Use Cases

Diptek

Diptek are revolutionising mine site blast hole measurements with digital precision. Founded in 2019, Diptek is transforming the mining industry’s approach to blast hole measurement through its flagship product, Diptek Pulse. The company has developed an innovative digital solution that combines LiDAR sensors, RTK GPS and advanced imaging technology to replace traditional manual measurement methods. Its integrated device delivers survey-grade accuracy for blast hole measurements, addressing a critical gap in mining operations where precision directly impacts operational efficiency, safety and cost. The technology represents a significant leap forward in an industry where the disconnect between advanced blast design capabilities and outdated execution methods has long been a challenge. Through its commitment to innovation and precision, Diptek is setting new standards for how mining operations approach the crucial task of blast hole measurement.

The Challenge

The mining industry has traditionally relied on tape measures and paper maps for blast hole measurement, a process often assigned to inexperienced personnel working in challenging environments. With holes reaching depths of up to 50 metres and projects involving thousands of holes, this manual approach creates significant vulnerabilities in mining operations.

The physical nature of the work requires constant bending and stretching, leading to operator fatigue and potential health and safety concerns. The subjective nature of manual measurements also introduces considerable room for error, which can have far-reaching consequences throughout the mining process.

These inaccuracies frequently result in suboptimal blast performance, affecting rock fragmentation and creating additional costs in crushing operations. When blast holes aren’t properly measured, mining operations face increased energy consumption, reduced fleet efficiency and potential safety hazards from fly rock – rock fragments that are ejected beyond the blast zone. The financial impact extends beyond immediate operational costs, as poor blast performance often necessitates re-blasting areas and causes delays in downstream processes.

The industry needed a solution that could deliver consistent, accurate measurements while improving operator safety and efficiency.

Developing a solution

Drawing from extensive industry experience, Diptek’s engineering team developed Pulse, an ergonomically designed device that captures comprehensive borehole data. The development process required extensive testing and validation, which is where the AARP facility proved invaluable to its progress.

Located just 40 minutes from Perth CBD, the AARP provided Diptek with a dedicated drill pad that closely simulated real-world conditions. This proximity and accessibility transformed its development cycle, allowing the team to validate new features and improvements within hours instead of the days or weeks typically required for site visits.

The facility enabled Diptek to test its technology across varying environmental conditions, verifying the accuracy of its survey-grade measurements and refining its thermal imaging and optical systems. The freedom to operate without typical site access constraints meant the team could rapidly iterate on its design, particularly focusing on the ergonomic aspects that would reduce operator strain.

The AARP’s testing environment proved crucial for integrating and validating multiple sensor systems, ensuring they worked seamlessly together to provide comprehensive borehole analysis. This thorough testing process helped build confidence in the technology’s reliability and performance.

Results

Testing at the AARP helped Diptek validate and refine Pulse’s capabilities, leading to significant operational improvements. The company confirmed that its digital solution could complete surveys four times faster than conventional methods, while maintaining survey-grade accuracy in both positioning and depth measurements.

The extensive testing program allowed Diptek to perfect its integration of multiple data capture systems, including LiDAR, thermal imaging and optical cameras. This comprehensive approach ensures mining operations receive detailed, accurate information about each blast hole’s condition, enabling more informed decision-making.

Through repeated testing and refinement, the company validated its ergonomic design principles, confirming that operators could work more efficiently and comfortably throughout their shifts. The data analysis dashboard, a crucial component of the system, proved capable of transforming raw measurements into actionable insights for mining operations.

The ability to test in various environmental conditions confirmed the technology’s reliability across different scenarios, including its capacity to accurately detect water levels in boreholes. This thorough validation process at the AARP gave Diptek the confidence to know its solution would perform consistently in real-world mining environments.

“The AARP has been transformative for our development process. As a small company pushing innovation in mining technology, having access to a world-class testing facility just 30 minutes away from our Osborne Park headquarters has accelerated our progress significantly. The freedom to operate and quick iteration cycles have been invaluable. We’ve been able to validate our technology and make improvements in hours rather than the days or weeks it would take to arrange site visits. The facility’s practical testing environment has given us the confidence to know our product performs exactly as intended before it reaches our clients’ sites. For a company of our size, this level of access to testing infrastructure has been game changing.” – Diptek co-founder Brian Kellett