In This Issue

Newsletter June 2013

> In this issue Latest news Education support Underground tools Vulcan case studies BlastLogic & Eureka I-Site heritage scanning Contents Latest news 1 Education support 3 Maptek and universities

Vulcan underground tools 4 New in version 9 In this issue Scanning underground 5 The seemingly small things often have the greatest impact. This is why I-Site 8200 and version 4.1 software Maptek works with customers to define their concerns and shape our product development to continue to deliver value where it’s needed. Case study: Resource estimation 6 Vulcan at REE project in Tanzania This issue highlights our links with universities; Maptek technology will ensure Case study: In situ reserves 7 future mining professionals enter the industry with technical skills and relevant Vulcan at gold-silver mine in Chile experience.

Case Study: Grade control 8 What do Cerro Negro Norte and El Peñón in Chile, and Wigu Hill in Tanzania Vulcan at iron ore mine in Chile have in common? The need for improved resource estimations, met by Vulcan. Vulcan 9 will be with customers before the end of the year - this issue outlines Feature: BlastLogic 9 some of the new underground tools. The rock factory Feature: Eureka 10 The I-Site 8200 is already delivering on underground survey. Road trips in Working with drillholes Australia, Chile and the US have confirmed that the scanner matches its predecessors in handling the daily survey challenges. Case study: Rock art scanning 11 I-Site in Kakadu National Park I-Site technology was an integral part of three diverse heritage preservation projects: scanning the iconic Sydney Opera House, an archaeological dig in Case study: Filling the void 12 Serbia and indigenous rock art in northern Australia. I-Site in Serbian cave archaeology Case study: Sydney Opera House 13 What’s the point of technology that is not easy to use? Eureka takes a novel I-Site aids heritage project approach to armchair exploration. BlastLogic proves that simple improvements at the blast stage flow through all processes in the ‘factory for rocks’. Want more? We hope you enjoy this issue and welcome feedback at [email protected] More information available online Video ‘Invest in Yourself’ Detailed article The 2013 Maptek Users Conference will be held in Brisbane, Queensland Photo gallery from October 21-23. Customers from around the globe are invited to network with industry colleagues and hear about our latest products.

Presentations will be complemented by a range of workshops offering opportunities to explore specific techniques. This conference is about providing an experience that will benefit your career. www.maptek.com/forge Keynote speaker Richard Simpson has been involved in 3D visualisation and cutting edge spatial technologies for more than 25 years. Richard serves on the Maptek Forge newsletter is published quarterly. executive committee of the International Society of Digital Earth, and chairs the You can receive it by mail or emailed link to the Maptek Digital Cities working committee. website. Email [email protected] to subscribe or advise changes to contact details. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Discounted early bird rates, free registration for speakers, presentation themes © 2013 Maptek and more on our website! Visit www.maptek.com/users2013

MAPTEK FORGE / JUNE 2013 Geostatistics Citation Vale Danie Krige Viña del Mar Fifteen people attended the XII Citation in Geostatistics held at the Maptek Viña del Mar office in April.

Participants from mining and consulting companies in Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil completed the 5 weeks of classroom study on the theory and application of geostatistics, under the tutelage of Dr Clayton Deutsch from the University of Alberta, Canada.

Professor Danie Krige died in March in Johannesburg. A pioneer in the field of geostatistics, his vision to perfect the prediction of mineral resources with sparse spatial data was recognised worldwide.

French mathematician and geologist, Professor Georges Matheron named the most commonly used grade estimator in the mining industry after him.

Professor Krige’s drive and passion set the direction for the development of many tools that are used today by mining companies and banks to assess natural resources.

Maptek users benefit from Krige’s legacy, with geostatistics being an integral part of Maptek Vulcan mining software. An extensive set of grade estimation and modelling tools use engines derived from his initial work. Maptek pays tribute to Danie Krige, and remains committed to following his example in applying innovative techniques to solve challenges in mining.

