SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED BLASTING DESIGN PLANNING AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

A system, method, or apparatus for generating a blast plan that can receive blasting data comprising geological properties of the blast site, detonation hole parameters, and available explosive. A pattern length in feet can be determined based on a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive, and the geological properties of the bench. The burden and spacing can be determined from the pattern length in feet.

Description

SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED BLASTING DESIGN PLANNING AND RELATED METHODS FIELD OF INVENTION This description generally relates to explosives. More specifically, this description refers to methods, systems, and equipment for designing a blasting plan. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The embodiments described herein will become more apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures primarily illustrate the generalized embodiments, which will be described with further specificity and detail in relation to the figures in which: Figure 1 illustrates a network diagram of a blasting plan modeling system according to a modality. Figure 2 illustrates a personal electronic device showing a drone exploration trajectory according to a mode. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of a blasting design system according to a modality. Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for generating a blast design, according to a modality. Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Ref. 320170 Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for generating a blast design by running multiple simulations for a plurality of possible permutations, according to a modality. Figure 6 illustrates an example of a method for generating a dataset of a plurality of permutations from blasting data, according to a modality. Figure 7 illustrates an example of a method for simulating permutations of the data set according to a modality. Figure 8A illustrates a first part of a method for generating blast level details, according to a modality. Figure 8B illustrates a second part of a method for generating blast level details, according to a modality. Figure 9 illustrates a method for finding a prioritized distance that fits the blast site according to a modality. Figure 10 illustrates a method for generating hole level details for a given burden and spacing according to a modality. Figure 11 illustrates a method for testing the validity of the planned blast design according to a modality. Figure 12 illustrates a method for calculating RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi specific characteristics of a valid design according to a modality. Figure 13 illustrates a graphic of illustrative blasting plan results that have been rated based on vibration. Figure 14 illustrates a method for editing burden and spacing according to a modality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Explosives are commonly used in the mining, quarrying, and excavation industries to break rocks and ores. Generally, a hole, referred to here as a blast hole, is drilled into a surface, such as the ground. Explosives are then placed inside the blast hole. Typically, multiple blast holes are used to break large quantities of rock and ore. The use of multiple blast holes introduces complexities to blast planning. For example, a blast can vary based on a number of factors, including blast hole spacing, blast hole burden, blast hole depth, blast hole pattern, number of blast holes, geological properties, type of explosive, and quantity of explosives.The number of possibilities makes blast planning difficult, even for a highly skilled blasting engineer. Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ trained . This document describes methods for generating a blasting plan. These methods can receive blasting data, including geological properties of a blast site, detonation hole parameters, and available explosive. Based on the received blasting data, the methods described herein can determine burden and spacing, and generate a blasting plan. A blast design or blast plan comprises the arrangement of detonation holes, the geometry of the detonation holes, and the explosives to be used. It will be readily understood that the components of the modalities, as generally described below and illustrated in the figures in this description, can be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. For example, the steps of a method need not necessarily be executed in any specific order, or even sequentially, nor do the steps need to be executed only once. Therefore, the following more detailed description of various modalities, as described later and represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the description, but simply to represent various modalities. While the various aspects of the modalities are presented in the figures, the figures do not Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YΙΛΙ are necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated. The methods and implementations of blast planning systems described herein may include several stages, which can be represented as machine-executable instructions to be run by a computer system. A computer system may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computer system may include hardware components containing specific logic to carry out the stages or may include a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. The modalities may be provided as a software product that includes a computer-readable medium containing instructions that can be used to program a computer system or other electronic device to perform the processes described herein. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to: hard disks, floppy disks, optical discs, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, ROMs, RAM, EPROMs, EEPROMs, optical or magnetic cards, solid-state memory devices, or other types of computer-readable media suitable for storing instructions. Rb7Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ electronics. Computer systems and the equipment within a computer system can be connected via a network. Networks suitable for configuration and / or use as described herein include one or more local area networks, wide area networks, metropolitan area networks, and / or Internet or IP networks, such as the World Wide Web, a private Internet, a secure Internet, a value-added network, a virtual private network, an extranet, an intranet, or even standalone machines communicating with other machines through the physical transmission of media. In particular, a suitable network may be formed from parts or components of two or more other networks, including networks using different networking technologies and hardware. A suitable network includes a server and several clients; other suitable networks may contain other combinations of servers, clients, and / or peer-to-peer nodes, and a given computer system may function as both a client and a server. Every network includes at least two pieces of computer equipment or systems, such as the server and / or clients. A computer system may include a workstation, laptop, detachable mobile computer, server, central processing unit, module, so-called networked equipment or thin client, tablet, smartphone, personal digital assistant, or other mobile computing device, consumer smart electronic device or appliance, medical device, or a combination thereof. Suitable networks may include communications or networking software, such as software available from Novell®, Microsoft®, and other vendors, and may operate using TCP / IP, SPX, IPX, and other protocols over twisted-pair, coaxial, or fiber optic cables; telephone lines; radio waves; satellites; microwave relay; modulated AC power lines; physical media transfer; and / or other data transmission cables known to those skilled in the art. The network may encompass smaller networks and / or may connect to other networks through a gateway or similar mechanism. Each computer system includes one or more processors and / or memory; computer systems may also include various input and / or output devices. The processor may include a general-purpose device, such as an Intel®, AMD®, or other existing microprocessor. The processor may include a special-purpose processing device, such as a programmable or customizable ASIC, SoC, SiP, FPGA, PAL, PLA, FPLA, PLD, or other. Memory may include static RAM, dynamic RAM, flash memory, one or more flip-flops, ROM, CD-ROM, disks, tapes, magnetic media, optical media, or other computer storage media. Input device(s) may include a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, light pen, tablet, microphone, sensor, or other hardware with the corresponding firmware and / or software.The output device(s) may include a monitor or other display, printer, speech or text synthesizer, switch, signal line, or other hardware with the corresponding firmware and / or software. Computer systems may be able to use a floppy disk drive, tape drive, optical drive, magnetic-optical drive, or other medium to read a storage medium. A suitable storage medium includes a magnetic, optical, or other computer-readable storage device that has a specific physical configuration. Suitable storage devices include floppy disks, hard disks, tape, CD-ROM, DVD, PROM, RAM, flash memory, and other storage devices in computer systems. The physical configuration represents the data and instructions that cause the computer system to function in a specific and predefined manner, as described herein. The appropriate software to assist in the implementation of the invention is readily provided by experts in the relevant technique(s) through the use of the teachings presented in the present description and in programming languages ​​and tools such as Java, Pascal, C++, C, Rb7Qnn / l Zηζ / E / YΙΛΙ PHP, .NET, database languages, APIs, SDKs, assembly, firmware, microcode, and / or other languages ​​and tools. Suitable signal formats may be represented in analog or digital form, with or without error detection and / or correction bits, packet headers, network addresses in a specific format, and / or other supporting data readily available from experts in the relevant technical field. Aspects of certain modalities