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Software Article for Miners News
By Betty Gibbs

GeoGratis - Canadian Geospatial data is available online at no cost and without restrictions!
The GeoGratis portal is provided by the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) which provides geospatial data at no cost and without restrictions via your Web browser. The data will be useful whether you're a novice who needs a geographic map for a presentation, or an expert who wants to overlay a vector layer of digital data on a classified multiband image, with a digital elevation model as a backdrop.

The geospatial data are grouped in collections and are compatible with the most popular geographic information systems (GIS), with image analysis systems and the graphics applications of editing software. The geospatial data collections are available on the GeoGratis portal. A number of the collections meet international geomatics standards.
The collections include raster data, such as satellite images or scanned topographic maps, vector data, such as national-scale frameworks (grouped by theme), and a database of ground control points. Over seventy collections are available on the GeoGratis portal. The collections are grouped into several categories, including:

• Raster data, includes Orthorectified RADARSAT-1 and Landsat-7 satellite images covering all of Canada; Atlas of Canada and Atlas of North America thematic maps; and Historical and recent land use maps, etc.
• Vector data, includes Canvec vector data at 1:50,000 scale for Canada; National-scale framework data (grouped by theme); Vector Map Level 0 (VMAP0) for Canada, etc.
• A database of ground control points which is a collection of georeferenced points that can be used to correct and validate satellite, vector and raster data.

The data can be downloaded from the Web site. Metadata for the collections is also provided, and you can search for data by keyword or product. For more information and access to the data, visit http://geogratis.gc.ca/geogratis/en/index.html

Jigsaw360 Mine Management Solution

Jigsaw360 is the latest mine management solution from Leica Geosystems and Jigsaw Technologies. Jigsaw360 empowers mine sites to meet production targets and implement operational improvements. It uses state-of-the-art technologies to automatically provide optimised truck and shovel assignments; increase productivity; monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs), and minimise operating costs. Operators, maintenance personnel, engineers, managers and supervisors will all benefit from the unparalleled capabilities of a Jigsaw360 system.

Machines on the mine site can be fitted with a Jigsaw360 system. Information is collected and stored in the onboard computer fitted to each machine, and communicated to the office via real-time database replication. Information is also replicated from the office to each machine, automatically synchronising all mine site data on every Jigsaw360 system with office data. The system consists of the following parts:

• HaulPro JS - Monitors the entire haul cycle.
• LoadPro JS - Emphasizes production and optimization
• DozerPro JS - Focuses on the surrounding work area
• DrillPro JS - monitors production and allows operators to update pattern progress on the fly
• AuxPro JS - provides full task/activity management and reporting and real-time graphics.

For more information visit: http://mining.leica-geosystems.com

Multivariate Statistical Package (MVSP)
Version 3.1 for Windows of MVSP performs several types of eigenanalysis ordinations: principal components analysis (PCA), principal coordinates analysis (PCO), and correspondence/detrended correspondence analysis (CA/DCA). It also does canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), a technique highly popular in ecological studies.

It can also perform cluster analysis, using 23 different distance or similarity measures and seven clustering strategies. A dual clustering option lets you produce dendrograms of both variables and cases in one step, along with a copy of the original data matrix, sorted in the same order as the dendrograms. Constrained clustering may also be performed, so that the original input data order is maintained. Diversity indices may be calculated on ecological data; these include Simpson's, Shannon's, and Brillouin's indices.

You can spread out your data, the statistical results and graphs in front of you while you study them, just like paper on your desktop. It also has a notepad where you can jot down ideas and observations. Try new graphs, add new data, peruse the results, then print or save just those that you need. Multiple desktops can be saved for different projects. Once your data have been analyzed you can plot the results directly. Euclidean biplots of PCA results (with variables as vectors) can be produced, as can biplots of the environmental variables in CCA. Scree plots can also be produced for PCA, PCO and CA/CCA. Dendrograms of the cluster analysis results are drawn automatically. These graphs can be customized, with your favourite settings being saved for future use.

Scatterplots of the original variables can also be produced, as well as box and whisker plots summarizing each variable. All graphs have a zoom feature that lets you magnify parts of the graph for easier viewing. MVSP offers various data manipulation features, such as transformation, merging of two or more data files, and conversion to formats such as range-through. Data can be imported from and exported to a variety of formats, including Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, Quattro, xBase, Paradox, Cornell Ecology Program format and various plain text files.

Price: $255. For more information visit Kovach Computing Services at http://www.kovcomp.com