Addressing the 2012 Maptek North American Users Conference in Denver today, Colonel Mike Mullane explained how each individual has a unique perspective to contribute to the overall safety of their work environment.
Col. Mullane, retired astronaut, recounted his own near-death experience in a fighter jet, when he failed to speak up about an unsafe situation.
‘When safety is at risk, everybody counts, regardless of their position or length of service. Only when everyone’s input is available for analysis can a team be truly safe,’ said Mullane.
Under the banner of ‘Welcoming Innovation’, Maptek customers and staff are sharing their experiences in mine planning and design, laser scan survey, drill & blast and exploration. Less well known applications, including simulating volcanic eruptions for risk mitigation, and modelling structural controls on geothermal resources, will also be explored during the three-day event.
Mullane used rarely seen NASA video and slides during his talk and shared stories about how his experience has opened people’s eyes to the criticality of personal and leadership responsibility in hazardous environments.
Maptek understands the importance of safety in mining operations. Accurate planning allows miners to know what they will encounter when mining, and work more safely on a daily basis. Technology such as vehicle mounted laser scanners ensures that surveyor safety is not compromised, with the collateral benefit that operations are not delayed.
Conference attendees will go away with a greater awareness of the value of their contribution to innovation in the mining industry.
About Maptek
Founded over 30 years ago, Maptek™ is a leading provider of innovative software, hardware and services for the mining industry. Maptek products, covering the complete mining cycle from exploration to reclamation, are used at more than 1200 sites in over 60 countries. Maptek Vulcan™ is one of the longest standing 3D mine planning and modelling packages. Maptek I-Site™ is an integrated hardware and software system for 3D laser scanning, surveying and imaging. Maptek BlastLogic™ provides intelligent 3D drillhole validation and load design software, while Maptek Eureka™ features an interactive 3D environment for visualising and interpreting geophysical and seismic data.
About Colonel Mullane
After graduating from West Point in 1967, Colonel Mike Mullane was commissioned in the US Air Force and completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam as a Weapon Systems Operator. Col. Mullane holds a Master’s of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Col. Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and has received awards including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and the NASA Space Flight Medal.