can be implemented as software modules or components. As used herein, a software module or component can include any type of computer instruction or executable code located on or within a computer-readable storage medium. A software module might, for example, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized as a routine, program, object, component, data structure, etc., that performs one or more tasks or implements particular abstract data types. A particular software module might comprise different instructions stored in different locations on a computer-readable storage medium, which together implement the described functionality of the module.In fact, a module can comprise a single instruction or many instructions, and can be distributed across different code segments, among others. RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi different programs, and through various computer-readable storage media. Some methods can be implemented in a distributed computing environment where tasks are performed by a remote processing device connected via a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, software modules can reside on local and / or remote computer-readable storage media. Furthermore, data that is linked or processed together in a database record can reside on the same computer-readable storage medium or across multiple computer-readable storage media, and can be linked to each other in fields within a database record across a network. According to one method, a database management system (DBMS) allows users to interact with one or more databases and provides access to the data contained within those databases. Figure 1 illustrates a network diagram of a blast plan modeling system 100, according to one modality. The blast plan system 100 receives images of a blast site, generates a three-dimensional model of the blast site, and generates a blast plan. In the illustrated modality, the blast plan modeling system 100 comprises a personal electronic device (PED) 102, a drone 104, and a blast design system 106. The PED 102 can be any number of different types of devices, including, but not limited to: a mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable computing device, a tablet computer, a laptop, a tablet-type laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a portable navigation device, a portable navigation assistant (e.g., a portable GPS unit), a drone controller, or the like. The PED 102 communicates with and controls the drone 104. The PED 102 can provide a flight plan and blast site perimeter, and / or provide manual instructions to the drone 104. In some embodiments, the PED 102 and the blast design system 106 can be the same device.In some modalities, there may be no PED 102 and the blast design system 106 can control the drone 104. Drone 104 can capture images while following a scanning path. Drone 104 can provide a live feed to PED 102. Drone 104 can also provide images and the associated location and altitude coordinates to blast design system 106. In some modes, a camera or phone can be used. Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI cell phone or other electronic device to capture the images. The blast design system 106 can receive images and generate a three-dimensional model. It can also receive user-defined parameters such as the geological properties of a blast site, detonation hole parameters, and available explosive. Based on these parameters, the blast design system 106 can determine the burden and spacing for the blast plan. The system can then overlay the blast plan onto the three-dimensional model and present the overlay to a technician. The technician can make modifications, and a final blast plan can be sent to the Site 108 team and its operators for implementation. In some configurations, the drone 104, or another imaging device, captures images after blasting. The blast design system 106 can perform post-blast analysis and use the results in a subsequent blast plan. Such AI feedback can lead to further optimization of subsequent blasts. Post-blast analysis can determine the size and location of the Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ blasting residues. Figure 2 illustrates PED 102 showing a drone 104 scan path 202, according to one modality. The scan path 202 is designed to allow the drone to capture images within a perimeter 204 of the blast site. In some modalities, a technician can manually input the scan path 202. PED 102 can optimize a manually entered scan path 202 or design the scan path 202 based on the blast site perimeter 204. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the blast design system 106 of Figure 1, according to one modality. The blast design system 106 may include an electronic memory 310, one or more processors 312, a network interface 314, and an I / O interface 316 in electrical communication through a system bus 318. Electronic memory 310 may include static RAM, dynamic RAM, flash memory, one or more flip-flops, or other electronic storage media. Electronic memory 310 may include a plurality of modules 330 and data 340. The 330 modules can include all or portions of other device elements. The 330 modules can execute multiple operations serially, simultaneously, or in parallel with one or more 312 processors. In some modalities, parts of the modules, components and / or installations described are incorporated as instructions RfrJQnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI executables embedded in hardware or firmware, or stored on a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium. The instructions may comprise computer program code that, when executed by a processor and / or computing device, causes a computer system to perform certain processing steps, procedures, and / or operations, as described herein. The modules, components, and / or installations described herein may be implemented and / or incorporated as a driver, library, interface, API, FPGA configuration data, firmware (e.g., stored in an EEPROM), and / or the like.In some modalities, parts of the modules, components, and / or installations described herein are incorporated as machine components, such as general and / or application-specific devices, including, but not limited to: circuits, integrated circuits, processing components, interface components, hardware controller(s), storage controller(s), programmable hardware, FPGA, ASIC, and / or the like. The 330 modules may include a pattern length calculator 332, a burden and spacing calculator 334, a hole designer 336, and a blast validator 338. The length calculator The pattern 332, Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI, through one or more processors 312, can perform operations to determine a pattern length in feet that defines an area around the holes in a blast plan. The pattern length in feet represents an area that can be properly fragmented by the available explosive product in a detonation hole located in the bench. The determination of the pattern length in feet can be based on a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench. The burden and spacing calculator 334 can determine a burden and spacing for the holes in the blast plan based on the pattern length in feet. The hole designer 336 can determine the hole design details. The blast validator 338 can determine whether the blast will meet certain criteria. The data stored in electronic memory 310 may include data received and data generated by the blast design system 106, such as modules 330 or other modules. The stored data may be organized as one or more memory registers / addresses, files, and / or databases. Data 340 may include user-defined blasting parameters 342, blasting limitations 344, site-specific data 346, and a blasting design 348. The user-defined blasting parameters 342 can include face height, pattern type (e.g., rectangular, stepped, square), and wet hole designation. The blasting constraints 344 can include explosive weight, material to be blasted weight, material to be blasted volume, and number of holes. Site-specific data 346 can include available drill diameters, geological data, available explosive product, and seismographic information. The user-defined blasting parameters 342, blasting constraints 344, and site-specific data 346 can be entered by a user through the I / O interface 316 or received from another device through the network interface 314. The modules 330 can generate the blast design 348 based on the inputs.In some modalities, the data 340 may include a post-blast analysis that can be used by the modules 330 to produce a more optimized blast design 348. The one or more 312 processors may include any computer circuit system. The one or more 312 processors may include general-purpose processors and / or special-purpose processors. The 314 network interface may facilitate communication with other computing devices and / or networks, such as the Internet and / or other computer and / or communications networks. The 314 network interface The Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI can be equipped with conventional network connectivity. Network interface 314 can be a wireless network interface, equipped with conventional wireless network connectivity technologies. In some configurations, network interface 314 can be used to communicate with a current and voltage sensor that measures the power consumption of the area where the processing circuit system 350 (not shown) is located. I / O interface 316 can facilitate interconnection with one or more input devices and / or one or more output devices. The 318 system bus can facilitate communication and / or interaction between the other components of the blast design system, including the 310 electronic memory, the one or more 312 processors, the 314 network interface, and the 316 I / O interface. As can be seen, in other configurations, the 350 processing circuit system can be simpler than the one shown or described. For example, certain designs can do without one or more components, such as memory, multiple processors, multiple interfaces, and the like; and instead execute instructions closer to or on bare metal (e.g., without the intervention of the operating system or another software layer, executing instructions directly on the logic hardware). Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a 400 method RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi to generate a blast design output 408, according to a modality. Method 400 can be used by the blast design system 106 of Figures 1 and 3 to generate a blast design 408. To perform the calculations 410 for the blast design, the blast design system receives a set of data inputs (e.g., specific blast data 402, blast limitation data 404, and location data 406). In some modalities, these inputs are classified into various categories: geological properties, blast area properties, drilling properties, available product and blasting restrictions, and seismograph properties. For example, in the illustrated mode, the blast design system receives specific blast data 402, blast limitation data 404, and location data 406. Specific blast data 402 may include a blast face height, a desired pattern type (e.g., square, rectangular, stepped), and whether the holes are wet. The blasting limitation data 404 may include one or more limitations set by the user. For example, the user may be limited by the weight of the explosive, the weight of the materials, the volume of the material, or the number of holes. In some configurations, the blasting limitation data 404 may include a hole spacing of Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ detonation at the face of the mine. In the illustrated mode, location data 406 includes available drill diameters, geological data, available explosive product, seismograph data, and other parameters collected from a measurement while drilling (drilling data). Geological data can represent geological properties, geological features, and geological factors of a site.Some examples of geological properties include mineralogy (elemental and / or mineral), lithological structure (primary, secondary, and / or texture), porosity, hardness, attenuation, Young's modulus, shear modulus, compressibility modulus, Poisson's ratio, P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, rock density, rock type, rock strength, rock conditions, rock description, joint condition, joint angle, joint orientation, standard deviation of joint spacing, cohesion, vertical joint spacing, horizontal joint spacing, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), sonic velocity, standard deviation of drilling, shock velocity, rock fracture strength, rock reflectivity, rock tensile strength, angle of internal friction, Hugoniot data (e.g., Up min, Up max, Us min, Us max), and soil stresses (σA, σ2, σ3, orientation, inclination, direction and. Rb7Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI (stress balancing). Texture refers to the size, shape, and arrangement of the interlocking mineral crystals that make up a rock or other material. Geological data can be used to determine additional geological characteristics, such as friability and fragmentability. Geological data can be determined directly or indirectly from sources such as seismic data, drilling data, drill cuttings, core samples, or combinations thereof. For example, drill cuttings and / or core samples can be analyzed using gamma-ray or X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and other spectroscopic and / or microscopic techniques. Seismograph data may include a vibration requirement at a specific distance. In some modalities, geological properties can be determined using seismograph data. The processor circuitry can compare seismic vibration at a source (e.g., the borehole or test load) with seismic vibrations at one or more geophones. Based on at least the delay, frequency, and amplitude of the seismic vibrations, the processor circuitry can determine geological properties (e.g., fragmentation, composite densities, compositions, rock impedances, hardness value, Young's modulus, shear strain, or other such properties). Rb7Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Drilling data can include information on a continuous or progressive basis, such as by feet. Drilling data may include information such as drill bit size, drill bit rotation speed, drill bit torque, rate of penetration, bit vibration, downforce, bilge air pressure, hole location, hole number, and hole length or depth. Drilling data may be related to geological properties along the length of the blast hole. Therefore, drilling data can be used to generate hardness values ​​along the length of the blast hole (i.e., the hardness profile). In some configurations, the blast design system may accept a subset of the data inputs or additional information. For example, not all calculations will use a vibration check. Therefore, attenuation and seismograph data may be optional inputs. In some configurations, the specific blasting data 402 may include a desired fragmentation. For example, the specific blasting data 402 may include a desired average fragmentation size. The blast design system uses the input data set 410 for blast design calculations 408. Calculations 410 include determining a pattern length in feet 412, determining a burden and spacing 414, determining the borehole structure 416, and determining the number of holes 432 required to satisfy the limitations. Calculations 410 also include blast validity checks to determine whether the blast design meets certain criteria. For example, in the illustrated modality, the validity checks include an energy check 420, a burden stiffness check 422, and a vibration check 424. In some modes, the blast design system can determine a distance from the detonation holes to the face based on the desired fragmentation, the desired volume of rock, or other user-defined or geographical parameters. By determining the pattern length in feet (412), the blast design system defines an area around the holes in blast design (408). The pattern length in feet is the product of the burden and the spacing; in other words, it represents the recommended area around each hole. The pattern length in feet takes into account several factors (e.g., geology, explosive product, and hole diameter), and the result affects all other calculations in the process. The pattern length in feet represents an area that can be properly fragmented by the explosive product. RfrjQnn / i ζηζ / E / γίΛΐ available in a detonation hole located in the bench. The determination of the length in feet of the standard can be based on a relationship between the height of the face, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench. The length in feet of the pattern can be the product of a first factor based on the geological properties and parameters of the detonation hole and a second factor based on a specific energy of the available product. For example, the specific energy can be a correlation between ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) (e.g., 94% ammonium nitrate beads and 6% fuel oil) and the available explosive product (e.g., relative volume energy (RBS) of the available explosive product), and a third factor based on a diameter of the available explosive product. In some methods, the blast design system calculates the first factor by multiplying a first geological factor by the natural logarithm of the dividend of the height or detonation hole face height divided by the diameter of the available product (or the detonation hole diameter if the product is a bulk explosive). The result may be reduced by a second geological factor. If one or more cover layers are present, the distance between the layers may be used. RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi covers and / or the top or bottom (tip) of the detonation hole as the face height, to calculate the pattern length in feet for portions of the detonation hole. Therefore, the first factor can be: [. . í Height 1 „ A * ln —;---- — d\ Equation 1 \ Diame troj J The geological factors or geological constants (i.e., A and B) may comprise empirical variables that correlate geological properties with geometric properties of the blast hole. Equation 1 uses a relationship between the face height and the diameter of the available explosive product as a variable in an equation with geological constants empirically adjusted to data from the previous blast that produced appropriate fragmentation of the particular bench material from the previous blasts to determine a rough pattern length in feet. The previous blast data may also be used to determine what type of explosive product to use or the quantity of explosive product to use. The previous blast data includes data from the actual explosives loaded by the on-site equipment used to load the explosives into the boreholes from the previous blasts.The site equipment may include equipment for the automatic loading of the detonation holes. Data from the previous blast may include the pattern length in feet, burden, spacing, actual mass of explosive product, and / or volume of explosive product loaded into the holes. Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI detonation. In this example, the equation comprises a first-order polynomial. For example, Table 1 includes illustrative geological factors. The geological factors may have a linear relationship. In some embodiments, the geological factors may be the ratio between the natural logarithm of the height and depth of the detonation hole and the geological properties. Table 1 Geological Entry Favorable Average Difficult Rock Class ABABAB Massive (3) 424.66 -38.39 411.21 36.63 397.77 111.66 Laminated (1, 2) 552.13 -49.388 534.51 47.99 516.89 145.37 In some blasting methods, the blast design system calculates the second factor by adding a correction factor to the specific energy. The second factor may also be limited to being less than a certain amount. For example, the second factor might be: "{RBS Product _ _ Second factor = min--1-0,366,1,2 Equation 2 \ 157,7 7 The RBS is the specific energy used for this illustrative calculation. The RBS can be scaled by 157.7 to increase the RBS value. In Equation 2, the second factor can be limited to 1.2 or less. In some configurations, the blast design system calculates the third factor by dividing the diameter by a unit factor to convert the hole diameter to a desired spacing unit. The resulting dividend can then be squared. For example, the third factor might be: mr- , LDiameter\o π, Third factor = 1--—--I2 Equation 3 Therefore, the pattern length in feet can be: Length in feet of pattern = [λ * In - δ] * min ^Prod^°RBS_|_ o,366,1,2^ * ^Diametery Equation 4v127 The equations provided