3D Imaging

Take Photographs
Two photographs are required to enable the processing software to produce a 3 dimensional image of the face. The distance between the two photographs depends on the distance of the viewing point from the face and should be between 1/8 and 1/5 of the viewing distance.

Download and Process Photographs
The photographs are downloaded into a laptop and processed via the BlastMetriX3D software. This is a relatively simple process as the software carries out much of the work in a semi-automatic fashion. The output of the software is a 3D model of the face with the actual face image draped over it.

Blast Design
The included software also allows for the locations of the holes to be entered, relative to the established reference points, along with inclination and depth. Profiles are then generated showing both the shape of the face directly in front of the hole and the minimum burden in any direction. The software generates standard profile drawings and the burden information can also be displayed as a colour-coding on the 3D image.

Having determined a suitable drilling plan the holes are drilled and the actual locations, inclinations and depths measured. The 3D model is then updated to enable the generation of a final set of profiles so that the explosive loading for each hole can be determined.

• The BlastMetriX3D system provides a simple way of producing a 3D survey of a face and thereby the profiles suitable for blast design.

A great advantage of the system is that it allows the operator to combine both survey information and images. This then allows for the blast-hole explosive loading to take into account both the burden and geology at the same time.

The system is still under development and does not currently allow for hole deviations to be entered or for faces with a free-end to be surveyed. The software developers are currently working on these issues and Blasting Services looks forward to trialling the final system later in 2009.