Geographical Information System (GIS) platforms are becoming the preferred tool for visualising mining data in multiple dimensions, making the Wits Mining Institute’s (WMI) upcoming GIS course a must-attend for South African mining professionals.
The course – Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for 21st Century Mining, will be held at the WMI on the Wits University campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, from 7-9 September 2020.
The course material has been developed around applications and lessons emerging from research done at the Sibanye-Stillwater digital mining laboratory (DigiMine), the WMI’s flagship project. The course is aimed at people working in the mining sector, government and academia, and will cover applications throughout the mining value chain.
“GIS provides evidence-based and scenario-based spatial solutions and services for intelligent decision making,” said M Ahsan Mahboob, the head of the DigiMine at WMI. “The course will provide hands-on training in advanced GIS software to address complex challenges and ensure reliability and sustainability of the mining industry in the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
Mahboob emphasised that GIS proficiency in aspects of mineral resource management will assist in improving efficiency, health and safety, profitability and sustainable utilisation of assets.
Professor Fred Cawood, Director of the Wits Mining Institute, highlighted that the responsible development of scarce, non-renewable resources requires an ability to organise and visualise a wide spectrum of unrelated data.
“The combination of GIS software and associated technologies is proving to be a cost effective and efficient way to do this,” said Professor Cawood. “The easy ore bodies have already been mined, and access to the skills that can analyse and visualise data – to turn more resources into reserves and to then operate smart mines – will give individuals and companies the competitive edge in future.”
The course’s content includes: an introduction to GIS; understanding GIS software; spatial data models; collection, creation and editing of geospatial data; design and management of geo-databases; and geospatial analysis for information extraction. It will also cover geo-visualisation, cartographical skills and map design and layout for accurate data presentation. Practical case studies from DigiMine and its partner organisations will also be presented.
The cost for corporates is R7,500 (including VAT) and for students is R3,000 (including VAT). For information and bookings, contact:
Lileen Lee
E-mail: Lileen.Lee@wits.ac.za
Tel: +27 (0) 11 717 7037
Cell: +27 (0) 82 829 6839
