EPC Metrics' latest developments — with Technical Director, Dr. Rob Farnfield - United Kingdom - EPC-UK, Ltd.

Description

EPC Metrics' latest developments — with Technical Director, Dr. Rob Farnfield

Jul 24, 2023

EPC-UK and EPC Metrics' industry leading position has been significantly enhanced and enabled over more than two decades, thanks to the knowledge and achievements of Dr. Rob Farnfield.

Currently working as the Technical Director for EPC Metrics, Rob originally joined EPC-UK in 1997, bringing with him the skills, passion and expertise to reduce harm within our industry's operating environments. His accomplishments include the development of EPC-UK's seismograph technology, together with research into advancing the use of high-speed cameras to improve blast optimisation and 'planning to comply' models. He has also achieved success in innovating and implementing EPC-UK's hybrid detonator technology – a system now used across the UK explosives industry to make the blasting environment safer and more cost effective.

A year as Technical Director

Rob took his Technical Director position with EPC Metrics a year ago. Since then, he has been performing a role where he can use his vast experience to mentor our talented team of engineers and scientists, each of whom work to realise a safer, more sustainable digitalized quarrying environment

Onsite catches up with Rob to find out more about the technological advancements and product trials of the last 12 months that are being brought to fruition by his innovative team.

Passion for progress

"I'm really enjoying the developmental opportunity to support EPC Metrics," Rob says. "Our EPC-UK sister company continues to successfully provide a range of services to customers including consultancy work, equipment supply and calibration and fixed-wing drone surveys. However, the team's passion for progress never slows pace and we are now developing a full-service survey package to add to our list of capabilities.By using drones to fly through a quarry and capture data as they go, then processing the images gathered, we can produce a fully georeferenced 3D model of a site.The model is then available for customers to view and analyse online. This gives customers the ability to perform standard measurement activities, such as stockpile measurement, safely and more effectively."

Sensor solutions

"We're also investigating the potential to add additional sensors to the drones within our fleet," Rob continues, "including Lidar (light detection and ranging) surveys, which can enable drone captured data to generate models of a ground surface, even when that surface is covered in vegetation or trees."

"There's also a trial currently underway of a new, UK-designed and manufactured, blasting seismograph, which has been based on MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) accelerometers. This is a promising development, as the use of accelerometers gives numerous advantages over more typically used, geophones. Accelerometers do not have moving parts, so are more robust, and can be used in any orientation. This makes them suitable for fixing to vertical surfaces, and they can even be completely inverted and attached to a ceiling. Importantly, the new equipment we're trialling is fully compliant with the International Society of Explosives Engineers specification for blasting seismographs, and usefully, can store one thousand full waveform recordings. The entire unit is housed within a robust aluminium body and is supported with an app that we use on our phones, and a desktop interface and software package for our data storage, analysis, and printing."

"It's been a very productive year that's seen more exciting development of the EPC Metrics' value-added, technically advanced solutions to support EPC-UK's established drilling & blasting expertise. I hope that in coming months, as state-of-the-art techniques and technologies continue to progress, our analytical and engineering services will only improve further, allowing us to provide customers with the information, tools and support they need to optimise performance, meet planning requirements, and improve operations."

Find out more

For further information about EPC Metrics, visit the webpage ,
or contact Commercial Manager, Ryan Ward .