Australia's miners will soon be taking advantage of sophisticated physics engines found in computer games to improve the accuracy of explosives used to blast ore from the ground. BRC Principal mining engineering Alan Cocker talks about theCRC ORE's integrated blasting software, SMI BlastOre as a new development step in the path towards a complete blast design and modelling package for mining companies.
Australia's miners will soon be taking advantage of sophisticated physics engines found in computer games to improve the accuracy of explosives used to blast ore from the ground.
Today iTnews studies the rise of technology systems that underpin rock blasting in open pit and underground mine operations, such as predictive modelling, radio-controlled detonation, real-time monitoring and post-blast data analysis.
Across the blast lifecycle, IT systems are used to record, manage and analyse data being generated.
Poor blasting execution not only has negative economic consequences, but is also a safety and environmental hazard, with ground vibration, airblast overpressure, dust, fumes, and the potential for flyrock all important considerations for miners.
Blast engineers are ideally trying to predict three outcomes in blast design: fragmentation (the size distribution of the blasted material), movement (where the grade and waste will end up), and environmental consequences, according to W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC) principal mining engineer Alan Cocker.
