to damage to machinery and increase fragment size. dust and noise as well as risks of power costs. Maptek™ recently falling from the side walls. Working conducted a proof of concept for The mantle is designed in at heights requires wearing safety monitoring components of crushers, 4 different sizes depending on harnesses. using I-Site™ laser scan technology the wear profile of the outside and Vulcan™ modelling software. lining. The higher the wear rate Production must stop when the of the lining, the larger the mantle crusher is shut down, with loss of The safe, efficient and accurate that is installed. revenue estimated at US$200,000 solution provides mining per hour. Typically 3 hours is needed companies with data to predict Being able to accurately predict to collect manual measurements; crusher down time and metrics for when to make adjustments if this happens every 10 weeks, it optimising downstream processes. is essential for optimising means $3m per annum. Applying best practice in the downstream material handling crushing and processing phase in secondary and tertiary Even though measurements can significantly reduce costs crushing systems. are taken during part of a wider in the mining life cycle. shutdown program, time savings are significant with the Maptek Fragmentation size is controlled Safety and time solution. by two main crusher components Safety and time are the main - the lining and the mantle. The concerns around manual The solution interior lining of a rotary primary measurements in the crusher Using the I-Site 8200 laser scanner, crusher is designed to absorb compartment. Maptek demonstrated that the lining the continuous impact of material An infra-red device traditionally of the primary crusher, as well as dumped into the crusher. Over a would be used to measure wear other downstream crushers, could 10 week period, the lining can wear patterns. Taking measurements be scanned in a fraction of the time. by as much as 350mm, depending from an estimated centre point in It could also be conducted safely on the material being crushed. the crusher compartment at 50mm and with accurate results. The inside mantle is the main vertical spacing in octants could Moreover, the detailed 3D laser control over fragmentation size. take up to 3 hours for a vertical scan data can be applied to During the 10 week cycle, the extent of 2.75m. analysis outside the original scope mantle position is adjusted of the study.
Wide scanning field of view, coarse levelling and 8mm minimum accuracy make the I-Site 8200 system ideal for crusher survey.
2 MONITORING WEAR RATES Predicting crusher down time allows operations to realise ongoing productivity gains.
Wear to the crusher lining can be easily seen by comparing the distance from the centre point of the crusher to the lining before and after operation
Laser scanning was conducted Using Vulcan 3D solid tools the entire Ideal scenarios with the scanner mounted on model was shelled into vertical and the dust collar alongside the horizontal segments. This allowed Reducing down time of crushers crusher compartment. Scanning comparison of both thickness and allows mining operations to was completed in less than distance from centre points. The effectively increase revenue. 30 minutes. Staff did not Survey Radiations function showed Accurate digital data promotes need to enter the crusher. the distance from the centre point of more informed decisions relating the crusher of both the design and to the position of the mantle that A 3D triangulation model of the the actual scanned area. ultimately controls the gap between crusher lining before operation it and the lining. was built from design parameters Further analysis to establish a benchmark for Sending consistent size calculating wear patterns. The The study revealed uneven wear material to the processing model was divided into horizontal on the crusher lining. Quadrants plant provides an opportunity and vertical segments so that where material was tipped into to improve productivity. results could be easily related to the crusher showed higher wear. what was happening in the crusher. Data for one quadrant indicated Crusher design companies can Loading positions and various that trucks were not stopping evaluate the wear patterns and vertical design components of parallel to the crusher dump box, adjust the position of the mantle the lining were also referenced. exacerbating wear at this point. based on this accurate data. Industry R&D investment could also Wear in the lower section of the Scan data was compared to the lead to further improvements in the crusher was greater at the join in modelled design data to create a overall crushing process. wear profile. Tools in I-Site Studio the lining. Allowing material with and Vulcan allowed various metrics increased fragment size to pass Predicting crusher shutdown to to be extracted, with the main through this area has potential for replace parts and achieve optimum focus on wear patterns for each impact on downstream processing crusher life will deliver ongoing quadrant. performance. productivity gains.
As expected, the highest wear A dramatic reduction in time The ideal scenario would be occurred at the bottom of the spent measuring the crusher to continuously scan crusher crusher lining, where the actual lining, combined with a significant components to measure wear and crushing takes place. Further increase in accuracy of data tear. If safety and access limitations evaluation was needed to determine captured by I-Site laser scan make this impractical, scanning if crushing occurred consistently technology, allows advanced more regularly would still be a throughout the lining and to assess analysis of data and more effective worthwhile investment. its impact on wear rates. decision making.
