BHP Billiton Iron Ore and NGIS Australia joined forces to develop an innovative business system that delivers geospatial information to non-technical users across the iron ore business in Western Australia.
The problem
BHP Billiton recognised that mining, more than most other industries, depends on accurate and accessible spatial information.
Although many business units already collected and used spatial data, there was limited coordination of software and methods and no easy way for this information to be shared. While this approach met localised needs, it didn’t deliver consistent information on a timely basis to the organisation as a whole.
The mining giant needed a way to help alleviate the multi-million dollar risks associated with inappropriate infrastructure placement, inaccurate property boundaries or operational activities being carried out in the wrong place.
NGIS’ solution
NGIS worked closely with BHP Billiton Iron Ore to develop ioMaps, an easy-to-use web based map viewer for spatial information.
Notable for its simplicity and user appeal, ioMaps demonstrates an innovative and sophisticated approach to integrated spatial applications by using GeoSamba. This middleware software combines more than 800 datasets to interact seamlessly with business processes via a single browser interface.
ioMaps has been instrumental in improving data accuracy and integrity, enhancing the speed and accuracy of decision making, streamlining the evaluation of location related opportunities in the remote Pilbara and lowering the risk of inappropriate land use and its associated consequences.
ioMaps Features
A key benefit of the system is its ability to support multiple formats and automate a range of core business tasks and workflows for increased speed, accuracy and consistency. The service-orientated architecture of ioMaps is scaleable, reusable and designed for future growth. ioMaps can also add and use new information feeds, from either internal or external providers, as they become available.
Information layers are grouped into themes for easy location while an intranet data extract wizard makes it simple for non-technical users to generate complex maps without the need for extensive training and support. A suite of custom-built applications were created to sit on top of the GeoSamba data integration engine.
These are the:
- ioMaps Custodian Model
This allows changes and updates to the data to be managed and any errors and problems with the data tracked. The custodian model also provides built-in workflows for users who wish to request new data.
- ioMaps PEAHR
Project Environmental Aboriginal Heritage Review, or PEAHR, is a system designed to ensure that appropriate land ownership and approvals are in place and that no works are carried out within a heritage or environmentally sensitive area. It is automated into a consistent and streamlined on-line workflow and extensive review process, with all the relevant reviewers notified by email of each new request.
- ioMaps ETL
ETL (Extract, Translate and Load) is an application responsible for all data extraction, loading and manipulation within ioMaps. A user can download any SDE dataset to their local computer, in a variety of formats and projections.
- ioMaps Web Client
The ioMaps Web Client is based on the out-of-the-box web client supplied with GeoSamba. It has been customised to provide added functionality and aesthetic modifications made to enhance the user experience. The Map viewer offers low cost access for multiple users without the need for expensive or time-consuming software installations.
- ioMaps Admin Web Service
The Admin Web Service is responsible for handling all web service requests that take place within ioMaps.
ioMaps is easy to use, quick to access and full of valuable information that was previously locked away from non-technical business decisionmakers. It helps increase productivity, reduce cost and risk and improve the speed and accuracy of decision-making that is critical to the success of the business.