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Computer software for mining applications has been in development since before 1970. These packages cover tasks from exploration data management through final reclamation planning. These programs were originally written in Fortran and have evolved into colorful, userfriendly packages. Programs that produced printed symbol maps now show color, three-dimensional image of an ore deposit on a computer screen. Pictures can be rotated and looked at it from all directions and layers can be peeled off to show other parts of a model.
Computer users have also evolved. In the early Fortran days, users had to learn computer operating systems, have someone punch data cards, set up run files and wait a day or so to find out if there was one little mistake somewhere that caused the program not to run. With today's technology, users sit at their desks in the office, key in some data, read other data from digital files and build a model within days, rather than weeks or months.
Hardware and software survey conducted
A survey was conducted of how mining companies use computer hardware and software. This survey was done to get a perspective about how mining software has changed, how users respond to changes and what can be expected for future development. Surveys are useful to note trends in software/hardware use and how well the mining software market is being addressed by mining-specific software, as well as general software.
Previous surveys were conducted in 1991 and 1993. This recent survey covered the type of hardware being used, how software is used, what software packages are used, user satisfaction with software and future plans.
A questionnaire was developed and sent to three mining-oriented mailing lists on the Internet. The mailing lists sent to included mingeol, geoexplore and geomine. Admittedly, this is a limited sample of the mining population and reaches only those who have access to the Internet. An advantage of using the Internet for surveys is the low cost - we saved trees and postage. The disadvantage is that only a portion of the potential population is reached.
This approach does not reflect the percentage of people in the mining industry who use computers. Rather, it is targeted to those who do use computers and how they use them. Because...