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 3 Vulcan 9.1 models ALL of your data New stratigraphic modelling tools in Maptek™ Vulcan™ 9.1 ensure geologists and engineers make the most of their valuable data.
Stratigraphic modelling has come Guided by client feedback and Perhaps when your drillholes start a long way since the days when requests, we have responded to or end in the coal seam, you are each site had a ‘handcrafted’ many additional requests within tired of telling Vulcan that this really macro – virtually held under lock this version. Vulcan 9.1 ensures is the roof or floor of the coal! and key, only to be released once a that nothing is lost. year to rerun the resource model. If so, try the new trust list option Users want to squeeze the in FixDHD. Instead of ignoring The revolution in stratigraphic most value out of all their data, these holes or fudging additional modelling began with the release especially in tougher economic intervals in your database, simply of Vulcan™ 6. The Integrated conditions when it becomes a specify which holes you trust for Stratigraphic Modelling (ISM) clear case of ‘use it or lose it’. the roof or floor and let FixDHD do workflow brought the tools for the rest. Your valuable data will be making accurate and timely honoured – without compromising geological models onto the Use all your data the original drilling data. desktops of all users. If you happen to have a ‘spare’ 40,000 correlated blastholes, Model stratigraphy However, just because the which in the past could not be Are you frustrated at having to ISM workflow made it simpler used effectively in FixDHD due to discard lots of valuable in-pit, to incorporate all the available containing only one horizon, then crop line, scanned or seismic geological and exploration data into try the new short hole capability. the final model, it didn’t mean all interpretations because you prefer sites immediately embraced it. This allows you to really tie down to use a stacking base method in your structural models with high Model Stratigraphy? Protocol must be clearly followed, resolution drillhole data – without In Vulcan 9.1 there is no need to especially at larger operations, introducing any artefacts in the throw away data – simply select before such a comprehensive remainder of the stratigraphic the new hybrid base method and change in approach can be adopted. sequence due to over-enthusiastic include everything in the additional Acceptance timeframes are not interpolation. uncommonly measured in years. design data section for any or all As an added bonus it will probably horizons. ISM will let you have your Adoption of the ISM tools reached run 20 times faster! (layer) cake and eat it too! a peak during the Vulcan 9.1 development period.
4 STRATIGRAPHIC MODELLING WITH VULCAN If you prefer the structural it with additional information from surfaces approach, the new grids or constants, then try the new preserve thickness option will update HARP model qualities help prevent unrealistic pinch-outs option. You will save time and effort or thickening of seams. This uses by not having to recreate your thickness information from the model from first principles. structural surface with the most information to control the surface Model sharing with the least. Once you have created a terrific These two apparently small HARP model and are satisfied that changes will have a profound you have squeezed the most value influence on modelling stratigraphic out of your hard won data, you deposits. Even more power is will be keen to share it. The new placed in the hands of geologists export HARP model to surfaces or engineers, ensuring that no option has that covered too. relevant data is left unused. As the name suggests this option allows you to easily extract any HARP models structural or quality data from the HARP modellers are not ignored. model directly to triangulations Enhancements to HARP creation or grids ready for downstream mean that you can include use. There is no need to copy LEARN modelled or constant values thousands of grid and triangulation MORE directly in the waste blocks files in order to share your model. ONLINE between horizons as well as within horizons, with the option You spend a lot of time and money to break them down into vertical collecting data. Maptek ensures sub-blocks. that you get the most value out of it. Vulcan 9.1 goes a long way If you already have a perfected to helping you work in the most HARP model and want to upgrade efficient way to meet your goals.
www.maptek.com/vulcan9.1/stratigraphic.html
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 5 Integrated haulage strategy cuts costs Maptek™ recently added the Evorelution capability to Vulcan™, providing advanced strategic mine scheduling optimisation tools.
