MINING SOFTWARE
improvement step changes as you gain more control over the operation.”
On the future of Geobank, the company states:“ Our significant investment into R & D also allows MICROMINE to empower clients through software that offers a positive user experience via intuitive, feature-rich functionalities and interpretive capabilities.” In working with Geobank clients, the development team has identified key areas of focus: n Store data online( Cloud based SQL Server storage, Azure and AWS) n Self-service reporting presented on the web n Web frontend to Geobank for data viewing and entry“ Beyond the web work most of our current development plans involve adding extra functionality, creating a better user experience and integrating the product with more data sources. This last one is particularly interesting as automated data capture in the drilling arena is looking set to explode and we need to be ready for the volume and variety of data we are going to be needing to hook into.”
Subscription software and pay as you go
ARANZ Geo Ltd, developer of 3D geological modelling software Leapfrog ®, has announced the introduction of Pay & Go Daily Licensing( Pay & Go), a new pre-paid licensing option which allows users to access and pay for the Leapfrog suite of products only when they need it. Pay & Go allows Leapfrog users to purchase a license online via a credit card, for a minimum of a day, without any further commitment. Users can download Leapfrog and start using it straight away as there’ s no license dongle required. Pay & Go will initially be available for users in the USA, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines and Singapore. Other countries will be added at a later date.
ARANZ Geo’ s General Manager – Mining & Minerals, Nick Fogarty says:“ Pay & Go Daily Licensing provides unprecedented flexibility for our users. Like a pre-paid mobile phone plan, it enables users to pay only for the time Leapfrog is needed, which is very handy when users have peak work demands. It’ s also great for new users who want to use Leapfrog but don’ t need an annual license.”
Accessible through My Leapfrog( my. leapfrog3d. com), the Leapfrog community,“ Pay & Go is a valuable addition to Leapfrog’ s existing licensing options. Whether a user needs Leapfrog for a day or longer, Leapfrog has license options to suit. Additional benefits for Pay & Go users include the ability to save models to open with the Leapfrog Viewer for ongoing viewer access, and access to free online training materials and the Leapfrog community via My Leapfrog.”
Fogarty says:“ We constantly strive to innovate through not only our software products and services but we also consider the way we deliver them to our customers as being just as critical. Pay & Go is yet another way we can provide flexibility to our customers, to support their businesses and make it easy for them to access and use Leapfrog.”
ARANZ Geo has also announced the launch of ARANZ Geo Expert Services, a new team focused on applying the latest thinking to geological uncertainty. The senior geologists will provide expertise and guidance to unlock value for their clients in the global mining industry.
“ ARANZ Geo Expert Services brings together the successful and trusted consulting expertise already within the ARANZ Geo group. Providing clarity from complexity, QG( acquired by ARANZ Geo in 2014), will join resource estimation and production specialists from Bloy( acquired in 2016). Adding a third dimension, Leapfrog masters will provide advanced modelling services.”
ARANZ Geo’ s Managing Director Shaun Maloney says:“ The combined forces of the new Expert Services team provide a broader range of capabilities to the market, and open up opportunities for collaboration across software and services. Aligning the team closer to the ARANZ Geo group will ensure they are at the forefront of mining industry innovation and technology.”
The Expert Services team will provide consulting expertise in geology, geostatistics and geometallurgy from exploration through to mine production and reconciliation. Services will include consulting, training, mentoring and project assistance. Their expertise has been gained in a variety of international markets and sectors. All are geologists, with senior credentials. Team members are based near the world’ s most significant mining areas and have extensive knowledge of their local areas. ARANZ Geo experts are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa and the UK.
Although QG is joining ARANZ Geo Expert
ARANZ Geo Ltd, developer of 3D geological modelling software Leapfrog ®, has announced the introduction of Pay & Go Daily Licensing( Pay & Go)
Services, Principal Consultant Rob Stewart says:“ It will be business as usual for our clients.” Stewart adds,“ It’ s an exciting time for us. We’ re able to combine the diverse knowledge of our consultants with those of Bloy, together with ARANZ Geo’ s technology excellence, and provide a broader range of services. This doesn’ t mean we’ ll only focus on the group’ s software solutions. We will continue to utilise a broad range of software packages, appropriate to the challenge at hand.”
The consultants joining the Expert Services team from Bloy will bring a wealth of experience in the production end of mining cycle. Senior Resource Geologist Carrie Nicholls says,“ we are looking forward to being able to offer clients more, with the opportunity for skill sharing across the wider team.”
Bloy, headed by Peter Bloy, will continue to operate as a specialist company within the ARANZ Geo group, focussing on developing its flagship Blockbuster ® product. Blockbuster is a full-featured, off-the-shelf grade control solution.
Leapfrog Project Assistance is a new service offered by the Expert Services team to deliver advanced Leapfrog prowess.“ Services will include migration of models to Leapfrog, assistance with the build and implementation of dynamic modelling processes, and the building of complex and detailed geological models. These new services will be provided by senior geologists who are Leapfrog masters.”
The trend in payment alternatives continues elsewhere with Minemax now offering a new subscription option for its strategic mine planning software. Recognising that the significant initial payment associated with traditional mine planning software purchases can be a real hurdle for mining companies in today’ s market, Minemax has introduced subscriptions " to give users access to their industry-
32 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2017