previously and Table 1 were an imperial version. As shown below, a similar equation can be used for the metric system of units. Equation 5 and Table 2 can be used if the metric system of units can be used. [. . / Height \ . {RBS Product , A * In J - BI * min --F 0.366,1,2j * .Diameter, yv10007Equation 5 Table 2 Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Geological Entry Favorable Average Difficult Rock Class ABABAB Massive (3) 462.28 -2076.1 430.02 -1861.9 397.77 -1647.6 Laminated (1,2) 601.18 -2699.1 559.04 -2420.0 516.89 -2140.8 The pattern length in feet can be used to determine the burden and spacing (414) and to perform the energy check (420). The burden and spacing represent the length and width of the pattern length in feet and can vary based on a chosen blast shape or pattern and the geology. For example, the burden can be determined by multiplying the square root of the pattern length in feet by a constant derived from a rock class based on the geological properties of a blast site and the desired blast pattern shape. Equation 6 and Table 3 provide an illustrative equation and a constant that can be used to determine the burden. Burden = j length in feet of pattern * C Equation 6 In Equation 6, C is the constant derived from a rock class based on the geological properties of a blast site and the shape of the desired blast pattern. Table 3 includes illustrative values ​​for C for a square and a rectangle. RfrJQnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YΙΛΙ Table 3 Pattern type Square / rectangle Stepped Rock class Massive (3) 1 0.85 Laminated (1, 2) 1 0.93 The blast design system can calculate spacing by dividing the pattern length in feet by the burden as shown below. "...length in pattern feet." Spacing =----------------- Equation 71 Burden In some configurations, burden and spacing may be rounded to the nearest 0.5 ft (0.1 m for the metric system) increment. In some blasting configurations, the blast design system performs a constraint check after determining the spacing and burden. For example, for imperial units, for a square or rectangular pattern, the blast design system can determine if the distance between holes is greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the hole used. If metric units are used, 1.5 should be replaced with 0.018. In some configurations, if the spacing is less than 1.5, the check fails, the current blast design is invalid, and no further calculations should be performed. For a stepped pattern, the check might be: burden² + spacing² > 1.5 x diameter of the detonation hole. If metric units are used, 1.5 can be replaced with 0.018. The blast design system can perform energy check 420 to determine if a resulting blast will have energy within a target range. To determine the mass of explosive in the column, the blast design system can use Equation 8. Rb7Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ . . . . .Product diameter.9 Mass of explosive in the column = (------------)z / 1000 * π * Hole Depth * Explosive Density Product Equation 8 The mass energy of an explosive can then be determined as shown in Equation 9. „ , , (Mass of explosive in the column *product of upper mass) Mass energy =----------------------------------------B * S* face height* rock density Equation 9 The blast design system can check the blast mass energy against a minimum energy mass threshold and a maximum energy mass threshold, as shown in Equation 10. EnergyMassiower< MassEnergy < EnergyMassupperEquation 10 In some modalities, the blast design system can also verify that the mass energy of the blast is within the parameters described in Equation 11. / , ., Energy volume, lower\ , , Max [Lower Mass Energy,---Rock Density---)<^ner9iaMasa < MiníEnerqia de Masa wnprím· >-------------) Equation 11 If the blast mass energy is not within either of the two target ranges, the current blast design is invalid and the blast design system need not proceed with the remaining processes. The burden and spacing are used for the burden richness check 422 and to calculate the details of borehole 416. The details of borehole 416 describe RfrjQnn / i ζηζ / E / γίΛΐ the single-hole structure. To find the sub-drilling depth of the borehole, the blast design system can multiply the burden by 0.3. The top stemming can be determined by multiplying the burden by 0.7. The factor of 0.7 can be changed for holes with casing. The dust column can be determined by subtracting the top stemming from the depth of the detonation hole. The blast design system can also use the burden and spacing to perform a burden stiffness check. The burden stiffness can be the hole height divided by the burden, as shown below. Burden richness = ---- Equation 12 The blast design system compares the burden stiffness to a minimum burden stiffness threshold. In one mode, the minimum burden stiffness threshold is 2. In some modes, if the burden stiffness is less than 2, the blast design system may stop performing calculations. In some modes, the blast design system may continue generating a blast design and notify the user if the burden stiffness check concludes that the burden stiffness is below the minimum burden stiffness threshold. The blast design system can complete vibration check 424 to verify that the design of The blast generated by the Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI blast exceeds the seismographic restrictions. Vibration Check 424 can verify the maximum amount of explosive that can be detonated in an 8-millisecond interval. By using a maximum explosive mass limit, the blast design system can verify whether the maximum mass limit has been exceeded. For example, max.explosive mass = Seismographic Distance^ X (---------------)«, where ct is an alpha factor and the default value is 1.6. K is a constant based on geological properties. Table 4 shows illustrative K values. Table 4 Geological entry K-value Favorable 140 Average 160 Difficult 200 The blast design system can determine the number of holes required to satisfy blast limitation data 404. In some configurations, the blast design system can calculate one of four optional blast limitation data constraints (404) based on inputs from the blast design system. Depending on which constraint the user enters, the calculation process performs a different calculation. The final result of each calculation must be the same: the number of holes required to satisfy the given constraint. Depending on the input provided, one of the following four equations will be used. The result of the following equations can be rounded to the nearest whole number to find the number of holes that meets blast limitation data 404. If the blast limitation data 404 is the total weight of the explosive, the blast design system can use Equation 13. ,,, , . I Total weight of explosive I . , „ Number of drill holes = ----------:----------:--- Equation 13J [Weight of explosive in drill holes] If blast limitation data 404 is the total volume of rock, the blast design system can use Equation 14. Volume of rock blasted from the borehole = Burden * spacing * Face height Equation 14 If the blast limitation data 404 is the volume of rock to be blasted, the blast design system can use Equation 15. . Γ total rock volume 1 „ . , „ Number of purchases = ------------------------— Equation 15 I Volume of rock blasted from drilling I If the blast limitation data 404 is the total weight of rock to be blasted, the blast design system can use Equation 16. ,,, , . Γ total rock weight ] Number of aquiros = ------;------——; ------:-------JI Volume of blasted rock from drilling*rock density I Equation 16 Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI If blast limitation data 404 is the number of holes, then this blast limitation data is used. The blast design system can perform a metric 430 evaluation to determine useful statistical data for presentation to the user. In one mode, during the metric 430 evaluation, the blast design system can determine the following factors. " , , , total weight of explosive . , . _ Dust factor = --------------- Equation 17 total rock volume Total drilling length = Number of holes * (face height + sub-drilling) Equation 18 The blast design system can produce blast design 408. The blast plan comprises burden and spacing, drilling details, anticipated vibration, dust factor, number of holes, pattern details, drilling length, volume of material to be blasted, explosive weight, and / or the weight of the material to be blasted. In some methods, determining the pattern length in feet involves calculating a geometric relationship between the face height and the diameter of the available explosive product, specific to the geological properties of the bench, to determine a gross pattern length in feet. In some methods, the blast design modulates the gross pattern length in feet based on the differences between the specific energy of the available explosive product and the explosive product used in previous blasts, from which prior blast data were used to generate the equation. In some methods, the blast design system modulates the gross pattern length in feet based on the volume of the available explosive product. In some configurations, the blast design system can optimize blast design by generating a dataset comprising multiple permutations of the received blast data (see Figure 5). The blast design system can simulate a blast for each of these permutations to determine multiple simulated outcomes and base the blast plan on the highest-rated simulated outcome. In some configurations, the blast design system can perform post-blast image analysis of the waste and adjust future blast plans based on the size and location of the waste. In some configurations, the blast design system can vary the density of an explosive emulsion within the simulation permutations to determine an optimal energy profile for each detonation hole. For example, the blast design system can identify segments within the detonation hole that have different geological properties. The multiple permutations can include different explosive densities and / or products for the detonation holes and / or segments within the detonation hole. In some configurations, the multiple permutations can include different densities of an explosive emulsion or ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) in segments within the detonation hole with different geological properties. In some configurations, the blast design system can produce a fragmentation prediction. For example, based on archived blasts, the blast design system can predict the fragmentation size and provide that prediction to a user. Figures 5-13 illustrate various aspects of generating a blast design by running multiple simulations for a plurality of possible permutations. Generating the blast design using multiple permutations, as described in Figures 5-13, can be used by the blast design system 106 in Figures 1 and 3. Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a 500 method for generating a blast design by running multiple simulations for a plurality of possible permutations, according to a modality. The method runs the permutation simulations as problems that can be solved independently. A blast design system that implements this method 500 receives blasting data 502 from a user. The blasting data can include blast site dimensions, blast site geology, and types of available explosives, and / or other input data (e.g., the specific blasting data 402, blast limitation data 404, and location data 406 from Figure 4). The blast design system generates 504 a dataset of a plurality of possible permutations from the received blast design data. The blast design system simulates 506 a blast for the plurality of permutations to determine a plurality of simulated outcomes. The simulations can be run in parallel on multiple machines, processors, cores, or fibers to improve efficiency. The simulation results are stored (507), rated, and compared (508). The blast design system can generate a blast plan based on a simulated maximum rating result and present (510) the result to the user. The blast plan identifies the location of the detonation holes to be drilled and the type and quantity of explosive to be used. In some modes, blast plans can be rated based on one or more of the following criteria: cost, number of casings, number of holes, burden-to-stiffness ratio, and vibration rating. Figure 6 illustrates an example of a method 600 for generating a dataset from a plurality of blast data permutations (e.g., see Fig. 5, generating a dataset 504). A blast design system running this method 600 identifies possible permutations 602 of the blast data. For example, the blast design system might use the available hole diameters, the selected product, and the number of casings to identify the possible permutations. The blast design system might generate 604 a record for each permutation and combine 606 the records for each permutation to generate the database. For example, blasting data might indicate that there are a maximum of three covers, that two hole diameters are available (e.g., 89 mm and 102 mm), and that the selected product is poured Dynomix. In this example, the configured blast design will be reduced to a set of all possible permutations of the blasting data. For example, if there are no default products, the permutations would include: [hole diameter=89 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=l] [hole diameter=89 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=2] [hole diameter=89 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=3] Rb7Qnn / l Zηζ / E / YΙΛΙ [hole diameter=102 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=l] [hole diameter=102 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=2] [hole diameter=102 mm, product=dynomix poured, hole configuration=3] The total number of permutations can be calculated using Equation 18. In this particular example, there would be six possible permutations. Number of tasks = (selected products + default products) * hole diameters * maximum number of covers Equation 18 In some configurations, the permutations can also include different densities of explosive products in the detonation hole segments. For example, the detonation holes may have varying hardness profiles, and the permutations can apply a certain density of explosive products to detonation hole segments with similar hardness values, a second density of explosive products to detonation hole segments with a different hardness value, a third density of explosive products to detonation hole segments with yet another hardness value, and so on. Figure 7 illustrates an example of a 700 method for simulating RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi the permutations of the dataset (e.g., see Figure 5, run simulations 506). A blast design system running this method 700 generates blast-level details 702. This includes pattern length in feet, burden, and spacing. In the illustrated mode, the blast design system also generates hole-level details 704 for burden and spacing. The blast design system can perform validation checks 706 to determine whether the blast design will meet the target criteria for a valid blast. The method can then calculate 708 the characteristics of a valid blast. Further details of these steps are provided in the following figures. Figures 8A and 8B illustrate a method 800 for generating blast-level details (e.g., see Figure 7, generating blast-level details 702). The method 800 generates potential blast design solutions from given inputs. The blast design system can calculate the pounds of mass per delay 802 for each permutation and seismograph from the diameter, product, number of covers, and identify 804 the permutations from the lowest seismographs and the most stringent pounds of mass per delay. The blast design system calculates the initial pattern length in feet 806. This can be done using the RfrJQnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YΙΛΙ Equation 4 and Table 1 or Equation 5 and Table 2 as described with reference to Figure 4. The blast design system calculates the initial burden and spacing from the pattern length in feet. The initial burden can be calculated using Equation 6 and Table 3, and the spacing can be determined using Equation 7 as described with reference to Figure 4. The blast design system determines 808 if the initial burden and spacing are not greater than the length and width of the blast site. If the initial burden and spacing are greater than the length and width of the blast site, then there is no possible solution and the method terminates. If the initial burden and spacing are not greater than the length and width of the blast site, then the method continues and calculates 810 a minimum burden and spacing, where the initial burden is less than the initial spacing and the initial burden is less than the initial spacing. The blast design system can round the initial burden to 812. For example, the blast design system can round the initial burden to 1 decimal point or to 0.5 if it is in feet. The blast design system calculates a new pattern length in feet of 814. The new pattern footage = prioritized_distance * non_prioritized_distance. The priority distance can be either the burden or the spacing, depending on what the user prefers for the blast length or blast width. For example, if the priority distance is the burden, then the non-priority distance becomes the spacing. The blast design system checks 816 if the new pattern length in feet is within a target range: the target range is: pattern length in feet *0.9 <new_PatternFootage < PattF * 1,1. Si el nuevo patrón de longitud en pies no está dentro del intervalo objetivo, el sistema de diseño de voladura intenta 822 encontrar una distancia prioritaria que se ajuste, como se describe en la Figura. 9. Si la nueva longitud en pies de patrón no está dentro del intervalo objetivo, el sistema de diseño de voladura comprueba 818 si la distancia prioritaria se ajusta perfectamente (p. ej ., la longitud o el ancho de la voladura es igual a la distancia prioritaria). If the priority distance does not fit perfectly, the blast design system attempts to find a priority distance that fits, as described in Figure 9. If the priority distance does not fit perfectly, the blast design system appends the new burden and spacing to a list of final results and then attempts to find other priority distances that fit. The blast design system ranks a list of approximate results ordered from best to worst fit. In Figure 8B, the blast design system iterates 826 through the list of approximate results and selects a priority distance from the current result. The blast design system takes a potential burden and spacing configuration from the list of approximate results. The blast design system takes and examines 830 the potential burden and approximate spacing according to the sizing standards. The blast design system calculates 832 a maximum non-priority distance and a minimum non-priority distance from initial_Pattfootage and potential_prioritized_distance. The blast design system can calculate a maximum and minimum non-priority distance based on Equations 19 and 20. Spacing < burden < l,4*burden Equation 19 Burden < spacing < 1.4*distance Equation20 The blast design system scales the non-prioritized distance by 0.1, or 0.5 if feet are used. After scaling, the blast design system checks if the potential non-prioritized distance is < max_non_prioritized_distance. If the potential non-prioritized distance is not less than the target threshold, the blast design system selects the next distance 828 RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi prioritized from the current results. If the potential non-prioritized distance is less than the target threshold, the blast design system calculates 838 a new pattern footage length equal to: prioritized_distance * potential_non_prioritized_distance. The blast design system checks 840 to see if the new pattern footage length in feet falls within a target range. For example, the target range might be min_PattF < new_PattF < max_PattF. If the new pattern footage length in feet falls within the target range, the new pattern footage length result is appended 842 to the final results list. If the new pattern footage length does not fall within the target range, the blast design system adds 844 a scale to the potential non-prioritized distance. The blast design system checks 846 to see if all priority distances have been tested. If not all have been tested, the blast design system selects 828 a next priority distance from the current results. If all priority distances have been tested, the blast design system ranks the list of results according to best fit (e.g., least remainder first), and the blast design performs