Maptek has launched its Vulcan 9 software, which includes new modelling and underground design.
New functionality in the software package targets includes improvements to software architecture to manage massive databases.
"Vulcan 9 has new and improved capabilities for modelling, object attribution, underground design, and a completely new graphics engine. The amount of data users can load and manipulate is only restricted by their hardware," Vulcan's product manager, Eric Gonzalez explained
According to Maptek operators will be able to combine implicit modelling with existing Vulcan tools to create their own unique approach for generating complex 3D surfaces.
Maptek says that new object attributes feature in Vulcan 9 means t unlimited information about an object is available on demand.
Edits are also automatically updated in the downstream process, so instead of re-running reserves based on a new design, a single mouse-over on a point shows new reserve information.
New expressions tools assign the properties of an object as attributes, while the Locally Varying Anisotropy (LVA) method can be applied to account for arbitrary search paths for grade estimation, improving results when modelling complex stratiform orebodies.
Enhancements to underground ring design and underground mine design tools will streamline workflow and increase productivity.
A new tool for designing highwall ramps is predicted to cut time.
Pit solids can also now be cut up by the highwall templates, block lines, and horizons to enable individual solids to be created for reserving against a Vulcan HARP model.
Strip ratios can be calculated from user-defined block model variables, and strip ratio calculations can be limited to a lowest mineable level, based on elevation, depth, surface or horizon floor.
Enhanced parameters for haul segments take into account the effect of rolling resistance as well as gradient on haulage route times. A new algorithm provides a better estimation for distances based on actual bench geometry at the time of mine haulage.