This is the eighth iteration of the Intelligent Sandvik Underground Rock Excavation (iSURE) program, which is a process control tool for face drilling rigs.

Coupled with Sandvik's iSeries drilling rigs, the software can combine pull-out analysis with the rig's data collection tools, providing an analysis functionality to improve the work cycle and process.

Sandvik said the latest version of the software, iSURE 8.0, introduced new features and tools to assist in geological interpretation.

"Optimisation of drill and blast means taking into consideration the changes in rock blastability and other changes in the environment," the OEM explained.

"An effectively controlled blast results in good pull-out, a restricted fracture zone and greater rock strength around the tunnel. Furthermore, rounds' length and detonation can be tuned to the permitted vibration level and geology."

iSURE 8.0 provides a set of plan templates for editing and feedback functions for optimised blasting, and blast patterns can be edited to match the design parameter.

The software also allows drill rig usage and drilling process efficiency to be assessed and measured on a round-by-round basis. Counters for percussion, power pack, drilled metres and net penetration, as well as average and gross drilling capacity [m/h/boom], are collected for each boom.

The program further assists in the analysing of data collected along tunnel line, which reveals the trends of various KPIs.

It also has an optional toolset for geological analysis (iSURE GEO), a tunnel profile 3-D scanning system (iSURE 3D SCAN) and an interface to a third-party blasting vibration feedback system.

New inbuilt cloud-based data sharing can also help to spread the project data between team members. The cloud data is owned and controlled by the rig owner, who can define the roles and access rights for members.

Sandvik said it would aim to provide an updated version of iSURE every year to reflect the changing challenges faced by operators.