Blasting is the first step from rock to product, the material is broken into pieces of handleable size. Rock quality has a high influence on the blasting result. Rock quality is highly variable and can change drastically inside one bore hole. High quality rock can be blasted more easily, failure planes and soft rock layers can absorb a lot of explosive energy. Rock quality is currently assessed using measuring while drilling (MWD). Additionally the inside of a bore hole can be evaluated visually using a bore hole camera. The position and thickness of layers and failure planes is can be measured from a bore hole camera video. This knowledge allows the blast design to be adapted and can help save explosives and lead to better fragmentation.

Currently to the filming of a bore hole is done in a second step after drilling. In order to save time, drilling and filming should be done as one step. To evaluate this possibility a prototype with visual and positional sensors was constructed. It is intended for down the hole drill rigs and mounted behind the cutter head. Visual data is collected during the drilling process and transmitted out after the cutter head is retracted. The prototype has been tested in a laboratory setting and its performance is evaluated. Recommendations for further improvements and an outlook are given.