In 2011 Maptek will celebrate 30 years of developing innovative technology for the mining industry.

To mark this milestone, Maptek has established a new scholarship at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. The Maptek Mining Engineering scholarship will be awarded to a final year student with a keen interest in the application of computers in mining.

Mining engineering students at the university already use Maptek Vulcan software for their final year project, with an award for the best mine design.

‘We pioneered 3D modelling software for mining applications and put it in the hands of the geologists and engineers who needed it. We will evolve our technology towards an integrated tool that respects the modern workflow,’ said Maptek Chairman and Founder Dr Bob Johnson on announcing the new scholarship.

‘Having set the goals we want to ensure the standard continues to rise with our future generation of mining professionals,’ Dr Johnson added.

Maptek already has strong ties with research and education sectors through its global operations in the USA, UK and South America.

The Centre of Mining at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, one of Chile's oldest universities, is incorporating Vulcan in mine design and mine planning courses.

Giving the students the opportunity to work with real information to produce designs for an open cut copper mine, results in better understanding of the technical and economic parameters which affect business outcomes.

Using real case studies is an ideal approach for hands-on learning, and the latest technology makes for easy visualisation of the results.

Maptek provides for two scholarships annually at the South Dakota School of Mines and sponsored the establishment of a new state-of-the-art computerised mine design laboratory in 2008. Training and academic licences are provided to many institutions globally, including the Camborne School of Mines in the UK and the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia.