Global Mining Guidelines Group
 

DATA EXCHANGE FOR MINE SOFTWARE (OMF)

With the goal of improving 3D Data interoperability, this project group has developed the Open Mining Format (OMF), an open-source file specification to support data interchange across the entire mining community.

Mining requires a wide range of spatial data, and new technologies are adding to their complexity. While these changes create better representations of geological phenomena, moving complex data between proprietary software formats is time-consuming and prone to error. 

This project group – made up of software vendors and mining companies with a shared vision for a more open and interoperable path forward – is developing OMF, an open-source file specification for 3D data interoperability that will enable significant efficiency gains. 

The first version of OMF, released in 2017, supports basic structures including points, lines, surfaces, meshes and volumes. The second version is extending that support to block models, computer-generated representations of orebodies that contain valuable data about them.

Visit OMF on GitHub

Building momentum in the industry and promoting the initiative will result in continual development and evolution. Ultimately, it will bring immense value to the industry by eliminating time wasted on unnecessary data management and by preventing costly mistakes.

Industry support: Four major software companies – Seequent, Dassault Systèmes, Deswik and Micromine – have publicly committed to OMF, and several others are also contributing. Read an article with the supporting companies’ comments here.

  • Launched

  • Needs identified

  • In development

    OMF 2.0

  • Finalized

  • Released

GMG PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

2017 Nov | Open Mining Format V1.0 (OMF)

An open-source file specification for 3D data interchange across the mining community. This version of OMF supports basic structures including points, lines, surfaces, meshes and volumes. Visit OMF on GitHub here. Read the OMF 1.0.1 docs here.

2017 Nov | 3D Data Exchange Report

A report that identifies, based on interviews with key stakeholders, the key issues that they have in common when it comes to data exchange. Read the report here

X