Where is implicit modelling heading?

LAÉRCIO GUEDES BERTOSSI

Resource Geologist, previously with Votorantim, San Paulo, Brazil, AusIMM

Member

Implicit modelling is an amazing methodology. The capacity to rapidly build and update models
combined with the possibility of testing multiple hypotheses reflects in a much more flexible and
dynamic workflow that also saves time and money. A future where modellers and geologists just
remember manual methods is not far away.

DR RICHARD LANE
Former Research Director, ARANZ Geo, Christchurch, New Zealand

The vision of allowing geologists to focus on their data and interpretation, rather than on how to
operate a software package is becoming a reality. It may actually yield the surprising result of
less time in front of computers and more time in the field.

ANTHONY REED

3D Structural Geologist/Information Geologist, MMG, Melbourne, Australia

I feel the next stage is directly linking the model to the real world through augmented reality, and
expanding the scope of real time data collection to adjust modelled boundaries and flag
unexpected irregularities in Geology, not just topological position. This is critical for accurate
and reactive planning to support real-time mining processes.

PETER GLEESON

Corporate Consultant, Mining Geology, SRK Consulting, Cardiff, UK

The need to drive costs down, improve efficiencies at the mine and better analyse risk in a
mining project will necessitate and drive the future development of implicit modelling
techniques. The dynamic nature of mining is best suited to the rapid evaluation of resources
made possible by implicit modelling.

PAUL HODKIEWICZ

Senior Manager Technology Development, BHP Billiton, Perth, Australia

The future of implicit modelling is making it standard industry practice to generate multiple
resource models that capture a range of interpretations and uncertainties. This will improve
communication between geoscience and geostatistics and improve business decisions.

MIKE STEWART

Senior Principal Consultant, ARANZ Geo – Expert Services, Perth, Australia

Implicit modelling is set to completely replace explicit methods within a few years. The real
benefits of implicit modelling are still to be fully realised – rapid updating, incorporation into
automated modelling workflows, practical assessment of uncertainty from various sources.

RON REID

Group Resource Geologist, Harmony Gold SE Asia

As implicit modelling becomes more and more accepted there will be significant improvements
in workflow which will greatly improve validity. As the process becomes more understood and
the software moves towards having greater control on domaining and sample selection we will
likely see an introduction of implicit modelling derived grade models into the resource sphere.

PATRICK ‘PJ’ HOLLENBECK

Former Independent Consulting Geologist, Canada

In the wake of implicit modelling will be reconsiderations of common practices in the course of
resource estimation. Significant improvements in the accuracy and prediction of models will
surely follow as the result of more detailed and appropriate geologic models.
This web content is a summary of the article “Where is implicit modelling heading?”, originally published in the Unearthing 3D implicit modelling
ebook. Download full ebook here.