kirra-docs

Pattern Generation

Kirra lays out a new blast from your burden, spacing and bench geometry with four pattern tools on the Holes toolbar. This page helps you choose one and covers what they share. Each tool has its own guide with every field and default.

Choosing a Pattern Method

Method	Best for	Tool
Rectangular grid	Standard bench blasting with uniform rows	Add Pattern
Polygon	Irregular blast boundaries, pit edges, curved benches	Pattern in Polygon
Straight line	Single-row presplit, buffer, trim or production rows	Holes Along Line
Polyline	Rows that follow a crest, toe or design line	Holes Along Polyline

For a few holes by hand, use Add Hole. To add a hole to an existing row, use Insert Holes.

Pattern layouts

Rectangular grid — rows one burden apart, holes one spacing apart along each row:

Rows (Burden direction)
 |
 v
 *  *  *  *  *   <-- Row 1
 *  *  *  *  *   <-- Row 2
 *  *  *  *  *   <-- Row 3
    --> Spacing

Straight line — the number of holes follows from the line length and the spacing:

Start --> *  *  *  *  *  *  * <-- End
          |<-- Spacing -->|

Polyline — the spacing is measured along the line, round each bend:

        *--*--*
       /       \
      *         *--*--*
     /               \
    *                 *

Polygon — a straight grid trimmed to the polygon (Straight Rows), or rows that follow a reference line stepped out by the burden (Along Polyline). See Pattern in Polygon.

Collar and Grade Elevation

Every pattern dialog sets elevations the same way:

Field	Description
Collar Elevation (m) (or Start Z in Add Pattern)	Collar Z for every hole
Use Grade Z ticked	Enter Grade Elevation (m) — each hole runs from the collar to that floor, plus subdrill
Use Grade Z unticked	Enter Length (m) instead

To drape collars onto a terrain surface after generating, use Assign Surface (Collar) on the Modify toolbar.

Hole Naming

Numerical Names ticked numbers the holes (1, 2, 3 …). Unticked, they take row-letter names — the letter is the row and the number the position (A1, A2 … B1, B2 …).
Pattern in Polygon, Holes Along Line and Holes Along Polyline have a Starting Hole ID: a number (500) or an alphanumeric seed (A1). New holes continue past any higher ID of the same series already in the blast.
Add Pattern has no Starting Hole ID. Its numbers continue from the highest numeric hole ID already loaded. See Add Pattern.

To change the names afterwards, use Renumber Holes or Reorder Rows.

Templates

Every pattern dialog, and the Add Hole dialog, has a Template list at the top. Picking a template fills the form from a saved pattern template — burden, spacing, hole settings, text setup and charging.

Duplicate Detection

Naming a blast the same as an existing one adds the new holes to it, and Kirra checks them for holes on top of each other. If a new hole would land on an existing hole in the same blast, a warning lets you Ignore (place anyway), Skip (leave that hole out), Skip All or Cancel. See Editing Holes → Hole coincidence.

To check a new pattern against another blast or a drawing, use Coincident Holes Check.

Modifying a Generated Pattern

After generation, holes behave like any manually placed hole. You can:

Move holes with the Move tool on the Modify toolbar
Bulk-edit properties by right-clicking a selection (the Edit Hole dialog)
Add holes with Add Hole or Insert Holes, or delete them
Renumber with Renumber Holes, or re-row with Reorder Rows

See Editing Holes.

Pattern Statistics

After pattern creation, the Data Explorer shows a summary beside each blast — the hole count, total drilled length and blast volume, for example (330, 1900.0m, 13951.8m³).

Holes Toolbar — every button, with links
Pattern Templates — save and reuse pattern settings
Editing Holes — selection, movement and property editing
Timing Sequences — tie and time the blast after creating it