About Kirra
What is Kirra?
Kirra is a web-based blasting pattern design application built for the mining, quarrying, and construction industries. It runs in your browser — no installation required — and provides a complete workflow from importing drill data through to exporting production-ready blast packages.
Kirra combines a 2D canvas editor with a Three.js-powered 3D visualisation engine, supporting 20+ industry file formats, GPU-accelerated blast analytics, surface management with boolean operations, and comprehensive charge design tools.
Developer
Brent Buffham
Blast Engineer & Software Developer
Brent has worked across surface mining operations in Australia and brings field experience in drill-and-blast design, initiation systems, and vibration management to the development of Kirra.
Products
Kirra Design
The core blast design application, covering:
- 2D/3D pattern design with combined canvas and Three.js rendering
- 20+ import/export formats including CSV, DXF, Surpac DTM/STR, GLTF/GLB, IREDES XML, KML, Shapefile, LAS, and more
- Surface management with gradient colouring, boolean operations, mesh editing, contour generation, and textured OBJ support
- Charging system with typed decks, formula-driven positioning, and mass-based calculations
- Blast analytics with 10 GPU/CPU shader models (PPV, Heelan, Blair Heavy, Damage, Pressure, Powder Factor, and more)
- Flyrock modelling with Richards & Moore, Lundborg, and McKenzie algorithms and 3D shroud visualisation
- Print system with vector PDF, raster PDF, and custom XLSX templates
- DXF batch upload for importing multiple DXF files simultaneously
- Dockview panels for resizable, dockable workspace layout
- Pattern Templates for reusable pattern configurations across projects
- Orbit Focus tool for targeted 3D inspection around any clicked point
- Internationalisation with English, Chinese, French, Mongolian, Russian, and Spanish language support
- Dark/Light themes with customisable colour schemes
For access, visit kirra-design.com.
Kirra Scheduler
A companion tool for planning and sequencing blast events across a mine site or project, featuring:
- Gantt chart scheduling across four phases (Pattern Preparation, Drilling, Loading, Blasting) with drag, resize, multi-select, and reorder
- Equipment management for drill rigs, MPUs, ancillary fleet, and personnel with CSV import/export
- Dependency engine linking phases with configurable lead times, drill percentage thresholds, predecessor constraints, and auto-schedule
- Pattern library with drag-and-drop assignment to blasts and multi-pattern support
- Drill blocks for splitting drilling into independently-scheduled segments with per-block rig assignment
- Blast calendar with layer toggles and iCal/CSV calendar export
- Explosive forecast with weekly demand projection and charge source tracking
- Conformance tracking with planned vs actual volumes and CSV actuals import
- 3D playback of the scheduled blast sequence with loop playback, surface colour options, and orthographic camera
- Delay palette for drag-and-drop schedule interruption management
- Plan cycle colours for visual period banding on the Gantt timeline
- Import/Export of Kirra projects (KAP/KGP), DXF, CSV, iCal, and equipment/pattern libraries
- Dark/Light/Colourblind theming
Kirra Scheduler is publicly available: github.com/brentbuffham/KirraScheduler
Licence
Kirra Design — Kirra Licence v1.0
Kirra Design is distributed under the Kirra Licence v1.0 (2026). Key terms:
Free for:
- Individual blast engineers, shot firers, surveyors, geologists, and other professionals using Kirra for their own work
- Mining, quarrying, civil construction, and demolition companies using Kirra internally for blasting operations (including contractors and consultants)
- Researchers and academic institutions using Kirra for non-commercial research, education, or publication
Requires written permission:
- Incorporating Kirra into any commercial software product or service
- Redistributing the source code as part of another software package
- Hosting Kirra as a paid or subscription-based service (SaaS)
You must always:
- Keep the licence and copyright notice intact
- Credit Brent Buffham and blastingapps.com / kirra-design.com
- Not misrepresent the origin of the software
Full licence text is included with the application. For commercial licensing enquiries, contact blastingapps.com.
Kirra Scheduler
Kirra Scheduler is released under its own public licence. See the Kirra Scheduler repository for details.
Disclaimer
Blast design software is a decision support tool. All blast designs produced with Kirra must be reviewed and approved by a qualified and licenced shotfirer or blast engineer in accordance with the applicable regulations, standards, and site-specific safety management plans. The developer accepts no liability for outcomes resulting from blast designs produced using this software.
Blasting is inherently dangerous — always apply professional judgement and comply with all applicable regulations and standards.