Now known as Vulcan™ Open Pit The efficient scheduling process Analysis revealed that purchasing Scheduler, Evorelution proved its reduced the time to generate three extra trucks could be worth in a scheduling study at the optimal fleet haulage routes for delayed for 18 months, saving Tropicana gold mine in Western the 10 waste landforms. more than 1,000 haulage hours Australia in 2012. Haulage costs were lowered by per month for this period. One large block model covered the developing a practical operating Tropicana project, which extended plan which met all of the complex Closure planning was included as more than 5km along strike and objectives associated with part of the mine plan. The benefit to a depth of 400m. Ten waste operational readiness. of this lies in identifying areas destinations were involved. where final landform development Plans had to incorporate can commence early in the mine Practical medium and long-term infrastructure such as tailings dam schedule. Management is then mine plans were developed from lifts, ROM pads and haul roads, able to make decisions based on the resource model. and allow for growth medium known clearance costs. (topsoil) as well as encapsulation of The mine plans met mill feed potentially acid generating material. Running production scheduling, requirements while minimising route allocation, haulage cycle haulage costs, maximising Other requirements were to build time analysis and waste landform recovered metal production and in truck ramp-up strategy, and optimisation within the same minimising stockpile rehandle. to allow for variable period length package meant a 30% reduction and variable crusher throughput, in mining software costs. which is dependent on lithology, to process 5.8 to 6.6 mtpa. Technical staff also reported improved efficiency through Productivity benefits working across planning horizons, with reduced training costs and As well as maximising value by enhanced workflows. meeting required metal production, haulage costs were reduced Vulcan Open Pit Scheduler by 10%. Additional productivity powered by Evorelution is now benefits were realised by deferral available. of capital outlay on fleet purchases Contact your local Maptek office to find and early identification of where, out more about the benefits for strategic when and how much land needs mine planning at your operation. to be cleared.
6 STRATEGIC MINE PLANNING Coal tracking enhances site efficiency Maptek™ is implementing a coal quality tracking system at a Queensland operation to meet needs for site wide efficiency gains.
The work started in late 2012 when It is already in use at some sites Maptek was approached to develop within the operation, where it Maptek IT support software modelling functionality for reports on quality levels and framework a coal tracking system. trending qualities in pseudo real- time. This ensures that customer >> Manage incidents The mine delivered its first coal contracts and products realistically >> Troubleshoot problems in 2014 and will produce up to match specifications. >> Manage releases/upgrades 5.5 mtpa of premium quality >> Capacity management metallurgical coal. The modelling functionality will >> Monitoring systems Energy efficiency was a key focus be seamlessly integrated with >> Administration services during the mine development the mine fleet management >> Change management system to track payloads and phase, with measures built into >> System maintenance coal origin information through the design and management the production machinery and systems. This included installing stockpiles. Support transition has been highly efficient equipment and successful. Knowledge and optimisation of truck, shovel and The coal tracking system expertise were transferred from dragline movements. successfully passed all factory in-house systems to Maptek IT The coal tracking system is acceptance tests in August 2014. with no interruption to production. an integral part of the overall Current work involves implementing To date all service level agreements IT environment which will help the system for calibration and have been met. modelling at both the raw coal and deliver efficiencies across the Contact [email protected] to find out operation. Maptek IT implemented product site facilities. It is expected how Maptek IT can help optimise your a specific design for the modelling to be operational by August 2015. operation. functionality to ensure it matched Maptek involvement continues past the on-site facilities for coal development and implementation. tracking. New machinery and mine Expert application support services site operations were simulated to include incident management and mirror real world conditions. resolution, upgrade changeover, The system allows the operation to monitoring, administration and monitor the quality of coal through system maintenance. its various mine sites and facilities.
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 7 LEARN MORE ONLINE
Blast by blast advances Maptek™ BlastLogic™ blast analytics help operations identify trends to guide production improvements and reduce risk.
