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BlastMetriX: Blast Design Software, Redefined

BlastMetriX puts the full picture of blast sites at your fingertips. Using drone or terrestrial imagery, you can build scaled 3D models that capture the true shape of bench faces, right down to irregularities and edge conditions. That level of detail allows for better burden control, more efficient loading, and a safer path from planning and modelling to execution. 

Whether you’re evaluating new tools or refining your current approach, this short guide offers a practical overview of BlastMetriX for engineers and field teams looking to improve blast planning workflows. It covers key features, safety applications, and workflow examples to help you assess how the software fits into your operation. 

What is BlastMetriX? 

BlastMetriX is a blast design and analysis tool that uses drone-based photogrammetry to create high-resolution 3D models of bench faces. It improves safety through contact-free measurement, enables faster, more accurate planning, and helps engineers carry out efficient, cost-effective blasts. 

The software uniquely combines blast planning and post-blast analysis in one platform, so that teams can optimize blast performance, reduce resource use, and support broader decarbonisation goals. With per-hole profiling, burden diagrams, and visual documentation of each blast, the software supports precise modelling while reducing fly-rock, vibration, and energy use. Boreholes can be quickly located, and the resulting 3D model offers a level of detail and reproducibility not possible with traditional surveying alone. 

Figure 1. An overview of a project in BlastMetriX.

Blast Optimization 

Accurate bench data is only part of the equation. What matters just as much is how that data is used to make smarter decisions on the ground. In practice, terrain is rarely uniform — corners, cavities, and weak zones can all disrupt even the best-laid drill patterns. 

With a 3D model of the blast site, engineers can identify potential issues like light burden zones early and refine the layout before drilling begins. Each borehole is assigned its own profile and burden diagram, making it easier to assess local conditions and make precise adjustments.  

Drill holes can also be repositioned in response to irregular faces, ensuring the final design aligns with the actual geometry of the bench. 

Figure 2. An aerial 3D model of a surface mine (left) with optimized drill pattern and borehole profiles visualized in lateral view (right).

Visualize Risk With Colour-Coded Burden Visualisation 

It’s not always obvious where a blast design might fail. A light burden zone in a corner or along an uneven face can lead to fly-rock or excessive throw if it isn’t caught early. BlastMetriX helps engineers see these risks at a glance with colour-coded burden maps that highlight problem areas.  

As holes are placed or adjusted, the software instantly updates the burden visualisation, making it easier to respond to irregularities before they become issues in the field. This kind of immediate feedback helps engineers work more intuitively, refining their plans with confidence and keeping each shot within safer, more predictable limits. 

Figure 3. 3D bench face model with planned boreholes and active borehole profile (left), and colour-coded burden distribution over the whole bench face highlighting light burden zones (right).

Blast Analysis and Fragmentation 

Assessing blast performance doesn’t end with the shot. BlastMetriX makes it possible to review each stage of the process using 3D models, from the initial bench conditions to the post-blast terrain and final muck pile. This helps teams better understand how the blast behaved, where it deviated from expectations, and how to adjust future designs. 

The software also supports volume calculations for both bank material and muck heaps, giving engineers a clearer picture of material movement. For projects where fragmentation is a key concern, BlastMetriX integrates with FragMetriX, which automatically analyses particle size distribution from field imagery for another layer of insight into blast outcomes.

Figure 4. Comparison of design volume (top left), post-blast muck pile volume (bottom left), and fragmentation analysis results (right).

Built for Mining, Tunnelling, and Quarrying Professionals 

In surface blasting environments, having a clear understanding of bench conditions can make all the difference. BlastMetriX helps teams capture that information safely and efficiently, eliminating the need for close-range inspections while still delivering the detail required for precise planning. 

Crews working in open-pit mines, quarries, and infrastructure sites can adapt blast layouts with confidence, even in areas with irregular terrain or changing ground conditions. On construction projects, where documentation is critical, the ability to generate a 3D model before and after a blast provides a reliable visual record that supports auditing, compliance, and communication. 

Smarter Blasting, Lower Operating Costs 

When a blast underperforms, the impact isn’t limited to the muck pile. Poor fragmentation can slow down digging, overload crushers, and increase the need for secondary breakage — all of which drive up operating costs. Even small inefficiencies in the blast design can ripple through the rest of the production cycle. 

By giving engineers a clearer picture of the bench and the flexibility to adjust their design before drilling, BlastMetriX helps reduce these downstream issues. An optimized blast design, based on accurate terrain data and per-hole adjustments, leads to better fragmentation, fewer delays, smoother material flow, and more consistent results across the board. 

Improve Safety on Site 

BlastMetriX enhances safety in multiple ways, as drone-based imaging removes the need for personnel to approach hazardous areas while still capturing high-resolution geometry. Real-time burden diagrams reduce the risk of over- or undercharging holes, lowering the chances of fly-rock and excessive vibration.  

By accurately modelling the blast site and refining drill patterns accordingly, BlastMetriX helps ensure each shot is both controlled and predictable. 

Key Features 

  • 3D Bench Modelling: High-accuracy surface models built from drone or terrestrial imagery. 
  • Minimum Burden Diagrams: Per-hole burden analysis for safer, more effective loading. 
  • Blast Planning: Design, adjust, and optimise drill patterns with real-time burden updates. 
  • Borehole Tracking: Import and verify collar locations, deviations, and probe data. 
  • Volume Calculations: Instant bank volume estimates per hole or pattern for controlled planning. 
  • Post-Blast Analysis: Compare pre- and post-blast models to measure movement, fragmentation, and muck pile swell. 
  • Integrated Reports: Customisable outputs with profiles, patterns, and borehole parameters. 

An Example Workflow 

  1. Place survey markers and capture aerial imagery of the blast site. 
  2. Generate a 3D model using the MultiPhoto tool. 
  3. Design the drill pattern in BlastPlanner, adjusting for burden and bench geometry. 
  4. Relocate boreholes to match irregular faces—updates apply instantly across the design. 
  5. Print the optimised layout and stake out positions on site. 
  6. Optional: Verify drilled boreholes with probes or updated scans and refine the plan. 
  7. Use the burden diagrams and profiles for final loading. 
  8. Capture post-blast imagery for volumetric analysis and quality assessment. 
Figure 5. An example of a 3D blast site model with the estimated blast volume.

Trusted by Engineers Worldwide 

BlastMetriX is used by mining and civil engineering teams across the globe who need every blast to perform. Whether it’s reducing safety risks in a quarry or improving fragmentation on a large-scale mine site, the software gives engineers the data and flexibility to work with confidence. Built by engineers, for engineers, it’s a tool designed for the real world.  

Ready to model your next blast? Start your free BlastMetriX trial and plan for smarter, safer blasting.