This paper describes the progress accomplished at the Noranda Technolo
gy Centre in the field of three-dimensional computer-aided underground
blast design. Traditional methods of laying out underground blasts ar
e reviewed, and the new computer-aided approach is described. Time sav
ings achieved through the use of BLASTCAD can be advantageously used t
o better engineer blasts, using models and blast vibration analysis. F
uture work involving the attachment of blast models directly to the sy
stem is also addressed.