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UK firm targeting SA, Africa as markets for rock blasting modelling software

13th September 2013

By: Sashnee Moodley

Senior Deputy Editor Polity and Multimedia

  

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UK-based rock-blasting detonics company Blue Dog Scientific is in final negotiations with a major South African company with interests in the mining sector to come on board as one of the key business partners for its newly developed predictive detonative rock-blasting modelling technology.

Blue Dog Scientific director Gary Sharpe says Africa, particularly South Africa, is one of the company’s key markets.

“Together with our affiliated UK-based detonics expert partners, our team members have previously worked with major African commercial explosives companies and mining houses for many years and supplied modelling and software technology to several clients in Southern Africa. These strong connections with the African mining industry were a key driver in our decision to form Blue Dog,” he states.

The software technology is aimed at improving blasting processes and assisting the industry in becoming more profitable, environment friendly, efficient and safer.

It consists of advanced mathematical models and new computational algorithms used to predict outcomes by solving the physics of explosives processes and their effects on rocks.

“One of the breakthroughs of this technology is that it fully couples advanced nonideal detonation mathematics with realistic rock shock-wave computational models. Using these, Blue Dog Scientific can now, for the first time, predict how different commercial explosives perform in the context of the specific rock being blasted and of the borehole diameter,” Sharpe explains.

Commercial explosives could previously only be quantified by ideal numbers, but Blue Dog Scientific’s team can now model more accurately and predict the realistic or nonideal behaviours of commercial explosives when provided with only a few data points from simple tests.

“Currently, we use our modelling software in-house to support the consulancy and education services part of the business. While it is our aim to eventually release the software for third-party use, advanced blast modelling technology is analogous to any complex piece of physical machinery and, therefore, the software requires a degree of expertise for effective use.

This will require the training of a first-generation cadre of operators. The educational and training parts of our business model is, in part, aimed at achieving this,” Sharpe says.

The company provides tailored and unique digital training materials using its advanced computational simulation systems to provide insight into the dynamic processes, which occur in rock blasting.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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