NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 ‘You can do that on a computer?’ they Utah’s input kickstarted innovations A STORY OF exclaimed. Intrigued that what I had that would have come about eventually. almost forgotten was valuable to my However, this way was far more effective, PARTNERING customers, I left with a few of the hand leading to mutual satisfaction and long- written logs. I said it would be ‘easy’ - it term partnerships. & INNOVATION would only take a few days! Maptek still provides software and services By Bob Johnson I had learned that I must talk to to those Bowen Basin mines, which BMA customers to find out their true needs. acquired in 1990. Many years ago, I left the University of I would be able to feed my family and Utah NSW to start a small business offering would get a faster and better outcome The memory of those early days drives whiz-bang mathematical data processing than conventional drafting methods - a me to keep listening to customers to to help mining companies with their win-win situation. identify how we can help. Mines want exploration for coal and minerals. I had lower operating costs and people want received an undergraduate scholarship I dusted off ideas from my doctorate and job satisfaction. Maptek’s Vulcan software from the Joint Coal Board and wanted to created the first borehole database system has evolved through close interaction with contribute something back to the industry. and borehole cross-section plotting users to ensure practical outcomes. program. Stratigraphic sections were Utah Development Company was then automatically generated at any desired Likewise, a job with the Defence Science developing the large open cut coal mines scale, showing different lithologies and Technology Organisation in Adelaide led in the Bowen Basin. To their credit, senior formation codes. I even added their logo, to our I-Site system. We recognised the mine planners gave me some geophysical title block and all the finishing elements a potential of laser scanning technology and data to play with. I processed it, producing drafting office would provide. then collaborated with our customers. results that were interesting but of little The result was a highly efficient system for consequence. However, I did receive my I returned to the Utah mine planners as rapid, safe and accurate surveying. Mine first income in four months. promised and rolled out the section. I left with a commission to set up the database surveyors around the world have pooled A few weeks later Utah gave me another and generate sections and contour plans their experience to help create the industry chance. Their coal exploration in the Lake for the entire deposit. They estimated standard for 3D laser mapping. Phillipson area of South Australia had saving on a year of effort. We moved on Of course, when I left academia in amassed about 200 hand written field logs to do extensive work for Queensland’s 1976, such concepts were beyond and some coal assays. There was nothing Bowen Basin mines. The rest is history. our realisation. From those first ideas, I could do immediately, they said, until the quantum leaps have followed. plans were drawn up. The drafting would Computer based modelling had proved profitable, but as a service company we take about six months. I could then get Maptek remains committed to innovation. were limited by the number of hours in a the data from the plans and ‘process’ it. Seeing customers successfully using our day. When computer technology caught products in their daily tasks encourages I couldn’t wait that long for my next job. I up anyone could own a PC. us to continue to push the boundaries. had an old plot buried in my briefcase - a Together we can achieve better outcomes stratigraphic column drawn on a Calcomp Maptek was started up in 1981 to write for the mining industry. pen plotter. I flattened it out on the desk software that would allow customers and they jumped on it. to do the modelling themselves. V ULCAN 8.1 New modules Short Term Planner Upgraded functionality > Analyse open pit scheduling scenarios > Underground ramp unfolding for easier > Create 3D period regions automatically grade analysis and plotting Streamlined display > Extract required information directly from > Determine fuel consumption when > Redesigned interface for generating block models evaluating different haulage routes bench & batter projections > All variables in block models can be > Store and manipulate more information > Geotechnical utilities include tadpole used for cutoffs in design data and stickplot display options > Reporting and statistics integrated with > Draw legends in multiple planes > New grade control display toolbar for other Vulcan tools > Click on 3D data to link to external faster, easier viewing applications Stope Optimiser > Easier digitising with hot key tracking Integration with third party programs > Assess multiple scenarios to target > Improved survey station management > Share 3D data in documents and web mineable zones using VRML and Ngrain