a method to generate hole-level details as described in Figure 10. Figure 9 is a 900 method that the design system of The blasting system can be used to try to find a priority distance that fits the blast site. In this method, the blast design system attempts to find the optimum fit for the priority distance (e.g., burden or spacing). Optimum fit means that overflow or underflow is minimal (i.e., the remainder is close to or equal to zero). For example, for a blast site 50 m wide, if the burden is 5 meters, there is no remainder, since 10 holes at 5 meters spacing = 50 m. In another example, a burden of 4.9 meters produces a remainder of 1 meter of underflow for 10 holes, or 3.0 m of overflow for 11 holes. The blast design system can round the minimum burden 904 and generate a scaling 906 (e.g., 0.1 for meters, 0.5 for feet). The rounded burden is adjusted 908 by adding the scaling to the burden. The blast design system checks the rounded burden 910 to see if it falls within a target range, specifically, greater than the minimum burden and less than the maximum burden. If the rounded burden does not fall within the range, the blast design system returns to Figure 8A to attempt to find a priority distance that fits. If the rounded burden falls within the range, the blast design system determines 912 the remainder of a length of the site plan using the burden. For example, for a blast width of 50 Al77Qnn / l 7Ϡ7 / Β / YILI m, and a burden of 5 m, there is no remainder since 10 holes * 5 m = 50 m. In another example, where the burden is 4.9 m and the blast width is still 50 m, there is a remainder of 1 m of underburden for 10 holes or 3.9 m of overburden for 11 holes. The system appends the remainder and the burden to a list of approximate results. Figure 10 illustrates a method 1000 for generating hole-level details for a given burden and spacing (e.g., cover configuration, underdrilling, top stemming, mid-stemming, and dust column length). The dust column length is the length of the portion of the blast hole that is filled with explosive. A blast design system using method 1000 iterates 1002 through potential burdens and spacings and analyzes priority distances, non-priority distances, pattern length in feet, and remainder. The blast design system determines 1004 whether all potential burdens and spacings have been used. The blast design system then selects 1006 the next item from the list of potential burdens and spacings.The system checks 1008 that the burden and spacing are not too large for the blasting area and calculates the length of the dust column, underdrilling and the top and middle stemming. The blast design system can construct the 1010 covers and calculate the explosive mass. The blast design system can construct 1010 covers based on the following criteria: The upper and middle covers will have the same dust columns and explosive masses. The middle and lower covers can have the same height (the height of the lower cover does not include the underdrilling). The lower cover can have a different explosive mass due to the underdrilling. The upper cover will have a different height due to the top stemming. Figure 11 illustrates an 1100 method for testing the validity of a planned blast design. Using the 1100 method, a blast design system can perform a series of validity checks. For example, the blast design system can perform a mass-energy check, a volume-energy check, and a burden-to-stiffness check. For energy and mass verification, the blast design system checks 1104 to see if the mass of explosive for the cover is less than key seismograph.mass pounds per delay. And if min_energy_per_mass_check_per_deck is less than deck_energy and the cover energy is less than max_energy_per_mass_check_per_deck. The cover energy calculation can be: „ ,, , . mass of explosive x energy per mass Roof energy =-----------:—:----------------:---------:--------° burden x spacing x roof height x rock density Equation 21 The energy by volume check can be used to check 1106 if the min_energy_per_volume is less than the deck_energy which is in turn less than the Max_energy_per_volume. If the volumetric energy is within the blast design parameters, then solution 1108 is added to the list of potential solutions. The blast design system calculates 1110 the burden-to-stiffness ratio of all casings and reports the result with the worst burden-to-stiffness ratio for the hole. The burden-to-stiffness check can be used to determine 1112 if burden_stiffness_rating > 2. Figure 12 illustrates a method 1200 for calculating the specific characteristics of a valid design. Method 1200 tests the validity of the planned blast design. A blast design system calculates a key vibration. In some modalities, the explosive mass. "vibration = confinement * * cover energy * ( —-----------;---) , seismographic distance where a can always be positive (e.g., a=l.6) . The blasting design system can calculate 1204 the number of holes, calculate 1206 the total weight of explosive 1206, calculate the total weight of material, calculate the volume of material, calculate 1208 the volume of blasted rock, calculate 1210 the dust factor, calculate 1212 the total drilling length, calculate 1214 the stemming volume, and 1216 report results. Figure 13 illustrates a 1300 chart of blast plan results rated based on vibration, with a vibration-fit curve 1302. There are optimal ratings 1306, 1312 and good ratings 1308, 1310, and 1314. In some cases, a higher rating is not chosen; instead, a rating at 80% of the highest vibration is selected 1304. To achieve the blast design system, a polynomial similar to the one shown in chart 1300 is used to adjust the results to the vibration. Once the results are adjusted according to the polynomial, the ratings are plotted on the y-axis. To rate the blast plan results, the blast design system can use one of the following methods: 1) fewer cover sheets, 2) fewer holes, 3) burden-to-stiffness ratio, or 4) vibration rating.The first three methods classify the results by selected criteria. Figure 14 illustrates a method for editing burden and spacing. In some modalities, a user can use this method to correct the burden and spacing. The user can enter a desired burden and / or spacing. For example, this 1400 method can be used to edit the burden and spacing determined using the methods that are RfrjQnn / i ζηζ / E / γίΛΐ are described in Figs. 8A-9. Since the burden and spacing are calculated as a step in generating a blast design, adjusting these parameters may require the partial execution of a method for generating a blast design (e.g., in Figure 7 the method may generate 704 hole-level details for a given burden and spacing 704, perform 706 validation checks (e.g., energy check, burden stiffness check, and vibration check), and calculate 708 valid blast characteristics (e.g., explosive weight, material weight, material volume, number of holes, fragmentation size)). A system using this method 1400 checks 1402 whether the pattern foot length is locked 1402. A locked pattern foot length indicates that the pattern foot length must remain the same after editing the burden or spacing. If the pattern foot length is locked, the system receives input 1412 indicating the burden or spacing. If spacing is entered, the system calculates 1414 the burden based on the spacing. If burden is entered, the system calculates 1416 the spacing based on the burden. If the pattern foot length is not locked, the system receives input 1404 indicating both the burden and spacing, and produces 1406 a pattern foot length. RfrJQnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YΙΛΙ The system can also perform a 1408 check on a pattern foot length. For example, the system can check that the pattern foot length is greater than or equal to the original pattern foot length and less than or equal to 110% of the original pattern foot length. The system can also perform a pattern ratio check (1410). For example, the system can check that the spacing is > 1.5 x hole diameter, and that this spacing is < 1.5 x burden. The examples and modalities described herein should be interpreted as merely illustrative and not as limiting the scope of this description in any way. It will be evident to those skilled in the art, and with the benefit of this description, that changes can be made to the details of the modalities described above without departing from the underlying principles of this description. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: receiving blasting data comprising geometric and geological properties of a bench at a blast site to be blasted and a diameter and explosive properties of an available explosive product, wherein the geometric properties of the bench include a bench face height; determining a pattern length in feet that can be appropriately fragmented by the available explosive product in a detonation hole located in the bench, wherein determining the pattern length in feet comprises determining a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the bench geological properties; determining a burden and spacing from the pattern length in feet; and generating a blasting plan using the burden and spacing.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that determining the length in feet of the Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI pattern comprises calculating a geometric ratio of the face height to a diameter of the available explosive product, specific to the geological properties of the bench, to determine a length in feet of the gross pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that determining the length in feet of the pattern comprises entering a ratio of the face height to the diameter of the available explosive product as a variable in an equation with geological constants empirically adjusted to previous blasting data from prior blasts that produced appropriate fragmentation of the particular bench material of the prior blasts to determine a length in feet of gross pattern.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the equation comprises a first-order polynomial.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the first-order polynomial comprises: multiplying a first geological constant by the natural logarithm of a dividend of the face height divided by the diameter of the available product; and subtracting from the result a second geological constant.