An Australian coal mine wanted Execution Outcome to quantify the impact of various blast plans on the operation. BlastLogic compared the design The greatest benefit came from the Existing methods relied on manual with implementation and outcome, production insights gained through processes and inefficient software providing important production cataloguing blasts by conditions, for analysing blasting results. There insight across multiple mining performance and region. Multiple was no way of comparing and areas. No additional workload field and office users accessed the contrasting multiple blasts. was placed on engineers and same data and worked together to blast crews, allowing more time identify areas for improvement. Leveraging blast analytics for engineers to focus on design at an operation can preempt improvement and operational As a result, this operation risk, reduce production collaboration. achieved more cost effective bottlenecks and eliminate blasting, with a 10% reduction in potential cost issues. Blast crews used the BlastLogic powder factor and faster timing. tablet in the field to capture critical data. All information was instantly Site users found the flexible Strategy synchronised back to the server. BlastLogic workflow particularly To leverage blast analytics, the first Charge plans were dynamically helpful when applying changes step was to find a way to instantly updated based on real time and performing simple analysis. connect and visualise data. Reliable dipping data from field crews. All updates were communicated information was needed for quick Direct interface with support on the fly, reducing down time recognition of factors impacting drill drill navigation systems ensured and minimising chances of and blast at critical stages, so that consistent data, which was miscommunication. timely action could be taken. reconciled back in the office. Operational knowledge was linked Maptek™ BlastLogic™ software Overloading of explosives was effectively with blast by blast provided a site wide solution avoided using visual warnings insights and production details. for all stakeholders. BlastLogic displayed on the BlastLogic tablet This meant that the operation enabled instant access to drill and and desktop software. Planning could use blast analytics to blast data. Visualisation in a 3D and operations teams could work uncover connections and trends environment provided a platform for in sync to fine tune cost and that emerge in their drill and blast logical planning and implementation performance differentials. processes. of blasting activities. Email [email protected]
8 BLASTLOGIC BLAST ANALYTICS Trend analysis for surface movement The new Maptek™ Sentry system provides intuitive visualisation and trend analysis tools, enabling better understanding of surface movements within mines.
Hillgrove Resources Limited greatly increase the monitoring The failure timelines from these LEARN Kanmantoo Copper Mine is a frequency to 4 minutes, the areas also allowed information to MORE 10-year open cut mine producing scanner and radar data continue be fed back into the system for ONLINE 20,000 tpa of copper metal with to follow similar trends. creating radar alarms. associated gold and silver. The mine, in the Adelaide Hills of During the recent laser scanning Value adding South Australia, has been trialling period, additional movements were Maptek™ Sentry since late 2013. detected below the main ramp into Laser scan data can also be used the pit. The combined data from for other spatial, geotechnical Sentry setup the radar and I-Site scanner were and volumetric tasks. Design used to manage mine production conformance reporting can be Sentry is a reliable laser-based and establish a second stabilisation conducted in PerfectDig. Sentry system for accurately detecting berm under the ramp. can be halted temporarily so that change in real time. The latest the laser scanner can be used ™ I-Site 8820 laser scanner was Trial results elsewhere in the operation for positioned on a permanent survey or geotechnical work. bollard in a newly opened pit, Maptek returned regularly to approximately 200m from a wall of Kanmantoo Mine to compare Hillgrove found that Sentry concern. Weekly scans were taken results as changes were detected. data improved awareness of to build up baseline data. movement in the pit and helped Sentry results provided excellent plan remedial action. The Hillgrove Results were compared to the correlation with radar systems. trial demonstrated Sentry’s value output from regularly monitored Movement trends in ductile rock for visualising and analysing prisms. Sentry data correlated well, were tracked with millimetre movement trends and meeting and supplied extra information accuracy. safety objectives. on the surrounding areas. This Thanks to Hillgrove Resources Limited correlation instilled trust in Sentry, Sentry showed the points of origin and the additional data assisted and landing, as well as the volume with decisions such as remedial (down to 0.5-1.5m3) of small rock stabilisation berm positioning. falls. This data has been invaluable Based on prism data alone, the for improving Hillgrove’s rock fall stabilisation berm would have been database, which management considerably shorter. uses to reduce small-scale rock fall risk in the vicinity of highwall toes. When slow creep movement was detected in the highwall, the I-Site With regard to larger wall laser scanner was repositioned movements, being able to view to be more perpendicular to data in 2D and 3D with images that portion of the wall. A radar and heat maps overlaid improves was deployed at the same time analysis of movements over to specifically cover the area. time. Sentry’s graphical and Although the radar collected more statistical reporting tools promoted frequent data (5 minutes versus better understanding of the 42 minutes) the I-Site scan showed failure mechanisms of several similar total movement (3-7mm) and wall movements – the slowly movement rates (<1mm/day). progressing highwall toppling, a weathered slump failure and the More recently the rate of highwall slumping under a haul ramp. movements has increased. Although the laser scanner resolution has been reduced to
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 9 Valuable design conformance reporting Maptek™ PerfectDig is a fast, easy and accurate solution for reporting mining activity to help operations avoid cost overruns arising from non-conformance.