Maptek Calendar

June 4 June 25-26 September 16-20 Regional Workshop Minerals Week 2013 Extemin 2013 Calama, Chile Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Arequipa, Peru - Australian Pavilion

June 6-7 July 5 September 16-20 Elko Mining Expo AIMS Regional Workshop International Society for Mining Surveying Elko, Nevada - Booth 110 Mt Isa, Queensland Aachen, Germany

June 10-17 August 11-14 September 17-18 Exponor ASEG-PESA 2013 West and Central Africa Mining Summit Antofagasta, Chile - Booth 579 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Accra, Ghana

June 18-20 August 12-14 September 25-27 Mining World Central Asia AusIMM Iron Ore 2013 World Gold 2013 Almaty, Kazakhstan Perth, Western Australia - Booth 78 Brisbane, Queensland - Booth 26

June 21 August 14-16 October 16-19 Australian Inst of Mine Surveyors (AIMS) AIMS Annual Conference XXX Convención Internacional de Minería Mackay, Queensland Adelaide, South Australia Acapulco, Mexico - Booths 3051, 3093

LATEST NEWS 1 Maptek honours education pioneer Mining in Turkey The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has created an endowment Maptek joined the recent Austmine in honour of the recently retired Dr Zbigniew (Ziggy) Hladysz, thanks to a $280,000 ‘Mining Mission to Turkey 2013’. donation from Maptek. The endowment will be used for Mining During the 5 day event in Istanbul and Engineering Department scholarships Ankara Maptek met mining professionals and to maintain the Maptek Advanced from some of Turkey’s largest and most Mine Design Center which was unveiled successful companies. in 2008. Turkey continues to experience growth The Maptek design lab serves about in the mining sector, with significant 200 mining, engineering and geology investment from the Turkish Government students, and is home to 25 computers and foreign mining organisations. equipped with Vulcan software. This growth is matched by an increasing ‘Maptek has enjoyed a long relationship demand for better technology to help with the university. Ziggy has truly been improve the efficiency of mining operations. Australian technologies on Jon Larson was one of Ziggy’s students during his a pioneer in implementing the practical 39 year professorship at the university use of technology in the mining engineering show represent an important avenue for curriculum,’ said Jon Larson, General advancement. Manager of Maptek North America. Local mining professionals and mining graduates quickly identified the benefits of using Maptek Vulcan and I-Site products in a modern mining environment. Maptek also appreciated the opportunity Maptek computing prize to network with Vulcan customers in The Maptek Prize for the School of Computer Science is awarded to the second Turkey and receive valuable feedback. year student at the University of Adelaide with the highest academic results. Inaugural recipient, Craig Lawrence is also Online knowledge likely to gain engineering work experience over the summer break at Maptek. Vulcan customers with active maintenance are encouraged to At the award ceremony, Simon Ratcliffe, register for the new users area. Maptek Software R&D Manager, gave a talk on a new mining application, PerfectDig. >> Submit, track and manage your support cases >> Learn from solutions in the knowledge base

Craig Lawrence receives his award from >> Search FAQs, tips and tricks Maptek’s Simon Ratcliffe >> Download Vulcan releases and feature packs >> Post comments and share information with other users Maptek gold sponsor for APCOM 2013 Contact [email protected] The 36th session of this prestigious international event for computer and operations research in mining will be held in Porto Alegre in Brazil from November 3-8. New office location Av. Horacio 340 Piso 7-A Maptek looks forward to learning how specific technologies can benefit operational Col. Chapultepec Morales outcomes. Vice-President of South America region, Marcelo Arancibia will host a Del. Miguel Hidalgo technical session, with the program featuring presentations on Eureka and BlastLogic. Mexico DF 11570 ‘Talking with mining companies gives Maptek a greater understanding of the quality México gates, pressure points and connecting processes in operations. We can then develop T: +52 55 5250 8028 tools that smooth those concerns,’ commented Arancibia. T: +52 99 8892 0030

2 LATEST NEWS Maptek supports universities around the world

Maptek has provided 15 educational licences of Vulcan software to the Sponsorship from Maptek helped 21 Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Ulaanbaatar. students from the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall, UK to attend the Maptek reseller, Information Technology Experts LLC will train staff and teach 4th International Intercollegiate Mining year students in the School of Mining Engineering. About 2400 students study mine Games in Golden, Colorado in March. engineering at MUST. Students will have access to open cut and underground mine design, pit optimisation and geostatistical applications. The 35th Mining Games was hosted by the Colorado School of Mines, and At the launch ceremony for the Maptek Vulcan laboratory in April, Manager of Information drew teams from universities throughout Technology Experts Mr Batchuluun Bayanmunkh said that the software would help the United States, Canada, Australia, prepare students for job opportunities in the private sector as well as with state agencies. England, Germany and Holland.

The School of Mining Engineering has a strong research base that is closely linked to The competition allows international industry. Many academic staff come from industry and bring practical, educational and mining students to network with each research experience to the faculty. other and mining companies.

