The world’s largest manufacturer of commercial explosives and innovative blasting systems Orica recently announced the release of its new Advanced Vibration Management (AVM) software that links blast design, modelling and measurement to conserve sensitive structures.

Continuing its efforts to create safer, predictable and more productive blast outcomes in mining and quarrying, Orica has added AVM to its integrated BlastIQTM digital blast optimisation software suite.

AVM accurately predicts blast vibration, enabling maximum productivity while minimising risk to nearby critical structures. When used in conjunction with the BlastIQTM suite, AVM allows customers to seamlessly link blast designs, drilled actuals and vibration measurements, and uses sophisticated modelling to accurately predict blasting outcomes.

 Building on the simpler tools historically housed within Orica’s SHOTPlus Premier design software, AVM offers a step change in vibration and airblast management by using cloud computing architecture to deliver reliable and timely data across multiple measurement points throughout the operation.

In a statement released in April, Orica Digital Solutions VP Raj Mathiravedu said: “Vibration management is critical to many sites' ongoing licence to operate and can instantly stop the operation if not effectively controlled. The release of AVM is driven by these needs and is the latest tool resulting from our continued investment in developing intelligent and autonomous modelling systems that enable our customers to make informed productivity improvement decisions.”

AVM improves productivity while protecting licence to operate, as vibration and airblast are common outcomes from blasting and can be dangerous and disruptive if not managed effectively; in fact, a mine’s social licence to operate often hinges on well managed vibration limits, said Mathiravedu. The most common route to resolving these issues is to blast at significantly reduced energies, which often adversely affects load and haul productivity, and often negatively impacts production and throughput downstream.

Vibration management using accurate modelling, measurement and site seed-wave analysis is known to improve productivity but is often expensive, time consuming and performed on a discrete basis. “AVM’s online application provides a simple yet insightful interface to capture and see the predicted and actual results of vibration monitoring, with the power of cloud architecture to drive the modelling from blast design through to execution.”

When structures sensitive to vibration and airblast are closely located to an operation, uncontrolled blasting operations can cause significant damage. With the use of an advanced prediction algorithm, customers can now access areas of their operations that may have previously been inaccessible or deemed too high risk to blast in. This can allow operations to blast in high risk areas, potentially extending the overall life of an operation.

AVM is available globally for all mining and quarrying operations. As customers increasingly look to transform their operations with digitally connected technologies, Orica strives to continue to “innovate and lead” through new and enhanced technologies to optimise blasting outcomes.