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Software · head to head

Maptek I-Site vs Vulcan Geological Modelling

Maptek I-Site logo

Maptek I-Site

Software

3D laser scanning and point cloud processing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vulcan Geological Modelling logo

Vulcan Geological Modelling

Software

Industry-leading geological modelling for mining

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Maptek I-Site the workflow depends on buying Maptek laser scanner hardware, sold as the NS4, XR3, XR3-D and UR3 models; Vulcan Geological Modelling user interface is dated compared to modern mining software
  • They diverge on capability: Maptek I-Site covers Point cloud processing, Vulcan Geological Modelling covers Implicit modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Maptek I-Site and Vulcan Geological Modelling actually diverge.

Attributes where Maptek I-Site and Vulcan Geological Modelling differ
AttributeMaptek I-SiteVulcan Geological Modelling

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (1981).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Maptek I-Site

  • Point cloud processing
  • 3D model creation
  • Pit wall monitoring
  • Stockpile measurement
  • Change detection
  • Vulcan
  • CAD systems
  • GIS platforms

Only in Vulcan Geological Modelling

  • Implicit modeling
  • Explicit modeling
  • Kriging estimation
  • Simulation
  • Variogram analysis
  • Vulcan Mine Planning
  • Leapfrog
  • Surpac

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Maptek I-Site

  • Laser scanning surveys of open pit and underground mine workingsnot Vulcan Geological Modelling
  • Geotechnical monitoring of pit walls and slopesnot Vulcan Geological Modelling
  • Volume and stockpile measurement from point cloud datanot Vulcan Geological Modelling

Vulcan Geological Modelling

  • Resource estimationnot Maptek I-Site
  • Geological modelingnot Maptek I-Site
  • Grade controlnot Maptek I-Site
  • Reporting compliancenot Maptek I-Site

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Maptek I-Site

  • The workflow depends on buying Maptek laser scanner hardware, sold as the NS4, XR3, XR3-D and UR3 models
  • Scanner range is fixed per model, at 1,000 m for the NS4, 2,800 m for the XR3, 1,200 m for the XR3-D and 3,500 m for the UR3, so range upgrades mean buying different hardware
  • No price, licence type or subscription term is published; the page offers only a spec sheet request and a contact form

Vulcan Geological Modelling

  • User interface is dated compared to modern mining software
  • Requires extensive training and certification to use effectively due to software complexity
  • High-performance hardware requirements increase capital expenditure for infrastructure
  • Solids operations take an extremely long time to compute, limiting responsiveness
  • Premium pricing makes the software unaffordable for small and mid-sized mining companies

Pricing, plan by plan

Maptek I-Site

On request
  • I-Site Studio$11000/year
    • Point cloud processing
    • 3D modeling
    • Pit wall analysis

Vulcan Geological Modelling

On request
  • Vulcan GM Standard$7500/year
    • Drill hole management
    • Explicit modeling
    • Grade estimation
  • Vulcan GM Advanced$12000/year
    • All Standard features
    • Implicit modeling
    • Conditional simulation
  • Vulcan GM Enterprise$22000/year
    • All modules
    • Multi-site license
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Maptek I-Site if

  • You need point cloud processing.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want 3d model creation.
Maptek I-Site review

Choose Vulcan Geological Modelling if

  • You need implicit modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want explicit modeling.
Vulcan Geological Modelling review

Questions people ask

Is Maptek I-Site or Vulcan Geological Modelling better?
Neither clearly leads. Maptek I-Site starts at On request and Vulcan Geological Modelling at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Maptek I-Site or Vulcan Geological Modelling?
Maptek I-Site starts at On request and Vulcan Geological Modelling at On request.
Does Maptek I-Site or Vulcan Geological Modelling run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Maptek I-Site best used for?
Maptek I-Site is most often used for laser scanning surveys of open pit and underground mine workings, geotechnical monitoring of pit walls and slopes, volume and stockpile measurement from point cloud data. Of those, laser scanning surveys of open pit and underground mine workings and geotechnical monitoring of pit walls and slopes are not what Vulcan Geological Modelling is typically brought in for.
What can Maptek I-Site do that Vulcan Geological Modelling cannot?
Maptek I-Site covers Point cloud processing, 3D model creation, Pit wall monitoring, Stockpile measurement. Vulcan Geological Modelling covers Implicit modeling, Explicit modeling, Kriging estimation, Simulation. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Vulcan Geological Modelling: What is Vulcan?

Vulcan is Maptek's 3D geological modeling and mine planning software used for exploration, geological modeling, resource estimation, mine design, and production planning. More than 19,000 licenses are used globally across the mining industry.

Source
Vulcan Geological Modelling: What mining tasks can Vulcan perform?

Vulcan handles geological modeling, drillhole data management, block modeling, resource estimation, pit optimization, mine design, grade control, geotechnical analysis, scheduling, geostatistics, and rehabilitation planning.

Source
Vulcan Geological Modelling: What training does Maptek provide for Vulcan?

Maptek provides comprehensive training programs, documentation, and workshops for Vulcan users. However, the tutorials and workshops are limited and cover only basic functionalities, making advanced use of the software difficult without extensive hands-on experience.

Source
Vulcan Geological Modelling: What are the system requirements for Vulcan?

Vulcan requires a high-performance computer system with significant processing power and RAM to run effectively, which may necessitate additional hardware investment for smaller operations.

Source
Vulcan Geological Modelling: Is Vulcan difficult to learn?

Yes. Vulcan has complex components requiring extensive training to use effectively. Tutorials and workshops are limited and cover only basic functionalities, making the learning curve steep for new users.

Source
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