On Friday, February 15 at 1 p.m. in the Mineral Industries Building, Room 223, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will hold a ribbon cutting to introduce a new, state-of-the-art computer lab and global communications center. The Maptek Advanced Mine Design Center will enhance the faculty's ability to promote and teach advanced technical aspects of the mining industry, with emphasis on 3D-Modeling and design. Due mainly to South Dakota's recent enhancement of the curriculum to include mining business and management and the resulting increase in enrollment, students are forced to share computers in a cramped classroom. The new facility will be twice the size and will enable 25 students access to computers. Other features of the new center will include:
- Video conferencing capabilities for distance education and global communications
- Dedicated wall space for both a large plasma screen and blackboard
- A ceiling mounted air projector that is networked to all tablet PCs and desktops
- Ergonomic seating and new equipment furniture
- New flooring and improved lighting
- Air conditioning and updated heating and ventilation
The mining engineering and management department at the School of Mines has been a leading institution that has focused heavily on detailed mine design by leveraging the Vulcan software from Maptek. Today, many of the senior and executive engineering positions in the mining industry are held by School of Mines mining alumni.
With the rapid growth of the mining program on campus, with student numbers climbing to 80, the need for a state of the art mine deign lab to accommodate 25 computer stations and a global communication center, became evident.
A generous donation from Maptek made it possible to knock down a wall between two sub-optimal rooms and create this new redesigned mine design lab. More companies from the mining industry and alumni are continuing to donate towards equipment to complete the lab.
This lab, in addition to quality training of our graduates, also serves as a major design hub for the DUSEL geomechanics activities.
Established 25 years ago, Maptek offers a range of cutting-edge software and hardware technologies. Vulcan software, a 3D geological modeling and mine planning system, is currently used at more than 600 sites worldwide. It is also be used as a teaching tool at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.
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