GIS FOR RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS
TRAINING COURSE, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
MARCH-APRIL, 2012
Report by
Cassius Chiwambo, Malawi
COURSE DESCRIPTION
I attended the training course GIS for Resource Professionals in Perth, Australia during March and April 2012. The focus was on using Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) in the mineral resources sector. The training was arranged in order to impart GIS knowledge to the participants which will in-turn help their countries improve presentation of their geo-data on maps for investors and national use.
Course participants in a GIS software training session (Cassius Chiwambo, Front Right)
The training covered a wide variety of practical skills such as (i) implementing and managing spatial data; (ii) using various GIS software; (iii)analysing and modelling GIS information; (iv) interpreting remotely sensed data for geological and mine site applications; and (v) managing the collection and analysis of geological data from surveys and other sources.
The programme as a whole was designed to offer hands-on skills in using GIS and remote sensing software, using real and relevant resource related data sets. Some of the data came from Africa and from Malawi in particular.
COURSE SET UP AND ANTICIPATED OUTCOME
The balance of the tuition was fifty percent desk top software usage, thirty percent hands-on aided practical and assignments, and twenty percent field-work.
For the hands-on-aided practical component, we had one full week of placement at Western Australia’s Department of Mines and Petroleum. In addition, the course allowed the participants to appreciate the usage of geospatial technologies in real-world situations. This was achieved through visits to some notable mine sites such as Alcoa Bauxite Mine and Aluminium Production Factory, St. Ives Gold Fields and Kalgoorlie Conglomerate Gold Mine (KCGM)’s Super Pit.
The course goal was to equip the participants with skills to professionally and effectively use the GIS software in their daily duties. It was further packaged so that it shows the participants how spatial data can improve exploration and mine-site management activities.
As a way of ensuring further knowledge sharing amongst home officers, a train-the-trainer course was also on offer.
COURSE PARTICIPANTS
There were five mineral sector officers from two countries - Malawi (2) and Ghana (3)
SOFTWARE SKILLS ACQUIRED
When the course started only one participants had any practical knowledge of the GIS software to be used. So it was agreed with the tutors that the course should start with the basics. This was done and it gave a good foundation for the training.
We covered ArcGIS - use of arcMap10, GeoView, GeoMap, Remote Sensing’s ER Mapper, and MapWindow. For map editing, a CorelDRAW software course was offered as a bonus package. So professional-grade skills were obtained in the industrial usage of these softwares.
In all, this part of the course took four weeks. It included in-depth understanding of Geospatial Information System and theoretical usage in the industry.
When we had mastered the basics we were taught how to apply the software, for example showing us how to develop maps from scratch. For example, in arcMAP, this process involves a sequence of actions and functionalities, such as:
• creating an event layer,
• creating shapefiles from event layer,
• symbolising map layer,
• creation of new fields,
• table queries,
• creating new file Geodatabase,
• Geodatabase Domains,
• Creating Points,
• polylines and polygons,
• use of grids and graticules.
These are just some of the many parameters used in arcMAP.
On a key point, as a way of providing easy storage and tracing of Geodata and Mine-site information in the system, the GIS Servers and professional management was also taught. The management of computer systems in the GIS network was the fulcrum topic.
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND PETROLEUM (DMP) PLACEMENT
As a way of broadening the participant’s mineral sector understanding, with the case of Western Australia (WA), and their unique application of GIS, the participants were offered a placement at the DMP. The Department arranged a series of presentations and practical sessions for the trainees.
Certificate of Registration of Trade Mark for WA DMP’s own created GeoMap Software The Department illustrated how it created the program GeoMap in-house for its own geologists. This was so successful GeoMap is now being used by private practitioners in Australia. We were shown how the program manages its proprietary functionality Tengraphs, using GIS skills and expertise.
Furthermore, as a bonus package, the DMP gave extra presentations on issues it deals with in its daily business such as Prospecting, Exploration and Mining on Pastoral Leases; Private Land Provisions; GIS application in Marking Out and Applying For Mining Tenements; Miners Rights; Special Prospecting Licence; Western Australia’s general Permit System and management of abandoned mines. These issues all fit very well with the theme of social licensing we have discussed in UxP meetings.
SITE VISITS
The course’ schedule made provision for site visits to mines. During these visits, we had an opportunity to see how Australians use the ArcGIS skills in identifying and marking mineral deposits during various phases of their work, such as Exploration and Mining, Management of Mine sites and related activities such as management of tailing dams and associated environmental issues.
In the context of UxP’s interest in comprehensive extraction, the course tackled the effective extraction of Gold in Uranium contaminated deposits of Kalgoorlie area. There was an emphasis on GIS application to the management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in gold deposits. This is one of the critical issues in the Kalgoorlie Gold Fields, although
the mine operators indicated that such materials do not offer any significant threat to the people and environment in Australia.
Part of the Gold Extraction Plant (KCGM) Top view of the Superpit. At the time of our visit it was 3.4km long, 1.8km wide and 450m deep
Crusher plant at Alcoa Bauxite Mine Trainees, Trainers and Mine official discussing issues right inside the Mine Pit at St. Ives Gold Field
SKILLS OBTAINED
From this training course, we acquired skills and knowledge to use and implement GIS in our home countries. We learned how to manage geospatial datasets and carry out analyses that will benefit our organizations. The obvious dependency is the availability of the software which is slightly expensive.
Management of a Department’s Geodata and mining information, which can be presented through Databanks or Cadastre Systems, can be done with a high level of understanding. This enables us to provide an effective and efficient service to the mineral sector stakeholders.
Diversification of knowledge to other Government Sectors such as town/city Assemblies can be of great importance since such organs also produce maps for general usage.
The visits to the sites acted as an eye-opener where the trainees appreciated how organised Mine Operators are in the developed countries by using GIS technics.
CONCLUSION
The Training course was of great importance to us as course participants and specifically to the Government as the prime beneficiary of the knowledge and skills obtained. The organisers and trainers conducted it with high professionalism and with knowledge-sharing, result-oriented thought which was proved by the Train the Trainer course which part of the training.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After this course, the trainees made the following recommendations for support:
1. To maximise the benefits of the course, our Governments should
procure the software packages. These can be used at Departmental level, for example for the collection of datasets and the compilation of our own maps, which might comprise tenements demarcations and similar functions. This can ease the process of managing the leases.
2. The Department should assist the course participants with necessary
resources to conduct an in-house GIS course in order to increase the home staff’s understanding of GIS software packages and usage.
TRAINING COURSE, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
MARCH-APRIL, 2012 July 2012