Successful mining organisations Data input & output Value proposition LEARN rely on some form of reconciliation MORE The concept is simple. Input Manual workflow for reporting ONLINE procedure or system to guide them in implementing their mine designs. data can be laser scans, existing often creates months of backlog. surfaces, airborne LiDAR point The process is then perceived as The question is no longer whether clouds or UAV data. merely a corporate requirement mine reconciliation systems benefit with no tangible benefit to sites. operations, but whether they can Outputs are intuitive, useful and be improved to deliver additional rapidly generated with minimal Fast, simple output of PerfectDig productivity gains. With new, user effort. The user selects a reports creates an effective disruptive technology becoming design, blocklines if applicable, conduit for feedback into the available, the answer is invariably and as-built data. operational loop. This makes real that improvements can be made. time decisions possible, leading to Once a region and the section measurable business outcomes. Maptek™ solutions look to add spacing are selected, PerfectDig value to even the most solid processes the data and produces Using the report generator business foundations. We are a conformance report. Data can means a task that would take continually investigating new ways be reported in various unit formats, hours can become a simple to collect and exploit spatial data including tonnages if material function taking minutes. in its various forms. density is known. One customer estimated that the Users can annotate the reports, One example is the PerfectDig conformance reporting tool alone save as pdf and print or publish conformance report generator could pay off the purchase price directly to PerfectDig Online. A link which targets the reconciliation in 1 year by saving the wages of can be emailed to all stakeholders. feedback loop. Customer input a single person. This is apart from to enhancements which are now any consideration of operational available in PerfectDig 1.2. savings arising from using the PerfectDig results efficiently.
10 DESIGN CONFORMANCE REPORTING Conformance reporting Real time comparison between design and as-built highlights Taking a step back we can explore issues before they get out of hand. why (not how) PerfectDig adds value to the design conformance process. Monitoring is another big impact area. It is the main real time data Resource modelling, the first gathering stage, with data flowing step in mining, dictates the into all downstream processes. economic feasibility of the project and in turn the mining limits. During Ideal monitoring provides daily mining, information is continually or hourly comparisons to design. fed back to refine the model. Most The closer to real time the of the resource reconciliation monitoring is, the better results Conclusion compares as-built information it yields and the more efficient against the resource model. the operation. Planning assumptions are improved by monitoring and optimising the Mine designs are then created The monitoring method must modelling, design and execution for extracting ore from the ground. be simple and fast. The data of a mine plan. Deficiencies can Long and mid-term designs are needs to be easily accessible and be identified and dealt with in a based on the broader model and transparent to all parties, from reasonable time frame. generally do not involve daily accountants to machine operators. mining input. It is no longer necessary to delay Understanding and quantifying milestone reporting. The technology Short term design requires constant conformance data is paramount is now available to make it a refining and is very much a day for making good decisions which constant, achievable mechanism to day proposition, with ground ultimately drive organisational for day to day operational conditions, equipment and previous improvement. improvement. mining activity taken into account. To see all of the latest features for Optimisation depends on Great effort goes into generating design conformance reporting, visit information gathered during designs. Successful mining dictates www.maptek.com/products/perfectdig/ execution and monitoring. This that they be followed accurately. is where the loop that started Deviation from design affects both with resource modelling is closed. timing and costs. All of the acquired information is is where most Design execution applied to improve the design. True of the savings can be made. Tools optimisation demands consistency that aid conformance to design in execution. This requires should be relied upon in this comprehensive monitoring with phase. Cost overruns due to under near real time feedback. and overdig can tip the balance between profit and loss.
The cost of the conformance reporting tool alone can save significant resources.
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 11 Geology helps define road expansion Maptek™ I-Site™ technology defined the geology and stability of cliff faces, helping a road construction company to plan a safe expansion project.
