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29 July 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs
Dr Martin Clark
Dr Martin Clark, the founder of the MAGIC (Multi-purpose Aerial Geological Image Classification) initiative. MAGIC can obtain geological and structural information that is critical for making informed decisions in exploration and mineral extraction processes.

Mining has historically been described as a boom-and-bust industry, where fluctuations in mineral prices could result in extreme success or bankruptcy. Successful mining companies closely monitor assets/expenditures, risks, and other parameters associated with their business to best ensure their longevity. In most mineral industries, there are a few competitors that dominate the delivery of a mineral resource. As a result, technological development, along with other factors, are critical to ensure that these companies’ business remains viable and protected.

This is according to post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Geology, Dr Martin Clark.

Drone technology: better, faster, safer

He says technological development in mining generally translates to how a company can extract a resource from the ground better, faster, and safer. 

Dr Clark believes the rapid development of drone technology represents a shift in the toolbox that mining companies can employ.

“Drones can collect a great deal of data randomly over vast or small areas within hours, historically accomplished by mapping campaigns which can last months to years. Drones can also collect data in areas which are difficult and dangerous for humans to get to. These include cliff faces or rock walls that are difficult and dangerous to get close to, as well as stretches of land where dense vegetation, inaccessible terrain, and even atmospheric dangers become factors which reduce or modify the scope of exploration work,” he said. 

Expanding application of drones

Dr Clark’s work specifically focuses on expanding the applications for which drones are used. “I assess what and how good the imaging capabilities of drones are, use the imagery to generate 3-D models to drive scientific observation, and yield results which can help companies to extract resources. This initiative is called MAGIC (Multi-purpose Aerial Geological Image Classification),” he said. 



“MAGIC aims to collect geological and structural information that is critical for making informed decisions in exploration and mineral extraction processes,” he added.

Dr Clark is not only the founder of MAGIC; he also drives multiple aspects of the initiative including education, research, and business development. 

In 2013, when he was busy with his doctorate, there was already a spark of interest in using drones to address geological questions. At that time, Dr Clark was working with remotely sensed high-resolution LiDAR imagery to better understand geological structures at the Sudbury Mining Camp in Canada. The interest became a reality in 2018, when he applied this initiative during his post-doctoral fellowship at the UFS.

Now and the future

“At present, there are no direct mining projects underway, but projects are expected to begin in 2020. Drone operation and image-analysis techniques are currently being refined for industry,” he said. 

Besides his work with drones, Dr Clark also work in the fields of structural geology, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis.  

News Archive

Student performers dazzle at Kovsie Extravaganza
2014-10-01

The Kovsie Extravaganza is an annual highlight on our university’s Arts and Culture calendar. The event offers outstanding Kovsie artists the opportunity to showcase their talent in music, dance and poetry – to name but a few – live on stage. The Sand d u Plessis theatre in Bloemfontein was packed to capacity for this highly-anticipated performance on 27 September 2014.

With the multi-award winning a cappella trio, The Soil, and Kovsie Idol Delia Moumakwe included in the line-up, tickets were already sold out nine hours before the show.

But the Kovsie acts by no means paled in comparison to these stars. In addition, the Free State Youth Orchestra – which includes some of the most talented students at our Odeion School of Music – provided an inspired performance.

This full production had the crowd dancing, cheering and clapping throughout the ecvent. The size and reaction of the audience was firm proof of the Kovsie Extravaganza’s growing popularity.

Speaking to Ntsika Ngxanga, a member of The Soil, he said that they were truly blessed to have made it this far in the music industry. Growing up in Soweto in difficult circumstances, the trio is now performing on stages across the globe. “We thank the UFS for their support towards the extravaganza. We definitely wish the student community all the best with their studies. Education is important,” Ngxanga said.

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