Getting Started
Everything you need to know to become productive in BlastCAD from your first session.
First Login
- Navigate to blastcad.com in Chrome, Brave, or Edge.
- Enter your credentials. If your administrator has enabled 2FA, enter the 6-digit TOTP code from your authenticator app.
- The 3D workspace loads immediately — no installation required.
BlastCAD uses JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication with a 24-hour session. The AuthGuard system detects expiration in the background and locks the interface safely before any data loss can occur. See Security & Sessions for details.
Creating Your First Project
BlastCAD stores all project data in memory during a session. Projects are saved as .bcp (BlastCAD Project) files — a ZIP archive containing JSON metadata and CSV data tables.
Starting fresh:
- Click New in the top bar (or press Ctrl + N).
- All existing layers, holes, and CAD entities are cleared.
Opening an existing project:
- Click Open (or press Ctrl + O) and select a
.bcpfile. - BlastCAD also supports Live Sync — keeping a
.bcpfile open in the background and automatically merging external updates via the PWA File Handle API.
Saving:
- Press Ctrl + S or click Save in the top bar.
- BlastCAD also maintains an auto-recovery snapshot in the browser’s IndexedDB. If the app closes unexpectedly, you will be prompted to recover your last session on next launch.
Importing Data
Most engineering workflows start with importing existing survey data. Open the Import Center from the top bar (Ctrl + I):
| Format | Extension(s) | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| BlastCAD Project | .bcp | Restore or merge a previous BlastCAD project |
| Surpac DTM + STR pair | .dtm + .str | Import drive, stope, or topographic surfaces |
| Surpac String | .str | Drive boundaries, stope outlines, polyline geometry |
| AutoCAD DXF | .dxf | 2D/3D geometry from survey or design software |
| CSV Drill Data | .csv | Drill hole collars, surveys, or toe coordinates with custom column mapping |
| Deswik CSV | .csv | Drill pattern from Deswik Suite |
| IREDES XML | .xml | Blast design from drill rig control systems |
| LandXML | .xml | Survey surfaces and alignment polylines |
| Datamine Block Model | .dm, .mdl, .csv | Grade/lithology models for geological context |
| LAS Point Cloud | .las | Lidar or scanner point clouds (LAS 1.0–1.4) |
| XYZ Point Cloud | .xyz, .xyzi | ASCII point clouds |
| ASCII Grid DEM | .asc | Elevation raster → DTM surface |
| GeoTIFF DEM | .tif | GeoTIFF elevation raster → DTM surface |
See Data Exchange for the full format reference, column mapping guide, and coordinate transformation details.
Workspace Overview
The BlastCAD interface is divided into four main areas:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TOP BAR │ ← File ops, Import/Export, Stats, DB
├──────────┬──────────────────────────────┬───────────┤
│ │ │ │
│ EXPLORER │ 3D CANVAS + TOOLBAR │ PROPERTIES│
│ PANEL │ │ PANEL │
│ │ │ │
├──────────┴──────────────────────────────┴───────────┤
│ COMMAND TERMINAL │ ← System log, CAD command input
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Top Bar — File operations, Import/Export centers, Statistics, Database Manager, User settings.
- Explorer Panel — Layer tree, drill hole hierarchy, DTM block browser.
- 3D Canvas — The main WebGL2 viewport. All CAD and blast design work happens here.
- Canvas Toolbar — Floating toolbar with drawing tools, view controls, and snap toggles.
- Properties Panel — Context-sensitive inspector showing properties of the selected hole or entity.
- Command Terminal — Displays system messages, import progress, and accepts CAD command input.
Detailed breakdown: Interface Overview.