MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
The MineSight® Operations’ Drill and Blast functions utilize MineSight®, Inc.’s powerful 3D
graphics and flexible storage techniques. Data is collected from blasthole design to the actually blasting
of the pattern. Attributed Geometry Database hole and attribute storage along with MineSight® Grail’s
Python scripts manipulate input data from various sources allowing for the creation of reports from
such data as shovel dig rate, drilling penetration rate, and blasting energy. Other variables monitored
include stemming, explosive type, and blasthole diameter. As historic data grows, short-range planners
can utilize the information to better predict and schedule costs, and blast engineers can improve the
blast techniques. The Drill and Blast Module will benefit short-range planners and detailed designers
by providing detailed predictive information in advance of actual production. The workshop will cover
an overview of the implementation schedule, data set up, and process flow. In addition, scripting and
reporting will be discussed.
Outline
1) Background
2) Pattern Design/Layout
• Loading to Attributed Geometry Database
3) Third Party Databases
• Aquila
• Sasol Southwest Energy
• JKSimBlast 2-D Bench
4) Database Views with Enterprise Manager
5) Load Explosives data into Database
• Area of Influence
• KCAL and KCAL/Ton
6) Reporting
Drill and Blast Techniques in MineSight®
Drill and Blast techniques start with blasthole design using the Blast Pattern Editor in MineSight®.
Patterns are easily created within the MineSight® interface and can be exported for loading to a
database. Utilizing the attribution functions in the MineSight® Interactive Planner (MSIP) Tool, blast
pattern perimeters can be used to assign an unlimited number of attributes to designed holes.
Using automated procedures, these designed patterns can be sent to a database or to a field
Global instrument for marking in the pit. During the drilling phase, the greater potential of the drill and blast
Mining techniques becomes apparent. Drilling systems digitize data that is readily or directly downloaded to a
Software database. Such information as position penetration rate is initially recorded. After the holes have been
Solutions drilled, the explosives information can be acquired by accessing a number of third party systems.
Since
1970
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MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
Drill_Blast IP/Blast Pattern Editor Generalized Data Flow 1970
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MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
BPE MSR to AGDM
This script was designed to transfer Blast Pattern design data from the MineSight® geometry object
to the Attributed Geometry Database Model (AGDM). Ancillary input files for the third-party systems
(acQuire™, JKSimBlast 2-D Bench, and Modular Mining Systems Drill Dispatch) will be created at the
same time.
After holes are loaded to the AGDM, they can be updated based on IP Cut attributes.
This Graphical User Interface is
actually built based on the custom attributes
in the IP Set. Once setup for a project, no
changes are required if additional attributes
are added.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970
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MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
Loaded hole with all information:
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970
Page 4
MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
Drill and Blast Explosives
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970
Explosives data needs to be exported through ODBC sources or an ASCII file dump. This data is run
through MineSight® programs to determine the area of influence of a blasthole. Area of influence data
determines the explosives energy per ton (e.g.KCAL/ton).
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MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
The area of influence polygons can be clipped using the individual shot boundaries, to further refine
the blasthole area of influence tonnage so a more accurate determination of the explosives energy per ton
can be stored. This information can be modeled using any one of several interpolation techniques to put
this data into the block model for use in MSIP for reporting and correlation.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970
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MineSight® Operations Drill and Blast Functions
The area of influence polygons are now clipped by the shot boundary. This can be automated using
MineSight® Grail scripts to cycle through all shot boundaries.
Conclusion
The inclusion of Drilling and Blasting data in MineSight® Operations closes the loop bringing more
information into the production process. The ability to track drilling and explosives data and correlate
it to geologic and material classification data supplies the information necessary to provide real business
intelligence for improving the mining process.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970
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