ABSTRACT
The scaled-distance model for blast vibration analysis
is the standard method employed throughout the sur-
face mining and quarrying industries to model Peak
Particle Velocity (PPV) data. Although empirical,
the method is widely accepted and through the sim-
plicity of its application and ease of graphical veri-
fication is set to remain a popular option with both
blasters and regulators. It is well known that for the
model to remain efficient, adherence to best opera-
tional practice is essential to limit the adverse effects
of data scatter or ‘error’. The traditional regression
approach assumes that all measurements are inde-
pendent and some inaccuracy might occur if this were
found not to be the case. It would mean that predic-
tions of Peak Particle Velocity vibration levels would
be overconfident and potentially biased since several
measurements are observed from a single blast and
the assumption of independence cannot be made.
