The use of integrated software systems in many Australian mines

Initially, there was in international trend to develop software for mining activities which tended to be site dependent as each activity was perceived to have unique conditions. The result of this approach was a collection of specialised software highlighting the difference between mines and the techniques used. Later, systems emerged which provided a general solution to a specific problem such as geological mapping, ore reserve estimating and mine planning. More recently, particularly in Australia, the approach to software design for mining activities has been to provide a general solution to a very wide range of mining related applications. This approach has required the identification of common features of all mining activities which, in turn, has made it possible to develop a suite of software options appropriate to mainframes through to personal computers which integrate the mining activities of surveying, geology, planning and production aspects of mining operations (both surface and underground). This paper provides an overview of the software systems in use around Australia in the mining industry, followed by an outline of an integrated system approach and the flexibility and benefits it offers.