Protect Profits and the Environment with Blast Dispersion Modeling

There is no question that blasting is a crucial element of mining practices, integral to the optimization of yield. It’s a process awash with complexities, involving numerous factors to ensure it is both safe and successful. There are many aspects that can be controlled, and then there is the effect of the weather — an eternally mercurial force that can upend your best intentions. Thankfully, we have a solution for the potential of wind to send your plume in the wrong direction or rain to soak your explosives. And we can give you the best tools to support your accurate reading of the local forecast and adherence to legislative requirements.

 

When meteorological conditions send hazardous materials in the wrong direction

When you blast using a generic forecast, there is a much greater potential for error in the outcome. Concentrated blast plumes blown towards your personnel or over the surrounding community can severely damage both health and the environment. The last thing anyone wants is to make this kind of avoidable error, potentially spreading harm and risking relationships built with the community around the site.

Internal factors, such as the material being blasted, the type and condition of the explosive, and the blast design information, can influence the dispersion of the dust cloud. Then, there is the primary external influence of the weather. Understanding this influence and taking the local forecast into account when running blast simulations promotes certainty. A generic forecast is often built on the observations of weather stations miles from your site; this decreases their accuracy substantially. The most precise weather forecasts, especially for wind speed and direction, come from detailed on-site observations and proven forecasting models. It’s this kind of precision — as well as ingesting your on-site parameters and environmental observations — that form the foundation for our blast dispersion modeling.

 

Blast simulations using environmental monitoring and site parameters

DTN^® created Blast Dispersion Modeling as a solution to the complex needs of the global mining industry. It provides a scientific, visual understanding of blast events, expected trajectory, and pollutant concentrations. This foresight allows you to make informed critical decisions on when to blast. Precise weather forecasts with data points every 250m, both horizontally and vertically, are taken into account. The model is also completely customized to each site. Such customizable parameters include the separation of particle size into different bins, the input of surface geology at the mine location (fractions of clay/silt/sand), site topography, and your license and legislative requirements.

Simulations can run before the blast days with a risk outlook for projected outcomes of up to two weeks.

Simulations can run before the blast days with a risk outlook for projected outcomes of up to two weeks. It provides real-time, highly accurate dust cloud modeling that allows users to visualize where any lifted particulate matter (such as P10) will be transported to. Integration of dust monitors and tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) help improve forecasting accuracy. You can foresee weather conditions for each simulated blast, confidently determining the optimal blast window that minimizes atmospheric diffusion and impact on the local community.

 

A logical traffic light system guides your planning

You can foresee weather conditions for each simulated blast, confidently determining the optimal blast window that minimizes atmospheric diffusion. An integrated Fume Management Zone (FMZ) tool adds to the depth of your blast planning. A logical traffic light system indicates whether your simulated blast creates pollutants above or below pre-set thresholds at any virtual or existing monitors. You can create FMZs within the system, making it simple to plan and mitigate against risk. All these details are easily visualized in clean and informative reports, allowing you to justify your decision-making on when to blast.

The ability to gain post-blast observations buys precious time. This time can optimize the coordination of dust suppression efforts, improving their efficacy and your site’s environmental compliance. Ensuring compliance and reducing the likelihood of particulate matter gone awry will ultimately protect people and the environment, as well as profits. When a blast is detonated, and the conditions are just right, no money is wasted on repeated blasts, lengthy clean-ups, or legal retributions.

 

Access reporting to meet your license and legislative requirements

Our cloud-based, fully auditable report trails assist you in fulfilling your license and legislative requirements.Our cloud-based, fully auditable report trails assist you in fulfilling your license and legislative requirements. Automated generation capabilities bring together the forecast, weather station, and monitor data into clean and informative reports. As blasts are executed, supervisors and managers can add their pre- and post-blast observations, ensuring requirements are met and communication is clear. Blast simulation reports are archived for one month. This allows environmental officers to retrieve previous forecasts to understand the projected conditions and what information underpinned any decisions made. This valuable capability assists with internal audits and provides answers when investigating concerns raised in external complaints. The reports are easy to access and intelligently presented, ensuring complete comprehension.

 

Choose Blast Dispersion Modeling that drives informed critical decisions

DTN is here to give your site the best chance to detonate safely and effectively. With this entirely customized solution, nothing is left to chance, and decision-making is streamlined. You have complete foresight based on your unique requirements and environmental monitoring. Reduce the environmental, safety, and financial risks associated with the local forecast and gain the power of predictive dispersion modeling. Talk to our industry experts and transform your approach to blast planning, protecting the environment and your profits.

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