The University of California Berkeley ‘With the scanner I can map my can now use I-Site technology for site in days rather than weeks,’ she graduate and undergraduate research, said. ‘I can’t wait to see how the data thanks to a donation from Maptek. compares to my first field survey.’

Before the donation of a scanner and ‘We plan to use the scanner in training educational licences, a small group seminars for surveying and LiDAR of graduate students was using laser equipment operation, and to educate scanning for vegetation and hydrological students on manipulating and managing mapping research projects. their data in I-Site Studio,’ said Rune Storesund, Research Specialist in the ‘We taught each other,’ said PhD student Landscape Architecture Department. Danielle Svehla Christianson, who is Viewing the ‘virtual forest’ in I-Site Studio (above) conducting a forestry study in Sequoia and students receive I-Site Studio training (below) National Park, measuring the impact that climate and other variables have on seedling growth.

MAPTEK FORGE / JUNE 2013 3 Vulcan underground tools Maptek Vulcan™ 9 release is scheduled for beta testing mid 2013. Enhancements to existing underground tools will streamline workflow, save time and increase productivity.

Producing and editing underground designs will be much faster than in previous versions of Vulcan. >> Object Attributes are now options linked to expanded >> Start and End gradient user-defined. Calculated object attributes. definition allows designing attributes can be derived ‘on- >> Modernised and enhanced centre line segments with the-fly’ using the object itself panels make tools more smoothly changing grade. or other object attributes. intuitive to use, requiring >> Modifications to related >> Attributes can access less training. functionality, such as the block model and primitive >> Look-ahead functionality with corner peel tool, will enhance information for auto-reserve. the Centre Line tool allows workflow. >> The attribute editor has been users to view designs as they enhanced to allow editing of evolve, without switching in user-defined attributes. Users and out of the tool panel. will save time with visibility

Underground ring design has been streamlined, leading to faster setup and processing. >> New tools are available for section solids using a ring >> Users can rename rings with a designing stand-up ring section value minimises time- configurable naming system. sections within the Vulcan consuming manual creation of >> Enhanced explosives loading interface. The tool now assists stope shapes. to allow for primers and deck engineers to determine dump >> A major improvement in charging reduces the need for and number of ring sections. graphics loading times means modification of charging plans >> Enhancements have that large ring datasets will after printing in Vulcan. been made to sectioning now load in seconds rather >> Enhanced ring reserving tools triangulations. The ability to than minutes. are available.

4 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Scanning underground Maptek I-Site™ 8200 and the latest I-Site tools for modelling stopes, headings and tunnels have been impressing survey and planning teams at underground operations.

Stopes and voids Tunnels 01 At this underground mine in Tunnels at this underground mine in Australia, the I-Site 8200 was South America are muddy, making mounted on a 10-metre carbon fibre it difficult to extract accurate data. boom and extended over the void. Three scans were conducted with The 125-degree scan window on the I-Site 8200 mounted on a tripod. the I-Site 8200 captured all of the required data in one scan. Scans were modelled in I-Site Void, with the distance from roof The new spherical close solid to floor displayed for every metre tool in I-Site Studio and I-Site Void of tunnel. This is much quicker and 4.1 mean a solid model is built and easier than taking measurements 02 calculated in minutes. every metre of the tunnel.

Result: Safe and efficient survey, The new edit close function in capturing the level of detail required I-Site Studio and I-Site Void 4.1 for calculating accurate volumes. makes it easy to join multiple surfaces together and close them Development headings into a valid solid. An important task for underground Result: Safe, efficient survey and surveyors at this Australian operation accurate results. is to check the alignment of drives against designs. 03 Auto scan levelling is the best The new filter obstacles feature in feature of the I-Site system. the loop wrap tool in I-Site Studio A completely upside down and I-Site Void 4.1 allows users to scan comes in level within easily remove artefacts such as 1 degree of accuracy. services and vehicles to obtain an accurate drive shape.

Result: See results quickly, save time in processing data. 01 Safe survey of voids with accurate data for volume calculations 02 Fast pickup of development headings and simple tools to define drive shapes 03 Accurate tunnel survey with easily understood measurement results Snow and dust filter in I-Site 4.1 software A new filter option in I-Site 4.1 software makes it easy to remove airborne particles from scan data.