6. The method according to any of claims 3-5, characterized in that determining the RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi length in feet of pattern further comprises modulating the length in feet of gross pattern based on differences between the specific energy of the available explosive product and the explosive product used in previous blasts from which the previous blast data were used to generate the equation.

7. The method according to any of claims 2-6, characterized in that determining the length in feet of the standard further comprises modulating the length in feet of the gross standard based on the volume of explosive product available.

8. The method according to any of claims 2-7, characterized in that the diameter of the available explosive product comprises a diameter of the detonation hole located in the bench and the available explosive product comprises a bulk explosive.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that determining the pattern length in feet comprises defining an area around the holes in a blast plan, wherein the pattern length in feet comprises a product of a first factor based on geological properties and face height, a second factor based on the specific energy of the available explosive, and a third factor based on the diameter of the available explosive.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises calculating the first factor by: calculating a result of multiplying a first geological factor by the natural logarithm of a dividend of a face height divided by the diameter of the available product; and subtracting from the result a second geological factor.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that if a cover is present, the distance between the cover and another cover or the end of the detonation hole is used as the face height.

12. The method according to any of claims 9-11, characterized in that it further comprises calculating the second factor by adding a correction factor to a relative energy per volume of the available explosive product.

13. The method according to any of claims 9-12, characterized in that it further comprises calculating the third factor by dividing the diameter by a unit factor, and squaring the resulting dividend.

14. The method according to any of claims 9-13, characterized in that determining the burden further comprises multiplying the square root of the Al77Qnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI length in feet of the pattern by a constant derived from a rock class based on the geological properties of a blasting site.

15. The method according to any of claims 1-14, characterized in that the geological properties of a blasting site comprise rock density, rock type, rock strength, attenuation characteristics, or combinations thereof; and the methods further comprise receiving detonation hole parameters comprising face height, desired blast pattern type, probability and / or potential amount of water in any of the drilled detonation holes, and a diameter of an available borehole; and receiving information on the available explosive product comprising the type of available explosive product, the weight and / or volume of the available explosive product as supplied to the blasting site, weight of the material to be blasted, volume of the material to be blasted, and number of holes that can be filled with the available explosive product as supplied to the blasting site.

16. The method according to any of claim 15, characterized in that the detonation hole parameters comprise a desired blast pattern type, and wherein the constant is further derived based on Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI in a form of the desired blast pattern type.

17. The method in accordance with any of claims 1-16, characterized in that the blasting plan comprises the burden and spacing.

18. The method according to any of claims 1-17, characterized in that it further comprises generating a data set comprising a plurality of permutations of the received blasting data; and simulating a blast for each of the plurality of permutations to determine a plurality of simulated results, wherein the blasting plan is based on a simulated result of maximum rating.

19. The method according to any of claims 1-18, characterized in that it further comprises executing the blasting plan by one or more of: drilling holes according to the blasting plan; filling the holes with the available explosive product according to the blasting plan; and initiating an explosion according to the blasting plan.

20. A method for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: receiving blasting data comprising blast site dimensions, blast site geology, and types of available explosive product; generating a database comprising a plurality of permutations of the received blasting data; simulating a blast for each of the plurality of permutations to determine a plurality of simulated outcomes; and generating a blasting plan based on a maximum-rated simulated outcome, wherein the blasting plan identifies the location of detonation holes to be drilled and the type and quantity of explosive to be used.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that simulating the blast for each of the plurality of permutations comprises determining a pattern length in feet based on a type of explosive for a permutation and the geology of the blast site.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the blasting simulation for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises determining an initial burden and an initial spacing based on the pattern length in feet.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the initial burden is CX ΫLength in feet of pattern, where C is a constant derived from the rock class, and wherein the initial spacing is Length in feet of pattern initial burden 24. The method according to any of claims 20-23, characterized in that simulating blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises identifying a priority distance and determining a minimum priority distance and a maximum priority distance, wherein the priority distance is one of the burden and the spacing, wherein if the priority distance is the burden, the maximum priority distance is less than the initial spacing and the minimum priority distance is greater than a threshold fraction of the initial spacing, and wherein if the priority distance is the spacing, the minimum priority distance is greater than the initial burden and the maximum priority distance is less than a threshold constant multiplied by the initial burden.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the threshold fraction of the initial spacing π, Ί n is -------------, and the threshold constant is 1.

4.

