Environmental & Decommissioning Reclamation Data System
INCO Limited, Copper Cliff, Ontario (1997)

The Environmental Department is, in part, responsible for the monitoring and management of environmental contaminants for all INCO mining and smelting properties in the Province of Ontario. The traditional management approach was characterized through the use of AutoCAD map sheets and Excel spreadsheet files. BLAZE is the contractor of choice for INCO as it relates to the creation of digital map files. For the past 5 years, BLAZE has provided INCO Limited with various exploration, utility, cadastral and environmental map / plan files in various GIS and CAD formats.

INCO Environmental contracted BLAZE to develop a prototype of a user friendly lands management system that would combine all digital maps and Excel spreadsheets into a comprehensive application. Three conditions were imposed on the application: the GIS were MapInfo; the database was Excel (spreadsheet software); and the time allowed was three (3) weeks.

BLAZE modified their standard development methodology to fit the project scope and time frame. The first phase of the contract involved the business analysis and conceptual design. In this phase we reviewed all of INCO's business requirements, including regulatory issues, as relating to the monitoring of emissions from their various operational sites. The project second phase was the design of the application including the GUI and user interaction; menu structure and content; Excel spreadsheet design and content; and development of the application function and design specifications.

Upon completion of the design, BLAZE wrote the application in MapInfo's programming language - MapBasic.

The prototype application was presented to department members for review. The result was the extension of the application from the original 2 themes to 16 themes.