MAPTEK FORGE / JUNE 2013 5 Improved resource estimation Maptek Vulcan™ was applied to geological modelling and resource estimation to help increase grade tonnage for the Wigu Hill property in Tanzania.

In early 2012 Montero Mining and REE mineralisation is concentrated From the solid orebody model, Exploration Ltd contacted Maptek in these carbonatite dykes. The a resource block model was to conduct resource estimation REEs occur predominantly in created. Nine elements were work for their Wigu Hill property the bastnaesite, monazite and estimated: total rare earth, in Tanzania. Montero needed a synchysite, with some parisite lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, detailed study of the project to and goyazite. praseodymium, samarium, uranium, increase the resource. thorium and strontium oxide. The study was carried out on the Maptek provided Montero with Twiga target. The area was drilled The estimation was limited to the an improved constrained resource and trenched; grab samples were interpreted modelled carbonatite block model, a grade and tonnage taken. Fourteen diamond drillholes orebody. Grade estimates were report, and a CSV resource block were drilled for 1465 metres. calculated in Vulcan using inverse model compatible with mine distance estimation. User-defined planning software. This gave Initially a non-constrained block parameters included block model Montero the information they model was used to understand sizes, search ellipsoid orientation needed for mine design and grade continuity within the samples. and search distances. optimisation, and to create a base Statistics were then run on the scenario schedule to move the drillhole database to create The Vulcan advanced reserves project forward. composites identifying grades editor was applied to calculate above a set cut-off to generate reserves on the block model. Maptek worked with drillhole and triangulation sections. A cut-off of 4% was selected trench data provided in Microsoft for the main Tree_ivd variable, Access® databases. A geological Maptek also created solid models and the reserves report was model was built and a resource from CBA (bastnaesite bearing based on this cut-off grade. was calculated using grade carbonatite) sectional interpolation estimation tools in Vulcan. maps received from Montero Maptek then provided an improved Mining. Comparison was made on detailed block model comparing The Wigu Hill property is a large, the CBA section model, total REE results to the previous work on rare earth element (REE) enriched model and grade shell model to the Wigu Hill area. The final report carbonatite hosted in a dolomitic verify continuity. produced an improved grade vein/dyke system that cuts into tonnage of the REE resource. Precambrian gneisses. The The estimation work was done coarse-grained carbonatite dykes Thanks to within the final Vulcan model Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd largely contain dolomite, calcite, with user defined estimation Presented at 2012 North America bastnaesite and quartz. parameters. Users Conference

Twiga orebody model Twiga block section

6 CASE STUDY / VULCAN Reserving at El Peñón 01 Modelling using Maptek Vulcan™ gives El Peñón confidence in the in situ reserves generated for long-term mine planning.

Yamana Gold owns a high grade Where veins do not bifurcate, a underground gold-silver mine polygon is drawn around the ore in northern Chile, 160 km from zone, and a solid is generated Antofagasta. El Peñón is a low- from the polygon enclosing the sulphide epithermal deposit with exploited/mined area. 02 mineralisation hosted in veins and hydrothermal breccias. When complicated branching of veins occurs, polygons are The mining method is split blasting constructed around the orebody. by benching and filling, where an Complex solids must be generated excavation allows ore to be extracted that do not exceed the ore limit. between two previously developed sublevels (drifts). Boolean sectioning tools are used to create accurate solids. This The objective was to obtain solids allows the actual in situ geological representing current available resources to be generated. 03 mineable resources, subject to technical and economic evaluation Summary of benefits: for determining reserves and >> Saving of approximately developing long-term mine plans. 400 effective work-hours >> Major time-saving in measuring Vulcan was used to maintain up-to- depletion of the deposit date in situ geological resources for each of the veins of the deposit. >> High precision results provide an accurate resource evaluation

An updated representative At present the planning and 04 solid resource model is development management team fundamental to determination performs this work using a series of reserves and the subsequent of manual steps; future plans to development of long-term automate the process will see mining plans. further improvement.

A solid representation (grade shell) Collaboration and continuous of each of the veins is created, feedback between El Peñón’s taking into account geological experience and software modelling information linked to innovator Maptek resulted in drilling and channel sampling. the development of an effective 05 solution for in situ reserving. The resource is updated by solids derived from topographic survey Thanks to Pablo Quiero Jaque Long Term Planning Engineer with the Maptek I-Site laser Yamana Gold - El Peñón scanner, and survey data of the Presented at 2012 South America mine interior. Users Conference

01 Solids representing exploited sectors 02 Grade shells intersecting exploited solids and topography inside mine 03 Solid generated from polygons around exploited zone 04 Solid generated on bifurcated vein 05 Validating in situ resource against exploited solids

MAPTEKMAPTEK FORGEFORGE //JUNE JUNE 2013 7 Grade control at Cerro Negro Norte Collaboration between Maptek™ and Cerro Negro Norte to control ore grade resulted in better decision-making and improved site practice.

