Analytical tools and functions of GIS in the process control and decision support of mining company

• Main Author: Semrád Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Technical University of Kosice 2001-12-01
• Series: Acta Montanistica Slovaca
• Subjects: geographical information system; process control; decision support; mining company; modelling; spatial statistical analysis; surface modelling; database query; distance analysis; network analysis
• Online Access: http://actamont.tuke.sk/pdf/2001/n5/7semrad.pdf

The development of computer techniques, the increase in demands for the professional and possible fastest data processing, as well as for the fluency and efficiency of information gaining, exchanging and providing has a strong influence on forming the new generation of information technologies - Geografic Information Systems (GIS) that rose in the second half of the twentieth century.Advancement in this area is still progressing and GIS gradually find the enforcement in individual fields where they play a great role in the process control and decision support. Nowadays, there are applications in mining and geology, where are used especially at processing and evaluating of mining - geological documentation, optimalization of mining and technical processes, planning, distributing and managing of mining as well as economic analysis that are important in terms of investment decisions to mining business.GIS are the systems for the effective keeping, updating, processing, analysing, modelling, simulating and presenting geographically oriented information. We can identify them as computer systems helping to solve real problems that should be normally required to solve by human expert.Well equipped GIS have graphic ability and accordingly manage descriptive (attribute) data. They are able to secure mutual connection between graphical and descriptive data and in addition to command countless number of functions that enable the execution of spatial analysis. This fact is very important in mining and geological application.There are exploited mostly geostatistical analysis (e. g. modelling of distribution valuable and harmful components of mineral resouce in a mineral deposit), surface modelling and surface model analysis (e. g. at modelling the subsidence of mining territory), different methods of creating spatial and attribute queries about database for seeking necessary data (e. g. to find all mining blocks of deposit that meet required conditions and to calculate their total quantity of reserves) and distance and network analysis (modelling protection pillars as buffer zones for operating objects above ground, time calculation for transport of mineral resource, using optimal routes combined with cost calcultion), from the analytical apparatus and functions of GIS used in the process control and decision support of mining company.Modern mining is ranked to the specific group of fields with high information intensity. Because of high financial demands of the mine processes and technologies, the basical strategy of all mining companies is the utilization of information technologies for the reduction of expenses. Implementation of GIS in this area is, according to their options and functions, ideal.