The relevance of surveying content in mining engineering education

P O Oshokoya,S Naidoo

doi:10.4314/sajg.v3i2.9

Abstract

The University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering (Wits Mining) has its origins in the South African School of Mines, which was established in 1896. It is currently recognised as one of the world’s top mining engineering schools that educate mining engineering candidates to become qualified to specialise in a variety of disciplines required in a modern mining environment. At undergraduate level, Wits mining offers one degree programme – B.Sc. in mining engineering. The role of Wits Mining has been one of successfully facilitating the continuous professional development of mining engineers and mining specialists like mine surveyors. The paper will highlight the surveying content that is relevant to the mining engineering programme according to the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) by show-casing the surveying content within the Wits Mining programme and comparing this with what is obtainable at other international schools of mining engineering, such as Aachen University (Germany), the University of Mines and Technology (Ghana) and the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). The training of mine surveyors is well established in South Africa, and Wits University is an institution where a mine surveyor can obtain a Master’s degree specialising in any one of 5 mining specialisations, including Mine Surveying. This article attempts to answer the question as to what mining engineers should know about mine surveying. The paper will also explain how mine surveying training is beneficial to a mining engineer’s career development.

Highlights

The profession of Mining Engineering is concerned with the safe, effective, profitable and environmentally responsible operation of mineral extraction in order to meet the ever-expanding demand from the global community for mineral commodities (UNSW, 2013)
The role of the mining professional is diversified, and this career development has necessitated the education of a mining engineer to have a broad-base of knowledge and skills that can enable a further specialisation in areas such as mine surveying
Wits Mining facilitates this course of study by designing its undergraduate degree programme to provide a broad knowledge base and skills acquisition in associated competencies such as mine surveying

Summary

Introduction

The profession of Mining Engineering is concerned with the safe, effective, profitable and environmentally responsible operation of mineral extraction in order to meet the ever-expanding demand from the global community for mineral commodities (UNSW, 2013). The surveying degree was incorporated under a Bachelor’s degree in Mineral Resource Management (MRM), because the industry began to perceive a professional mine surveyor’s role as a mineral resource manager who uses data collected by survey technicians After this development, there was no longer a survey department but surveying as a subject was offered to students as part of their core knowledge-base (Phillips, 2013). The School offers a number of courses at undergraduate level, which will assist in the development of skills to obtain and manage information efficiently, to think clearly, to make decisions, to be creative and to communicate effectively This foundation assists the candidates at postgraduate level, where courses in applied engineering and specialist areas of professionalism are taught. This educational process is comparable with international schools offering mining engineering education

What does Wits offer with regards to mine surveying?

Findings

Conclusion and recommendation