26. The method according to any of claims 24-25, characterized in that simulating the blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises: determining, if the priority distance is the RfrjQnn / i znz / E / YiAi burden, a number of rows that fits the dimensions of the blast site with the least remainder for a plurality of priority distances between the minimum priority distance and the maximum priority distance; and determining, if the priority distance is the spacing, a number of holes in the row that fits the dimensions of the blast site with the least remainder for a plurality of priority distances between the minimum priority distance and the maximum priority distance.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that simulating the blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises: identifying a non-priority distance; determining a minimum non-priority distance and a maximum non-priority distance for one or more of the plurality of priority distances, wherein the non-priority distance is one or more of the burden and the spacing and is different from the priority distance, wherein if the non-priority distance is the burden, the maximum non-priority distance is less than the initial spacing and the minimum non-priority distance is greater than a threshold fraction of the initial spacing, and wherein if the non-priority distance is the spacing, the minimum non-priority distance is greater than the initial burden and the maximum non-priority distance is less than a threshold constant Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI multiplied by the initial burden.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that simulating blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises determining sets of distances comprising one of the plurality of priority distances and a first non-priority distance between the minimum non-priority distance and the maximum non-priority distance with a resulting pattern length in feet within a target pattern length range in feet.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the target pattern length range in feet is between 0.9X the pattern length in feet determined based on a type of explosive for a permutation and the blast site geology and 1.10X the pattern length in feet determined based on the type of explosive for a permutation and the blast site geology.

30. The method according to any of claims 28-29, characterized in that it further comprises classifying the sets of distances based on the remainder associated with the priority distance.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that simulating blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises iteratively, from the smallest remainder to the largest remainder, determining whether the blasting characteristics for a set of distances meet a set of blasting criteria until a valid set of distances is found that meets the blasting criteria.

32. The method in accordance with any of claims 30-31, characterized in that it further comprises qualifying valid sets of distances for each of the plurality of permutations.

33. The method according to any of claims 28-32, characterized in that simulating blasting for each of the plurality of permutations further comprises: determining the blasting characteristics for each set of distances with a resulting pattern length in feet within a target pattern length range in feet; identifying one or more sets of distances that meet a set of blasting criteria; and determining which of the one or more sets of distances that meet a set of blasting criteria has the smallest remainder.

34. A system for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: a memory device for storing blasting data comprising blast site dimensions, blast site geology, and available explosive types; a processing unit for: generating a data set comprising a plurality of permutations of the blasting data; determining the spacing and burden for each of the plurality of permutations that produces the least overflow or underflow of the blast site holes, wherein the spacing and burden are based on an explosive type for each of the plurality of permutations and the blast site geology; validating that a blast for each of the plurality of permutations using determined spacing and burden meets a set of blasting criteria;To rate the characteristics of the validated blasts for each of the plurality of permutations; and to generate a blasting plan based on a validated result of maximum rating, where the blasting plan identifies the location of the detonation holes to be drilled and the type and quantity of explosive to be used.

35. The system according to claim 34, characterized in that it further comprises a drone comprising a camera, the drone capturing images of the blasting site.

36. The system according to claim 35, 63 characterized in that the drone receives a flight plan that defines a perimeter of the blasting site.

37. The system according to any of claims 34-36, characterized in that the processing unit further generates a three-dimensional model of the blast site using a plurality of images.

38. The system according to claim 37, characterized in that the processing unit further superimposes the blasting plan onto the three-dimensional model of the blasting site.

39. The system according to any of claims 34-38, characterized in that the processing unit further: receives post-blast site images; performs a post-blast analysis of the post-blast images to identify the size of the debris and the spread of the debris.

40. The system according to claim 39, characterized in that the processing unit further limits the spacing and burden to a spacing range and a burden range based on post-blast analysis.

41. The system in accordance with any of claims 39-40, characterized in that the Al77Qnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI processing unit further modifies the geology of the blast site based on post-blast analysis.

42. The system according to any of claims 34-41, characterized in that the set of blasting criteria comprises a target burden stiffness range, a target shell energy range, and a target shell explosive mass range.

43. A method for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: receiving blasting data comprising blast site dimensions, blast site geology, and available explosive types; generating a database comprising a plurality of permutations of the received blasting data; determining a plurality of spacing and burden configurations for each of the plurality of permutations based on an explosive type for each of the plurality of permutations and the blast site geology; simulating a blast for each of the plurality of permutations and determining which of the plurality of spacing and burden configurations for each of the plurality of permutations meets a target blasting criterion with an absolute remainder that is less than any other absolute remainder associated with other spacing and burden configurations;and generate a blasting plan based on the simulated results.

44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the absolute remainder is determined by dividing the spacing or burden by one of the dimensions of the blast site.

45. The method in accordance with any of claims 43-44, characterized in that it further comprises: rating the plurality of simulated results; and generating the blasting plan based on a simulated result of maximum rating.

46. ​​The method according to claim 45, characterized in that the rating of the plurality of simulated results is based on one or more of cost, number of covers, number of holes, burden-to-stiffness ratio, and vibration rating.

47. The method in accordance with any of claims 43-46, characterized in that the blasting data further comprise a maximum number of covers.

48. The method according to any of claims 43-47, characterized in that the blasting data further comprise a range of detonation hole diameters. RfrJQnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI 49. The method in accordance with any of claims 43-48, characterized in that it further comprises varying the type of explosive within the plurality of permutations.

50. The method according to any of claims 43-49, characterized in that for at least one of the plurality of permutations, varying an emulsion density within the detonation hole segments based on geological properties.

51. The method according to any of claims 43-50, characterized in that the blasting data further comprise a desired fragmentation size.

52. The method in accordance with any of claims 43-51, characterized in that it further comprises generating a fragmentation prediction.

53. A method for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: receiving blasting data comprising geometric and geological properties of a bench at a blasting site to be blasted and a diameter and explosive properties of an available explosive product, wherein the geometric properties of the bench include a bench face height;determining a length in feet of pattern that can be appropriately fragmented by the available explosive product in a detonation hole located in the bench, wherein determining the length in feet of pattern comprises determining a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench, wherein determining the length in feet of pattern comprises entering a ratio of face height to the diameter of the available explosive product as a variable in an equation with geological constants empirically adjusted to previous blasting data from prior blasts that produced appropriate fragmentation of the particular bench material from prior blasts to determine a gross length in feet of pattern; determining a burden and spacing from the length in feet of pattern;and generate a blasting plan using the burden and spacing.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the pre-blast data includes loaded data of the actual explosives from the site equipment used to load the explosives into boreholes in the pre-blasts.

55. A method for generating a blasting plan, characterized in that it comprises: receiving blasting data comprising geometric and geological properties of a bench at a blasting site to be blasted and a diameter and explosive properties of an available explosive product, wherein the geometric properties of the bench include a bench face height;determining a pattern length in feet that can be appropriately fragmented by the available explosive product in a detonation hole located in the bench, wherein determining the pattern length in feet comprises determining a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench, wherein determining the pattern length in feet comprises defining an area around the holes in a blasting plan, wherein the pattern length in feet comprises a product of a first factor based on the geological properties and face height, a second factor based on the specific energy of the available explosive product, and a third factor based on a diameter of the available explosive product; determining a burden and spacing from the pattern length in feet; and generating a blasting plan using the burden and spacing.

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