Coal Quality Data eXchange (CQDX) Laboratory to Customer Data Transfer

The project was commissioned in recognition of an industry wide need to improve the transfer of coal laboratory instructions and coal quality results between coal laboratories and their clients. The project was conducted as a joint venture between ACARP, acQuire Technology Solutions, SGS and Anglo American Metallurgical Coal with acQuire Technology Solutions as the project leaders.

An existing laboratory interchange technology was used to model a known bore core program from one of the stakeholder's coal projects. Where needed the technology was modified. On completion of modelling, a simulator was built to mimic the sending and receiving of these bore core instructions and results. Gradually this simulator was replaced with production systems during the project until live exchange of data from business system to business system could be demonstrated without the need for manual rehandle or manual intervention of data.

The project was successful in that it achieved its primary objective. That being to implement a common interchange methodology (CQDX) through which both mining company and coal laboratory can confidently interact. This methodology produces more reliable data sets, clearer instructions between all parties involved which in turn will reduce laboratory turnaround time. It did this by:

· Innovating an existing technology to work with coal quality data;

· Building a secure and sustainable methodology;

· Proving its viability by demonstrating the technology working between an existing coal resource company and a coal laboratory in a production environment;

· Engaging the coal industry via a series of meetings, presentations and an information session during the project;

· Researching and proposing a governance framework for effective management of this technology as a standard going into the future.

However its true success will only be measured over time. It is only with the collective action to adopt this methodology that we as an industry will be able to reap the long term benefits of this effort.

It is recommended acQuire continue to manage the CQDX/ADX as a de-facto standard. During this time its duty will be to assume a neutral position to the standard, monitor industry take-up and assist others in the take-up of the standard. After a defined period, it is expected the governance model will pass from being a de-facto standard to an open standard and passed on to an industry body for further governance whereby minimal maintenance should be required.