Mine Planning Software

By: MARTIN RANDY . Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Mining is very important for not only the economy of a country but also for the development of human beings. But it is a
risky profession. To make mining work easy, mine software, PolyMap and stockpile software have been developed. All of
them work to make mining safe and quick.

Mine software helps in deposit mine planning and 3D modeling. It helps in mine exploration, mine evaluation and
contains programs for drill hole data entry, statistics, surface modeling, rock modeling, compositing, geo-statistics,
variograms, and 3D grade modeling including kriging. PolyMap helps to draw detailed maps efficiently. Stockpile
software helps in calculation of stockpile volumes. To get the total weight of the stockpile all that the user has to do is
enter a density factor of the material. The best mine and stockpile software and PolyMap comes from Martin and
Associates.

RKM Mining Software had developed MicroMODEL in the eighties which is today the best mine planning software. A world
renowned engineering consulting company, Pincock, Allen & Holt, had developed it as a DOS based system for
microcomputers. It derives the prefix of its name from microcomputers. Since Pincock, Allen & Holt’s main area of work
was feasibility studies for open pit mining projects; the focus of the design of MicroMODEL was in drill hole database
handling, statistics, geo-statistics, mineral modeling, reserves calculations, mine design optimization, mine planning,
and mine scheduling.

The work on MicroMODEL was started by a small group of mining engineers with the aid of several computer
programming experts and later the work on the mine software was taken over by Randy Martin. He was the creator of a
program called PolyMap, which was a specialized geology digitizing and display program. The rights of PolyMap were
transferred to Pincock, Allen & Holt. Later, Pincock, Allen & Holt opted to sell the rights for MicroMODEL and PolyMap to
R. K. Martin and Associates, Inc.

Martin & Associates have enhanced the functionality of both MicroMODEL and PolyMap. Both systems now work with the
Windows operating system. New features, such as better geo-statistical and modeling capabilities, as well as 3-D display
have been added. A suite of DXF import and export options have been developed. A new program, EZVol, stockpile
software, helps engineers who survey stock piles. To generate a 3-D model of the stockpile users import a survey of the
stockpile perimeter and stockpile data points. A stockpile volume and optional tonnage is then presented. Various 3-D
views of the stockpile and other handy working maps of the pile can be displayed. Most of the users of MicroMODEL are
people working on feasibility studies. This is because MicroMODEL is easy to use and less costly. With MicroMODEL and
PolyMap, they are able to do all the work and produce results on time and efficiently.

Many large consulting firms use MicroMODEL to support other expensive software systems. These companies invest
money in the software and in training their employees. Because of the costs involved, a limited number of user licenses
are purchased. Thus, the licenses fall short of the number of employees needing them. By purchasing a few copies of
MicroMODEL and/or PolyMap, these companies are able to import/export drill hole, grade model, and wireframes from
and to the expensive software system. They perform data checks, statistics, grade modeling, and pit optimization with
MicroMODEL. They draw detailed pit designs with PolyMap. They come up with detailed mine schedules with MicroMODEL’s
Manual Mine Scheduling Program. When finished, they are able to export things back into the expensive system for final
presentation.

If you are looking for efficient and affordable mine planning software, do go and visit the website of MicroMODEL.