THE newly released November/December edition of earthmatters, the magazine of CSIRO Exploration & Mining, takes a close look at a fast-developing new data dimension – interoperability and open source software.
“Most of Australia’s surface and near surface deposits have been found and mined and the big challenge now is to get beneath the regolith to find profitable orebodies and sustain our industry,” Exploration & Mining Acting Chief Dr Steve Harvey says.
“We are evolving the way we collect, store, analyse and transmit data and information.
“To help us, we are using the most advanced web-based technology to make data systems interoperable and universally accessible so data can become more accurate and traceable.”
Stories in this special issue include:
* Finding a common tongue: CSIRO’s Landmark longwall automation project for the coal industry has helped achieve compatibility between equipment manufacturers’ products and new CSIRO technology. The result is that equipment from different vendors can now talk the same language over Ethernet-based protocol networks.
* A world of knowledge: An outline of AuScope, the next big step for geoscience information sharing. According to AuScope’s Chairman Dr Mike Etheridge, finding and assessing mineral deposits buried under the regolith in Australia will require a substantially improved image of the subsurface and a predictive understanding of the factors that determine where large mineral systems localise. AuScope will provide the research infrastructure that will underpin this.
* Getting to the core: New software now available for more accurate core analysis. It is available free to the industry and also delivers a highly useful common language for rock data. Other stories look at: the machines of the future; improving the interoperability of data to accurately monitor water resources; and an industry software system that gains value by embedding patented CSIRO software technology.
earthmatters is available at www.csiro.au/resources/earthmatters.html