GIS FOR GROUND AND SURFACE WATER SAMPLING

Ground and surface water sampling is conducted regularly at mines. The sampling result data is received in a report format. Comparisons with the previous months’ sampling are important for mines to determine if points requiring attention have been attended, and if there any new points requiring attention. These comparisons are currently done manually using report data. The reports are subsequently stored or filed away.

Mine managers require a quick and easy method to interpret report data – one that does not involve manually sorting through specialist reports and performing comparisons. With GCS’ near real-time monitoring systems, a visual representation of these results allows mine managers to monitor their results within the environment they are familiar with instead of searching through files and folders to make a comparative analysis of results from month to month. Visual representations of the values allow for quick comparisons that will enable the mine manager to immediately flag anomalies.

GCS’ near real-time monitoring systems provides clients with the most updated results of monitoring. A network link is established between GCS and the client’s local desktop computers so that updated monitoring points will automatically appear on their Google earth interface. No downloading and updating is required from the mine – all mine managers need to do is visualise and interpret the results. The monitoring results are colour coded, highlighting points that require attention. A legend provides a colour coded interpretation of the monitoring samples. Customised placemarks can be created and include graphs, photographs and table results at each monitoring point to provide a rich source of additional information on each point. A time-series tool allows managers to conduct trend analysis.