Dr. Douglas Anderson
Founder & Chief Innovator
Dr. Douglas Anderson founded BlastWorks in 2013, leveraging over 40 years of consulting experience in mining, tunneling, and demolition industries. With a PhD in Geophysics, he pioneered the signature hole method and developed the wavelet transform technology, both of which have significantly advanced blast vibration control and structural monitoring solutions.
Heritage
Our story begins with hands-on consulting in mining, tunneling, quarrying, excavation, and demolition that stretches back to 1980. Those early projects shaped a practical view of blast vibration, strain monitoring, and structural response. In 1985 we developed the signature hole, or seed wave, method for controlling blast vibrations, which still guides practice today. This history means every tool we create reflects real field conditions, clear physics, and the need for defensible data when safety and compliance are on the line.
Breakthroughs
BlastWorks grew from a specific discovery, that continuous wavelet transforms could reveal true firing times in complex blasts. Turning that insight into SnapShock required blending geophysical research with practical blasting know-how. The same approach led to SpyBeam, a patented strain gauge array, and TensorGage for full strain tensor measurement. Each innovation starts with a challenging field problem, then moves through careful modeling, software development, and validation until the result is robust enough for licensing, engineering decisions, and rigorous audits.
Philosophy
We focus on simple, reliable answers to problems many engineers consider complicated. Whether it involves detecting sub-visible beam damage, reconstructing detonator firing sequences, or timing a signature hole, our goal is clarity. Advanced mathematics sits inside the code, not in the way of the user. That philosophy supports long-term partnerships, because clients gain tools they can explain, defend, and trust. Explore our work, and consider where a focused, evidence-driven collaborator can strengthen your monitoring strategy.