The Cerro Negro Norte mine, Subsequently, using Vulcan tools, owned and operated by Minera procedures were established to del Pacífico S.A., is located in the perform statistical analysis of long Copiapó valley in Chile, 1100 to term data (grade estimated from 1500 m above sea level. the drilling data) and short term data (grade estimated from blast The mine is on a 600 km iron-rich hole data). Boolean tools were used belt, where the orebodies are to update the topography daily, to mostly massive magnetite lenses. provide better control of production. Cerro Negro Norte is an irregular deposit hosted by volcanic or Advantages of the new grade metavolcanic rocks in the vicinity control process: of intrusive bodies. >> Hours are saved in the blast The mine required a grade control zoning process, improving system to manage allocation of quality and productivity, materials to be extracted from allowing closer attention to blasting. The scope included operational requirements. grade evaluation and quantities >> Fully integrated system for to extract per block, automatic grade estimation parameters and manual assignment of blocks and product classification. All to different destinations using information - drillholes, solids, assignment rules, evaluation using blocks and reports - is stored blast holes and block model grade in an accessible centralised estimations, report generation grade control database. and plotting. >> Faster generation of more The objective was to reduce effective reports (monitoring, the runtimes in the daily update tracking, audits). of blasting zones and conform >> Comparison between long and to the short term schedule. short term information. >> Quick recall of blasting already The existing blast management done for reconciliation. database was in spreadsheet Blast holes according to material (above) format, and there was no short >> Automation and connection and with modelled blocks (below) term block model. with other systems to integrate all processes of the grade When Vulcan Grade Control was control cycle (e.g. dynamic implemented, an historical blast equipment allocation). database and a short term block model were created. Grade control Better management of the blast scripts were configured to classify information in turn leads to the material type and destination better decisions, incorporating based on zones generated by the technological development and production geologist. best practice on ore control at Cerro Negro Norte.

Thanks to Cristián Astudillo Chief Geologist, Cerro Negro Norte Compañía Minera del Pacífico Presented at 2012 South America Users Conference

8 CASE STUDY / VULCAN The rock factory Maptek BlastLogic™ provides mining operations with a strategic tool to ensure the most efficient use of equipment for processing ore.

The same pattern with slightly different views illustrates how the charge plan varied from waste to ore, and wet to dry holes.

An optimal charge plan will achieve blast objectives like good fragmentation and minimal material movement between ore boundaries.

A mine is like a factory for rocks. >> Improved allocation of assets: Applying BlastLogic to the first Inefficient processes in any part immediate recognition of short stage - drill & blast - allows cost money. Quality control must holes after drill validation means be applied at every stage - blast, energy consumption at the less tramming of rigs over long grade control, mining, blending crusher to be better managed. distances to redrill. - if your rock factory is to be >> Improved wall control: better productive and profitable. Imagine you are the operations manager reviewing energy accuracy of drill angle and Discovering at the smelter stage consumption for your plant over a bearing, especially on pre-splits, that your ore has a lot of impurities specific period, and notice a spike. ensures correct placing and will mean more processing and separation of holes, and that more energy consumed. Similarly, With BlastLogic you can easily drilling is on the correct plane. recall historical blasts that correlate oversize material at the crusher >> Ease of access: all the data is in means spiralling electricity costs. with the material being processed, which are attributed to the spike. one place and everyone is using the same data. Blasting is one of the highest cost areas. This critical first process in A searchable data repository ties >> Improved charge design: the rock factory often involves trial drill design, as-drilled, dipping, charge per hole based on actual and error, which affects processes backfill, charge plan, as-loaded data instead of design data, Blast holes according to material (above) downstream. When designing a and observed blast performance has resulted in better blast and with modelled blocks (below) blast, no software algorithm can data with videos, third-party reports performance. reliably be used to accurately and laser surveys to each blast. >> Immediate access to data: quick predict the material size, as there Easy access and analysis of blast validation of drilling to coordinate are too many variables. data provides the mechanism for dipping requirements; faster Blastlogic immediately appeals continuous improvement. location of clusters for redrills in a pattern after dipping. to mining operations as a strategic Another key benefit of BlastLogic tool for managing blasts. is that immediate access to drill >> Ease of use: multiple charge rules and powder factors can Better decisions can be made by and blast data identifies potential be easily applied to patterns. taking into account the history of issues early on, minimising their blasting at the site and matching downstream impact. >> Improved process: efficiencies it to the processing outcomes. BlastLogic has streamlined due to identifying drill set-up errors that help to reduce the For example, you can track how routine tasks and increased incidence of oversize rock and material size affects the teeth of blast performance at several poor digability. the shovel, as well as the truck metallurgical coal operations load and haul costs. in Queensland, Australia.