formats > Apply to very steep orebodies or Improved performance > Better support for AutoCAD files with horizontal benches > Multi-threading reduces time required large amounts of design data > Use for open pit or horizontal to run optimisations by up to 99% For more information on new functionality underground designs > Optimised run length compositing results and improvements in Vulcan 8.1, visit > Analyse and compare stopes in better resource determination www.maptek.com/vulcan8.1 > Generate triangulations for design, > Access acQuire managed databases reserves and scheduling faster PT Globecon technical staff, who are best in mining software,’ says Roy Vogler, VULCAN IN trained in Vulcan and experienced in President of PT Globecon Indonesia. MARCH 2011 delivering quality services, will work with ‘Maptek is excited about the opportunities 2 INDONESIA Maptek staff to ensure the highest quality outcomes for Indonesian customers. that this agreement will open up, and Maptek has engaged a local recognises the benefit in being able representative to promote PT Globecon was established in 1995 to deliver better services to existing and its team of expatriate and Indonesian Indonesian Vulcan users, as well as Vulcan in Indonesia. professionals provides expertise of providing Indonesian miners with world PT Globecon Indonesia will sell Vulcan to international excellence. class technical solutions,’ said Peter MAPTEK FORGE the local mining market, as well as offer Johnson, General Manager, Australia. ‘Indonesian mining has matured into a technical support, training and consulting professional and skilled industry, where To arrange a demonstration of Vulcan for Vulcan users from its offices in Jakarta technical adaptation is readily accepted, contact [email protected] or and Balikpapan. especially in embracing the latest and visit the website at www.globecon.co.id Surveying at Mount Dove involved 01 SCANNING scanning almost 600,000 m2 of undulating terrain. The portability of THE PILBARA the I-Site 8800 laser scanner was greatly appreciated, especially when Atlas Iron has realised the climbing the summit of Mount Dove. benefits of using the Maptek At the Wodgina operation, 13 scans of the ™ I-Site 8800 laser scanner to area and surrounding hills were captured. acquire detailed topographic data for new mining projects ‘With mining already underway at Wodgina, we wanted accurate in the Pilbara. topographic data of the operation to Atlas Iron is committed to the exploration assist with future mine development and development of iron ore projects and planning,’ Gary explained. throughout Western Australia. As a ‘Maptek provided us with an effective 02 producer of iron ore, Atlas Iron has an solution to acquire and process spatial extensive portfolio of projects which data. It was safe, cost effective and 2 cover an area of over 15,000 km in unparalleled in accuracy.’ the northeast Pilbara, Newman area and midwest of Western Australia. ‘In less than 4 hours at Mount Dove we observed 21 million points. Capturing this The company has recently extended its number of points would take 210,000 footprint around Newman and will target hours with conventional equipment which large scale orebodies in the southeast generally rates at 100 points/hour.’ Pilbara as it looks to grow its resource and reserve base. Two key operations in this Triangulations, contour files and gridded expansion are Mount Dove and Wodgina. point files at 1 metre and 5 metre spacings 03 were modelled from the scan data of the The I-Site 8800 laser scanner was two areas. This data can now be exported commissioned by Atlas to provide up-to- to Maptek Vulcan™ software for further date, detailed surface topography data of geotechnical analysis and mine planning. these two emerging mining operations. Existing aerial survey data from the 1960s The spatial data acquired using the was neither detailed nor reliable enough I-Site 8800 laser scanner has provided for Atlas Iron to use in mining preparations. Atlas Iron with a sound foundation for mine development. Atlas Iron now has I-Site Sales and Technical Consultant, topographic data of the area with points 01 Modelled topographic data for Mount Dove 02 Atlas Iron and Maptek personnel with the Luke Holdcroft and Atlas Iron Senior every 1 metre. When you consider Surveyor, Gary Johnson were able to I-Site 8800 laser scanner at Wodgina that the only data the company had 03 Scanning at Wodgina capture all the data needed from both before undertaking this work was points 04 Model of Wodgina mining area sites in two days. All of the data and every 20 metres, the benefit is clear. 3D models were available to Atlas immediately, something that is simply Thanks to LASER SCANNING Gary Johnson, Senior Surveyor not possible with conventional methods Atlas Iron ADVANTAGES such as aerial or GPS surveying. > Higher resolution data > Up-to-date data when you need it > Massive saving in field time ‘MAPTEK PROVIDED US WITH AN EFFICIENT SOLUTION > More cost effective than aerial survey TO ACQUIRE AND PROCESS SPATIAL DATA.