| Most of our guests arrived at the spectacular Atholl Palace in Pitlochry on Sunday September 4. Some guests put on their boots and hiked up the nearby Ben Vrackie Mountain. The event then kicked off with an informal drinks reception and dinner. Day 1 of the conference began with an opening address from Bob Johnson, Founder and Chairman of Maptek. Bob outlined what it means to be an innovation leader in the industry, and emphasised the need for continual innovation.
Talks and case studies throughout the day followed our theme of continued innovation. One such talk from Eduardo Colomo from Maptek South America, introduced the Vulcan Short Term Planner to our European users. This new customer-driven development takes short term planning to a new level with direct read/write to the block model, enabling mine planners to get the most out of their mining equipment.
Maptek’s new I-Site 8800 laser scanning system was also introduced. Graeme Cowie of our Edinburgh office, and James Howarth of our Adelaide office, spoke about Maptek’s use of emerging technology to continually push the boundaries in the laser scanning world. From long range open pit and underground applications, through mobile mapping and continuous scanning to the latest in geotechnical analysis, we were treated to an in depth look at this amazing technology.
A Traditional Scottish Evening followed our first day of lectures. Maptek staff and guests were treated to an evening combining kilts, bagpipes, highland dancing, blindfold golf, haggis and a Scottish quiz. It was a great way to relax and definitely provided a lot of laughs for everyone, myself included.
Day 2 kicked off with a keynote given by Scottish geologist and science communicator, Professor Stuart Monro. We were very fortunate to hear his insightful and inspirational speech on the history of Scottish Innovation.
Presentations then followed on new Vulcan features including Rapid Pit Design and the Stope Optimiser. Later that day, Peabody Energy Geologist, Michael Wilkins gave an educational case study on the challenges of modelling a Colorado coal deposit. He outlined the Vulcan tools that he uses in his approach to building the best possible 3D model.
Day 2 continued with a look into the future of Maptek. Guests were introduced to key developments in Vulcan software, as well as new BlastLogic and Eureka tools currently in development. BlastLogic provides tools to manage drill and blast data, while Eureka works with geological data and is aimed at the exploration sector.
During day 2 we asked for feedback from our customers on areas where we can improve, so we can continue to provide them with the best possible software solutions and service.
A Whisky Tour on the evening of day 2 saw guests visiting nearby Edradour Distillery for a tour, fine dining and whisky tasting, which was sponsored by acQuire.
Overall I felt the conference was a success. The presentations were informative and engaging, and our evening entertainment was top notch. I enjoyed the time spent with our customers and fellow Maptek staff. If you haven’t yet taken advantage of attending one of our Users Conferences, I highly recommend it!
Cheers,
Gary Buchanan |