FEATURE / BLASTLOGIC 9 Working with drillholes Exciting tools and ease of use, not just what it can do and how much data it can handle, set Maptek Eureka™ exploration software apart.

In a world of ever-expanding Drillhole appearance can Eureka makes it easy to focus at technology, the claim to be ‘most be changed through tabular several levels, with multiple views innovative’ faces an important menus, and colour legends open simultaneously. A small challenge: ‘Is it easy to use?’ containing relevant information selection of drillholes in a large are automatically created when deposit can be viewed exclusively It is impressive when technology required. in a new tab, while the original can achieve a new outcome, tab showing all drillholes remains but if the process is tedious, the ‘Click and drag’ functionality - the ‘overview’ and ‘specialised’ technology loses much of its value. and a sidebar of listed drillholes, windows are just a click away. legends and surfaces allow easy Eureka targets exploration selection for further analysis. Grids showing the distribution of geologists, enabling them to different formations across a large visualise vast and disparate Simply click ‘Apply’ to update, area can be created in seconds. data sets, simultaneously. User- preview and edit display A calculator option performs grid friendliness and functionality variables without needing to summations, differences and continue to be top priorities. close the panel. other functions. Results are easily pulled into Maptek Vulcan or other Eureka opens up a new world of software for further modelling. desktop 3D exploration. The tools Drillhole visualisation in Eureka includes display features such make it particularly quick and easy Fence diagrams display the as labels and colour, and display to visualise data and generate correlation of formations between by attributes such as formation, interpretations. More analysis drillholes. Correlations can be lithology or easting. Legends are can be done in less time with less run on a small or large selection automatically applied. effort, meaning greater likelihood of drillholes. Correlation storage of making useful connections. The appeal of editing drillholes ‘containers’ in the sidebar allow for easy file management, referencing Drillhole import is a simple insert in Eureka lies in the dynamic data and conversion to triangulations process from a browse window. sharing. Right-click on a drillhole for use in Vulcan. Drillholes import as geospatially and the changes are automatically correct objects which can be updated in the CSV data file. No viewed in 3D space. import/export is required to ensure data is synchronised - it is all captured seamlessly.

10 FEATURE / EUREKA Rock art preservation Maptek I-Site™ Studio software has been used for 3D reproduction of historical Aboriginal rock art at Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Aboriginal rock art is part of a The Z+F 5010 series engineering When artwork spanned 2 sides tradition of painting and engraving laser scanner was used to obtain of a rock it was not able to be that stretches back thousands high precision results at the very covered accurately with a single of years. The escarpment, short range required to scan these photo. Two photos from different gorges, and rock outliers of small paintings in confined spaces. perspectives were therefore able Kakadu hold one of the world's to be matched in I-Site Studio. greatest concentrations of rock The photo registration tools in art. Approximately 5,000 sites I-Site Studio allow photographs Vegetation often obscured part have been recorded and a further from digital cameras and other of the drawings, so certain data 10,000 sites are thought to exist. sources to be projected in any from each textured model was orientation onto a surface. cropped and combined to allow These sites are recognised for multi-perspective imagery on internationally for their cultural Photographs from different times the 3D model. value; Kakadu is on the United can be analysed in 3D to detect Nations list of World Heritage any fading of the artwork. The excellent results obtained properties. This project aimed proved that this method was Laser intensity data from the to preserve Australian cultural suitable for recording and infrared signals was used to match and heritage listed artefacts in an reconstruction of rock art. points in photos with points in accurate reproducible 3D format. the 3D scene. The position of the Thanks to the Department of Sustainability, camera when the photo was taken Environment, Water, Population and Laser scanning is a means of Communities and the Aboriginal traditional can also be determined. owners of Kakadu National Park non-intrusive measurement of millions of points along a wall for accurate modelling.

