Abstract

From Seam to Server, GIS Process for Coal Mining Operations
Track: Mining and Geosciences
Authors: Scott Horn

Arch Coal, Inc., through its land management and exploration subsidiary Ark Land Co. control and manage numerous land and mineral contracts as well as cataloging mining reserves and progress. Tracking and visualizing this amount of geographical data is a daunting task. In addition to data storage, decision makers require up-to-date reporting and analysis for exploration, management, tax reporting, and other uses.
The ArcGIS desktop and server software allows the efficient storage, organization, and communication of spatial and related information. Utilizing these tools, we developed many processes that make these tasks easier to manage. Mining progress, coal and surface control and other mineral data are gathered from the various field units, processed, and served online so decision makers can track what is happening and act accordingly. This presentation will illustrate the processes we use to get data from seam to server.