Modern Mining December 2021

EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING

Differential GPS brings much needed AECI Mining Explosives’ new, high-accuracy (sub-1 m) Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) brings autonomy to the blast hole tagging process, thus maximising efficiency by eliminating potential human error on the bench and ensuring integrity of drill and blast operations.

S afety and good fragmentation are two param- eters of principal significance in any blasting process. With AECI Mining Explosives’ DGPS, a new addition to the IntelliShot system, potential human error from incorrect blast hole identification or incorrect delay assignment can be a thing of the past. The timing process is predisposed to human error, with incorrectly marked blast holes resulting in incorrect delay assignment. The process of identify- ing the location of the unconnected hole is thus time consuming, while incorrect timing may compromise fragmentation and downstream operations. By introducing an increased level of autonomy to the blast hole tagging process, explains prod- uct manager Ashlin Pillay, DGPS enables faster blast deployment, greater accuracy and increased efficiency. Although the system is currently still semi- autonomous, AECI Mining Explosives envisages that the technology will enable fully autonomous

The addition of the DGPS to the already proven IntelliShot electronic initiation system thus brings the industry a giant leap closer to autonomous blast hole identification and loading.

AECI Mining Explosives’ product manager Ashlin Pillay.

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28  MODERN MINING  December 2021