PREDICTION RESULTS AND VALIDATION OF LONG RANGE NOISE PROPAGATION FROM BLAST EVENTS

The UNAPS Long Range Noise Prediction model, developed by the US military, has been selected to obtain sufficiently accurate predictions of the resultant peak overpressure levels of loud blast events at large distances from the blast site – within approximately 5dB up to 100km from the blast site. The outputs from the model have been compared against the extensive noise monitoring of blasting carried out in 2001 and 2002. The model has been modified to specifically suit an Australian site and its requirements. Additional noise monitoring has also been carried out in 2004 to collect the base data in order to add a commonly tested blast source type into the model.