Computer conference shows Canadians’ lead

It’s called the first Canadian Conference on Computer Applications in the Mineral Industry, but it’s actually an international first. And, according to one of the organizers, the event shows that Canada plays a leading role in promoting research and development (R&D) in mining.

“There was a time when we Canadians looked overseas for computer applications,” said Raj Singhal of the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (canmet). “However, in the past 10 years Canadians have developed expertise of their own — expertise which compares favorably with that of other countries. It is this which has led to the development of this conference.”

About 275 delegates from 12 countries attended the event at Laval University. Most delegates were from Canada or the U.S., but Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany and France were also well represented, Singhal told The Northern Miner.

Also, of 16 software companies that exhibited their products, two were from the U.S., one was from France and one was from England. The rest were Canadian. At least two companies wanting to display their wares had to be turned down because of lack of space, Singhal said.

The conference was organized chiefly by the Coal Research Laboratories of canmet (Edmonton) and Laval’s department of mining and metallurgy. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the department, which has created a research group for computer applications in the mineral industry (graiim).

In his opening address, Energy and Mines Minister Marcel Masse said the 3-day conference reflects Canada’s broad national strategy in the area of R&D.

Recent improvements in productivity and stronger international markets have put mining back on the road to profitability, he said.

“The economic recession of 1982 dramatically accelerated the technological turn the Canadian mineral industry was taking.

“The resort to new, less labor- intensive techniques certainly had a negative impact on employment; it dropped 20% in four years. Nevertheless, productivity in this sector of activity increased at a rate unequalled elsewhere in the economy. According to the Mining Association of Canada, by the end of 1987 the production of metal mineral mines was up 106% from 1981.

“Increases in the over-all mining sector were in the order of 85%. It is estimated that the mineral industry has, in general, increased its output by 50% since the early ’80s. A study of the American industrial sector as a whole concludes that 44% of these gains are directly attributable to technological innovation.” Masse called computer science an important tool for achieving optimum control of mining processes.

But he complained that funding for R&D is unsatisfactory, citing that Canada’s trade deficit for high- technology goods and services stands at $5.8 billion.

He added: “In 1986, 54% of expenditures on industrial R&D was attributable to a mere 25 Canadian companies. Let us note as well that the Canadian private sector funds just 3% of research done in the country’s universities, compared with 5% in the U.S.”

In response, he said, federal policy will be aimed at “encouraging a greater effort on the part of industry and promoting the expansion and diversification of private sector activity.”

About 80% of the delegates were from private industry, Singhal said. Most delegates were mining engineers.

The next conference is to be at Vancouver’s Universtiy of British Columbia in 1990.