Improving face value

Substantial savings in drill and blast costs can easily be achieved, according to Austria-based 3G Software and Measurement. It claims the savings can be made using its novel BlastMetriX3D system for bench face surveying and geometric planning of blasts in both large and small quarry sites.
The system is simple to use too. After setting out marking elements (scaling rods) two photos are taken using a pre-calibrated, zoom-lensed digital SLR camera. The two pictures are processed to a three-dimensional image (topography plus picture) that accurately reflects the shape of the bench face. Using another integrated software component, the geometry of the..