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o p e r at i n g i d e a s New Software Improves Coal Exploration Program During MINExpo last September, Micromine introduced Coal Measure, a ���dynamic and integrated software solution,��� according to the company for coal data management and coal data processing with 3-D seam modeling, resource categorization, resource reporting, pit optimization, pit design and scheduling. Designed for mine operators needing software that could be used for coal exploration and mining operations, Coal Measure���s strengths ultimately lie in driving cost reductions, improving planning and increasing operational efficiencies. According to the software developer, Coal Measure caters to both the geological and mining elements of a project. The solution is coal industry specific, including its features, functions and terminology. It contains elements of Micromine���s data management solution Geobank, and the company���s flagship exploration and mine design solution, Micromine. Development of the solution was done by taking into account the needs of both the company���s existing coal clients and leading industry consultants. Rigorous testing in real-life environments is part of its product delivery process, which ensures the software meets the requirements of the market. ���With coal becoming an increasingly critical energy source, our clients have been demanding a more sophisticated solution that takes into account the complexities of coal and the ways in which it is mined,��� said Kevin Fitzpatrick, CEO, Micromine. ���It has become very clear to us that we needed to develop a worldclass solution that was both sophisticated enough to take into account these complexities, while also ensuring it remained both user-friendly and was easily transferable.��� For coal application, interpretation and wire-framing typically associated with metal mining are replaced by modeling seam morphology using gridding based on stratigraphic sequence, followed by direct conversion into a seam block model. Coal Measure has been developed to ensure that modeling coal projects can be executed quickly due to seamless processes, from stratigraphic hierarchy compilation, through to gridding and seam block model generation. The company currently invests about 25% of its software revenue into research and development to ensure that its technology continues to lead the industry. Future product development plans for Coal Measure include the development of modules for both coal bed methane and coal seam gas. In October 2012, Micromine launched its latest geological field logging solution to the market, Geobank Mobile. Perfectly suited to coal environments, Geobank Mobile has already captured the interest of coal companies world-wide. This mobile field logging solution enables geological field data to be more confidently collected and manipulated. The software ensures that data is captured accurately with realtime validation and rich data input controls that minimize errors at point of entry. ���Geobank Mobile has been designed with geology and mining requirements in mind,��� said Steve Bastick, operations man- 44 www.coalage.com ager, Geobank. ���Our clients have been demanding a site-based solution, which can save them both time and money, without compromising data quality.��� Geobank Mobile maximizes efficiencies with its customizable calculated fields, in-built data approval and transfer mechanisms. It also seamlessly integrates with Geobank and Micromine products, and can interface with all standard for- Surface topography overlies seam thickness in cross section. Data can also be assembled stratigraphically. February 2013