QuarryDesign were invited to speak at the 'Innovative LiDAR Solutions Conference' (ILSC) in Toronto between May 31st and June 3rd 2011.  Unfortunately due to work commitments we could not attend in person.  Not wishing to let some 3,452 miles get in the way, we decided to adopt a more "remote" presentation style to match our "remote" geotechnical mapping talk.  Using two Skype connections (one sharing the presentation and one exchanging views of conference hall and the presenter) the presentation was given to Toronto from our offices in Clevedon (UK).

We can assume it was well received by the following comment by Gene Roe on LiDAR News (http://blog.lidarnews.com/) "The other 'wow' item today was the use of Skype video conferencing to support a presentation by Adrian Wilkinson on monitoring rock slopes in large open pit mines. Adrian was speaking to us from the UK and it went so smoothly that you felt like he was in the room.  I am starting to see what Optech means by the Innovative LiDAR Solutions Conference"

Three weeks ago (Monday 18th April) the first episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” titled “Winter is Coming” was broadcast on Sky Atlantic. This week (2nd May) saw the first images of Castle Black in their third episode titled “Lord Snow”.

Copyright © HBO. This image shows the set of Castle Black and the Lift located against whitewashed quarry faces which were ultimately CGI rendered to look like a wall of ice in the broadcast episode.

The set of Castle Black (located in a quarry in Northern Ireland) required a geotechnical assessment prior to set construction and filming to ensure that the quarry faces adjacent to the set would be stable and safe during set construction and eventual filming.

Copyright © QuarryDesign. This image shows the set of Castle Black and the Lift prior to set construction

As the set was within a quarry, QuarryDesign were recommended to the Location Manager acting for the Production Company and were subsequently contracted to undertake this geotechnical assessment.  We utilised a combination of remote mapping techniques (notably creating a point-cloud of the quarry face and analysing it in Split-FX) to obtain the requisite rock-mass data.

Image of the quarry face in Split-FX

The backs of the buildings were recommended to be constructed so that they would contain any potential rockfall (i.e. they would act as rock-traps) and the lowest part of the Lift was recommended to be constructed away from the quarry face and lifted into place.  The back of this structure was also de-marked as a rock-fall zone (i.e. it would also act as a rock-trap).

QuarryDesign have been using (and promoting the use of) Split-FX as part of their ability to remotely obtain geotechnical data from quarry faces (in conjuction with the ILRIS-3D-ER LiDAR Scanner from Optech).

Joints identified in Split-FX

Stereographic interpretation in Split-FX

Further to recent discussions with Split Engineering in Tucson, Arizona, QuarryDesign are proud to be able to act as Split Engineering's European reseller.  As well as Split-FX (which determines discontinuity data from LiDAR scans), they also produce Split Desktop (which analyses fragmentation from blast-pile photographs).  QuarryDesign believe that both of these software packages are beneficial to the Quarrying Industry.

In the next few weeks, a dedicated web page will appear on this site describing the use and benefits of Split Engineering's software.  In the meantime, a link to Spit Engineering's website is provided in our links page.

If you have any queries regarding Split Software, please contact us via our contact page.

QuarryDesign's article titled "A Hands Off Approach" describing how we use a combination of the Optech ILRIS-3D-ER LiDAR scanner and the software by InnovMetric and Split Engineering to remotely geologically map and geotechnically characterise rockmasses was printed in The Institute of Quarrying's Quarry Management.

The article can be read and downloaded from http://www.agg-net.com/article/a-hands-off-approach

QuarryDesign were proud to be one of the sponsors for the 2010 Extractive Industry Geology Conference held in Plymouth between 8th and 11th September 2010.

We share the sentiments of the many delegates who consider that this conference was one of the best in the EIG's history.

Details of this 16th EIG Conference can be found at http://www.eigconference.org

QuarryDesign has invested in an Optech ILRIS-3D-ER long-range high-definition LiDAR scanner enabling geotechnical face mapping to be undertaken remotely and safely (by obviating the need to approach quarry faces).

Using InnovMetric's Polyworks software the point-cloud can be manipulated to provide highly detailed surveys of the quarry faces, including triangulated meshes, contours, break-lines, cross sections and volumes between succesive scans.

In combination with SplitFX, detailed discontinuity analyses can be undertaken without the need to approach the face.

The investment of this substantial piece of equipment ensures that QuarryDesign stays at the forefront of geotechnical innovations within our industry and continues our drive to attain the highest standards of both safety and quality of work.

QuarryDesign are pleased to announce that Adrian Charters (formerly Geological Manager for Aggregate Industries USA; and prior to that a founding Director of KeyGeosolutions and Geological Manager for Tarmac), will be joining QuarryDesign as Geological Director starting on 1st September 2010.

Adrian brings with him a wealth of quarrying specific experience gained over 27 years in the industry, experience that considerably strengthens QuarryDesign's existing capabilities.