PerfectDig your mine

Maptek PerfectDig provides a true 3D, non-topographic comparison of as-built surfaces against design for improving drill & blast, contract management and site practices.

Improve drill & blast

PerfectDig allows stakeholders to assess blast results and adjust patterns for future activity.

Comparing overhang structures and identifying patterns improves blasts. Viewing the results of a pre-split blast which resulted in remaining material (image 1), highlights issues such as poor fragmentation, over pressure or face bursts.

Measures to avoid these factors can be taken into account in the next drill pattern design.

Result: Better understanding of blast results to improve blast patterns.

When overburden remains after a blast, there is potential for poor fragmentation, casting and vibration. Poor performance impacts downstream processes such as chopping the wall, and increases the wear on equipment excavating to specification.

Result: Cost effective use of equipment, fewer repairs and reduced downtime.

Manage contracts

For bulk handling contracts, all stakeholders should clearly understand requirements and deliver accordingly.

By tracking excavation progress, PerfectDig gives early indications for design conformance (image 2).

Results are available in less than 10 minutes, reducing excavation downtime. The traditional process takes 2-3 hours.

Survey pegs are still needed to identify the starting point for batters. PerfectDig provides feedback for maintaining correct position along the entire wall to better guide contractors.

There is no need for surveyors to return after excavation, replace pegs and assess whether the correct batter has been achieved.

Working several areas a day, PerfectDig saves 1315 hours a year - a $74,250 labour expense.

Result: Contracts can be managed in near real time. Save $74,250 on labour.

Avoid bad practices

Rapid feedback ensures batters meet design, avoiding loss of commodity and perpetuation of bad practices.

This batter (image 3) has not met design, with potential for propagating errors to subsequent levels, resulting in loss of commodity. If the batter is not checked until after excavation machinery leaves the area, productivity is lowered.

The block model has an average material density of 2.0, yielding 3.5 g/t gold. The difference in volume between the design and as-built is 938 cubic metres.

938 x 2.0 x 3.5 x 0.03215 = 211 oz of gold @ $1300/oz = $274,300 LOST

Conveying critical design conformance information before machinery is moved out improves profitability.

Result: Avoid potential loss of income of $274,300.