Khasab, a city in the exclave of Accurate solution Detailed results LEARN Oman, was isolated for a long time. ™ ™ MORE Mountains rising from the plains of A Maptek I-Site 8810 laser The original scope of the project ONLINE Ras al Khaimah made it virtually scanner was used for geological required I-Site Studio software to impossible to reach the city by land. mapping and geotechnical data generate rose diagrams for each acquisition. Surveying was fast and of the thousands of rock faces The development of a coastal road safe: 3 kilometres of road could be along the cliff. This data was to be from the United Arab Emirates scanned each day. Cliff walls were the basis for developing a regional opened Khasab to the world. up to 100 metres high. geological report. Access challenges Traditionally, a team of rock Topographic surfaces of the road climbers would scale the cliffs and and cliff face were generated to The highway is built up against use a handheld compass to map create a slope map for identifying a sheer coastal cliff. Large the rock faces. This was neither steep areas. overhanging rocks are susceptible fast nor safe. to falling, particularly following After data collection finished, rainfall. A planned upgrade Mounting the laser scanner STFA asked for cross-sections of prompted officials to commission on a vehicle allowed the survey the walls and road, along with the a study to ensure the new design crew to scan the walls from a volumes of particular rocks at high would prevent rock falls and safe distance, away from large risk of coming loose. Traditionally, improve road safety. overhangs. time consuming new surveys would have been required. Due to the challenging geology of Access was difficult with the road the region, the road construction These deliverables were outside running right against the sea company, STFA, required details the initial scope. However, the wall. The I-Site laser scanner was of the geology and rock stability to comprehensive I-Site 8810 data mounted on a crane to capture gain a better understanding of the was easily modelled and exported data on high faces where the offset cliff faces. as cross-sections. This information was even tighter. helped determine where mesh or shotcrete would be required to stabilise surfaces. Thanks to Destecs International
12 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY University partnerships Maptek Calendar Students experience the ideal survey workflow 2015
Final year surveying students at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) recently January 26-29 took part in a one-day masterclass run by Maptek™. Association for Mineral Exploration BC Vancouver, BC, Canada - Booth 600 Maptek technical services consultant James Mckenzie conducted the session for external spatial science students attending their residential week in Toowoomba, February 1-4 west of Brisbane. International Society of Explosives Engineers New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - Booth 510
The workflow based class saw students importing, editing and manipulating scans February 15-18 in Maptek I-Site™ Studio software. Models and triangulations were exported to Vulcan SME for calculating volumes and reporting. Denver, Colorado, USA - Booth 1303
Almost all of the 30 strong class were final year surveying students. The activities February 23-25 followed the daily rounds of a surveyor in the typical mining environment. International LiDAR Mapping Forum 2015 Portland, Maine, USA Several had experienced Maptek products before but even those students found the March 1-4 workflow approach particularly beneficial. The tips, tricks and shortcuts that were Prospectors & Developers Association of demonstrated will stand them in good stead. Canada Toronto, BC, Canada - Booth 1039 Feedback from the university was very positive. Firm plans have been made for further sessions, along with a request for more I-Site studio licences to allow USQ to expand May 9-13 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy the class. and Petroleum Montreal, BC, Canada - Booth 2009 ‘The Maptek session highlighted the need for more 3D modelling exercises in USQ courses. The university is keen to provide an environment where as many students as May 23-27 possible gain exposure to the latest technology, to set them up for their future careers,’ APCOM said Chris Power, Survey & Spatial Science Lecturer, Faculty of Health, Engineering Fairbanks, Alaska, USA and Sciences. June 4-5 Elko Mining Expo Maptek will now develop a short course incorporating I-Site Studio, Vulcan™ and Elko, Nevada, USA PerfectDig for students in coming years. This will provide an end-to-end mine site workflow from survey pickup to reporting. June 11-12 Africa Australia Technical Mining Conference Adelaide, South Australia - Booth 1
July 13-15 Iron Ore 2015 Perth, Western Australia - Booth 20
August 24-26 Fragblast 11 Sydney, NSW, Australia - Booth 16
September 21-25 Perumin Extemin Arequipa, Peru - Booths 1591 & 1592
October 7-9 7th Bowen Basin Geology Group Symposium Brisbane, QLD, Australia - Booth 37
October 7-10 XXXI International Mining Convention Acapulco, México
MAPTEK FORGE / DECEMBER 2014 13 Maptek, Vulcan, I-Site, BlastLogic, Eureka and the stylised M are registered and unregistered trademarks of Maptek Pty Ltd; Maptek Computación Chile Ltda; Maptek Computación Chile Ltda, Sucursal Perú; Maptek S de RL de CV; Maptek Informática do Brasil Ltda and KRJA Systems, Inc. Registered marks are registered in one or more of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Greece, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.
Maptek Forge newsletter is published each quarter. You can receive it by mail or emailed link to the Maptek website. Email [email protected] to subscribe or advise changes to contact details. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. ©2014 Maptek www.maptek.com