Four scans taken along this wall collected 74 million points - each setup was Careful processing of the data was needed to produce approximately 12 metres apart accurate perspective models

MAPTEK FORGE / JUNE 2013 11 Filling the void in cave archaeology Maptek I-Site™ Void software has been used to model 3D point cloud data of caves being investigated by archaeologists in Serbia.

The discovery of one of the The archaeologists dig trenches oldest human bones, in a cave in the caves, and when they near Niš in Serbia, prompted a discover a new item of interest team from Belgrade University to map the location using a total digitally preserve archaeological station. The X,Y,Z coordinates of information using laser scan data. the archaeological finds will be mapped in the final 3D model. John Meneely, a geologist from Queens University Belfast used The 3D model will be used to I-Site Void software to model 3D create an interactive digital point cloud data of the caves. representation of the caves. ‘A 3D model provided the archaeologists with a greater This will provide insight into the understanding of the spatial spatial and temporal distribution relationships between the caves of all the recorded finds within the being worked in,’ Meneely said. modelled cave system. The 3D display will give archaeologists a Helped by training from Maptek new perspective on investigating UK office over Skype, Meneely how our ancestors lived thousands created a 3D model in 5 minutes. of years ago.

‘The ease of use and speed at The ultimate goal is to have all of which the software calculated this information in a GIS database the data was astounding. The available to the public. Anyone underground specific tools in Void will be able to view the cave in were great,’ Meneely explained. 3D and see the layout of all of the discoveries. Each discovery will ‘If I had done the work in CAD, be linked to further information, section by section, I would photos and stories about cave life. probably still be working on it.’ Thanks to John Meneely School of Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology Queens University Belfast

12 CASE STUDY / I-Site Scanning of Sydney Opera House Maptek I-Site™ high performance laser scanning technology proved its value during a recent project by the Scottish Ten to record the Sydney Opera House in 3D.

The Scottish Ten is a project which I-Site terrestrial laser scanners brings together Historic Scotland, allowed them to collect the same Scotland’s Government heritage type of data for the exterior and organisation, 3D scanning experts interior of the Opera House. from the Digital Design Studio at Glasgow School of Art, and More importantly it meant accurate California-based digital heritage portrayal of vertical structures and organisation CyArk. the complex engineering of the underside of the Harbour Bridge, The I-Site 8810 and I-Site 8800 not possible with aerial methods. ultra long-range scanners captured the Opera House from all angles. The long range scanning ability of the I-Site 8810 and I-Site 8800 Scanning from vantage points such was ideal for this project. as Fort Denison, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Complicated access to built and and Circular Quay ensured capture natural environs, including an island of the best possible detail of the in the middle of the Harbour, and Opera House setting. tight deadlines meant efficiency was crucial. In all, 144 scans of ‘The Maptek team covered a huge different resolutions were captured amount of ground in their time over 3 days, with more than 100 on site with us. The data looks different set ups. fantastic. Their enthusiasm and support has been phenomenal Simultaneous capture of high and it has been our pleasure and resolution colour imagery privilege to work with them’, said with I-Site systems allows for Dr Lyn Wilson, Scottish Ten and spectacular animations and CDDV Project Manager. realistic models which reflect The I-Site laser scanner was the unique beauty of the mounted on a vehicle to drive Opera House in its setting. through the Royal Botanical Gardens to scan the southern Maptek I-Site Studio software and eastern aspects of the Opera easily registered the scans in local House and Harbour Bridge. coordinates. Base scans from key positions established survey The ability to set up so quickly, control, streamlining setup and obtain the scans and move between capture of remaining scans. strategic locations meant Maptek could ‘fill in the pieces of the Dynamic transformation and puzzle’ that the Scottish Ten registration tools adjusted the scanning pass did not capture. new scans to the reference scans, bringing the data into its correct The Scottish Ten team has used spatial location for modelling. aerial scanning to collect data of Thanks to the Scottish Ten the setting for other sites. and Sydney Opera House

MAPTEK FORGE / JUNE 2013 13 The Sydney Opera House is one of 10 world heritage sites being scanned to create 3D models to preserve them for posterity. Five sites are in Scotland and five in other parts of the world. The Scottish Ten team worked closely with the Sydney Opera House Trust to facilitate the 3D scanning project. Find out more at www.scottishten.org