DRILL & BLAST
SUSTAINABLE BLAST MONITORING S
ensor and software specialist Hexagon has recently acquired blast monitoring firm BMT. The latter’s sensors work by tracking the blast by
moving with the rock. Software is then used to transform the data into useful information, such as the post-blast location of ore and the outputs of more precise dig lines based on the measured movement. Neville Judd from BMT explains, “With a more in-depth understanding of blast dynamics, the utilisation of our system accurately tracks the post blast ore movement and refines the dig lines for precise recovery. By doing so it ensures a more effective mine operation by reducing cost and waste, along with ensuring maximum recovery of the ore, earth’s finite natural resource. “Offering this sustainable solution assists the mining operation to reduce its impact and ensures even more
Sensors move with the rock to track the blast
of our limited natural resources are retrieved. With this greater understanding, our customers can blast less, dig less, reduce waste and maximise ore recovery.” l
correlation as well as uncertainty. Tere is no silver bullet here. Geostatistics and machine learning are powerful tools on their own, but building a framework that takes advantage of the strength of both approaches is the best way forward to invent powerful new algorithms and workflows.”
THE OPERATOR’S VIEW Gary McGuire is contract drilling & blasting manager at Skelair International. He believes sustainability extends to the end user. He notes this starts with the basics: “Operators can make drilling more sustainable by making sure that the drilling machines are well serviced and maintained. From a shotfiring point of view making sure that each blast is marked out correctly to give you the best results and optimise the rigs use.” Improvements in survey techniques are also helping. He continues, “Surveying has come on a long way in the past 12 years I have been in the industry, and I’m sure others who have been in longer have seen even more changes. Today you have a vast range of modern surveying equipment that all have their uses and I’m sure with the speed technology is progressing there will be more to come on the market. And we are seeing more use of drones for surveying. Tis will all have benefits for great blast optimisation. “High-resolution subsurface visualisation is improving to the point where we are not
just seeing what we have on the surface and rock face but what is also happening within the rock itself to give us a greater understanding of how to improve our blast design. Regarding the programmes on the market to help us understand the fragmentation of each blast, the more we use them the better we understand what changes are needed in the drilling, blast design and blasting process.” Tere are other technologies that
are currently evolving that can be taken advantage of, such as 5G, VR and AR. “It is all a plus in my opinion” he says.
Skelair advises that drilling machines should be kept well serviced
www.engineerlive.com 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
