Datamine Enterprise

A proven design method and framework for custom software applications that supports team working and auditing. Datamine Enterprise is the result of several man-years of research and development, which started as a result of asking our customers “what is it that you want from Datamine”. The answers were very varied of course, but a number of common threads were apparent.

You told us that you wanted integrated software. That is, integration between your Datamine applications and SQL databases, other mining software systems, and productivity applications like Microsoft Excel and so on. But you also told us that you need better integration between users, so that information from surveyors and samplers flows naturally into tasks carried out by the geologists, and for the geologists' models to flow on naturally into mine planning and scheduling.

Every mining operation does things differently. There are, of course, many similarities between, say, two adjacent iron ore mines, but there will always be differences in the details of the processes each carries out. The first step towards developing is to understand the process and this has led us to adopt industry-standard tools for process modeling. We have found that simple process models greatly help in the task of describing “what goes on”, and provide a common set of documents for ironing out inconsistencies and designing improvements. A model shows clearly what tasks are carried out by different users, and what software systems are used to carry out each task. The model makes it easy to show where different systems have to be interfaced, and it also lists all the functions each user needs to carry out, allowing menus to be constructed.

A model is one thing, but software that implements the model is another. We have spent a great deal of time looking at how best to do this, and the result is Datamine Enterprise. There is also the problem of managing collaboration between users. Two technicians need to be able to work on the same project at the same time without getting in each other’s way. And we also need to solve the problem of how data flows through the process, from sampler and surveyor to grade control geologist, or from long term planner through to the dispatch system.

Datamine Enterprise provides the framework to solve these problems as well. It provides a design method and a framework for software applications that supports team working.

How can Datamine Enterprise solve this problem?

1. Create and implement a formal design for the system

• Develop a detailed model of the activities and data used
• Implement a database that exactly mirrors the design model

2. Prevent data from getting lost or overwritten and allow collaboration

• Don’t keep any data on user PC’s; use a central shared database
• Support team working by coordinating multiple users through a check-out/check-in protocol

3. Make the software easier to use

• Use wizards to lead the user through the process
• Don’t expect users to remember the names of hundreds of files
• Access the data by its context

4. Implement features to satisfy the auditors

• Create a log that shows everything that has happened to every file
• Use the system model to explain the process
• Use macros and scripts so that auditors can view the details if necessary

5. Provide custom software solutions for off-the-shelf prices

• Use Rapid Application Develop (RAD) techniques
• Use a library of re-useable software components

Datamine Enterprise is …

… a design method to allow processing requirements to be captured, modeled, analyzed and implemented in a software system

… a software framework to support the rapid and cost effective development of custom software solutions

… a shared database that supports multiple groups of users who each carry out different sets of tasks

Formal System Design

• Creates a detailed model of the system that allows easy software improvements
• Provides senior management and auditors with a detailed description of the system
• Optimal design of applications for each user and job function
• Minimize risk
• Provides detail for accurate estimation of development costs
• Facilitates the incorporation of KPI's to quantify performance

Integrated Data Management

• Structured but flexible
• Advanced yet easy to use
• Secure and scalable
• All data types stored in the same database
• Central storage allows easy backup and archiving
• Map users to applications by their Windows login name
• Per-user security using Windows login name
• Software stored in the same database, allows automatic updates

Consistent Framework for Applications

• Highly flexible description of the system, can be used for any software process
• All applications share a similar look and feel, reduces training requirement
• Allows for translations into different languages, by user
• Data accessed by its context, no need to remember file names
• Re-use existing macros to minimize implementation cost
• Rapid Application Development (RAD) environment ensures cost remains competitive

Datamine Enterprise is a new, but strategic development from the Datamine Group.

To date, we have commissioned a relatively small number of systems, and a number of others have been specified.

We have received a great deal of interest in Datamine Enterprise.

We would like to offer you the opportunity to participate in a process study to show how Datamine Enterprise can bring significant benefits to your organization.