PRESS RELEASE: Arizona-based Hexagon said that the projects either under way or planned include research collaboration, a new student scholarship program, and the use of Mines’ Edgar experimental underground mine in Golden, west of Denver, for Hexagon technology testing.

One of the projects at Edgar already in progress involved a high-definition scan of the mine with a Leica P40 laser scanner; information from that work is now being used for student training on Hexagon’s mine planning software MineSight.

The agreement stems from MineSight founder and Mines alumnus Fred Banfield, the company noted.

“We are committed to the miners of tomorrow and our agreement with Mines embodies this commitment,” president Helio Samora said. “It culminates a year of discussions and we are already pursuing some exciting projects.”

Mines president Paul Johnson concurred that the two share a common vision for how information and intelligent technologies will transform the mining industry.

“In partnership, we can be at the forefront of that change, and in the process ensure that Mines’ graduates will continue to be leaders in the industry.”