Having successfully applied computer techniques to open pit mining applications, many software developers are now using their skills to tackle the much harder areas of underground mine design, planning and production. Dramatic improvements in the performance to price ratio of hardware (including high resolution graphics screens), a better understanding of the techniques of surface and solids modelling (and their subsequent display), moves towards standard user interfaces and advanced concepts of representing grade distribution in the ore body have all contributed to the recent increase in underground mining software activity.
This paper details the general requirements of a workable underground mining software system, providing a minimum checklist of desirable features and emphasises the importance of ease of use, flexibility and intuitive feel. Some relevant trends in hardware, software and application techniques are highlighted and comments made on areas which require further development or are only available in a small number of packages. Finally, a comment is made on the role of computer models to provide a unifying medium for tying together all aspects of underground design, planning and production.