Nearly 1,500 people from around the world met Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2017, in Orlando, Fla., for the 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.
The event, sponsored by the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), is the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering. It features five days of workshops, technical sessions and entertainment.
This year’s conference featured a silent auction that raised more than $9,800 for the SEE Education Foundation. Big-ticket items included a one-of-a-kind, handmade quilt; a lifetime membership to ISEE; and a Palm Island Resort getaway vacation.
The money raised through the auction will go to the Education Foundation ISEE Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to college students from across the globe who are pursuing a career in the blasting industry.
Awards Banquet
The annual awards banquet, on Tuesday, honored people who made outstanding contributions to the explosives engineering industry.
Dale Preece, Ph.D., Orica Mining Services, was honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Throughout his career, Preece has authored 135 technical papers and journal articles. He has also contributed to several books including the ISEE’s 18th edition Blasters’ Handbook. He has been invited to present a number of keynote addresses at conferences over the years.
Finn Ouchterlony, Ph.D., Montanuniversity Leoben in Austria, was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award. With more than 40 years in the explosives industry, Ouchterlony has co-authored several project papers that included “Downhole Abrasive Jet Cutting Operations in Quarrying, Mining and Civil Engineering” and “Less Fines Production in the Aggregate and Industrial Minerals Industry.”
Ouchterlony is a member of the FRAGBLAST International Organizing Committee. He discovered the Swedish Blasting Research Centre distribution during the Less Fines Project, which led to his receiving the Douglas Hay award in 2005. Ouchterlony has been a member of ISEE since 1991.
R. Thomas Watts was this year’s Industry Service Award winner. Watts has always had an exceptional ability to interact with people at all levels in an organization. This helped lead to his success in selling and to motivate and grow employees in his organization.
Watts has been a member of ISEE since 1982; a recipient of the ISEE President’s Award for Outstanding Services in 1989; a member of the ISEE Nominating Committee in 1991; and was an author of the ISEE Blasters’ Handbook’s chapter on bulk explosives equipment. He has published articles in the Journal of Explosives Engineering and has always been dedicated to the SEE Education Foundation scholarship program and very involved with ISEE chapters.
The ISEE President’s Award, which is given to those who have unselfishly given their time and talents to the society, was awarded to Travis Davidsavor, Barr Engineering Company; and Walt Partridge.
James Peterson was awarded the ISEE Driller’s Leadership Award. And David Creek, Buckley Powder Co., was honored with the Blaster’s Leadership Award.
Author Eric Gerst was awarded the Paper of the Year Award for his paper titled “Optimized Drilling through Automation.”
Paper of the Year honorable mention was given to authors M. Ramezani, S. Nouranian, I. Bell, B. Sameti and S. Tafazoli for their paper titled “Fast Rock Segmentation Using Artificial Intelligence to Approach Human-Level Accuracy.”
Moving Forward
The next Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique will be Jan. 28 - 31, 2018, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
Good news if you haven't had a chance to submit your photos of a recent blast or jobsite to the 24th annual photo contest: The deadline has been extended to Friday, Dec. 30. Get your submission in before the deadline for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to the ISEE Bookstore.
The contest has categories for blasters and drillers at work; construction blasting; quarrying and mining; demolition blasting; and specialty blasting. All submissions will be judged on composition, content and quality.
The winner will be announced during our 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique held Jan. 29 – Feb. 1, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. Download an entry form today.
Get ready for the 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique by downloading the official mobile app to help you maximize your time at the event. Download the ISEE 2017 mobile app today to view the complete schedule and add your favorite exhibitors and sessions to the personalized planner for convenient on-the-go access before and during the conference. Be sure to check the app often. More information will be added soon.
App Features
- View the schedule
- Find exhibitors
- Build your planner
- Read speaker bios
- Get the latest event alerts
- Tweet and share with your friends and colleagues
Where to Download
We're now accepting video submissions for the Blasters R Us Video Round Up. Submit your 5 to 7 minute video today, and be part of the wildly popular showing during the Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.
To get started, download a submission form and submit it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Once your form has been processed, you will receive a link to upload your video. The round up will take place during the 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique held this year in Orland, Fla.
The deadline to submit your video is Monday, Jan. 9. Submit yours today.
Make your plans now to attend ISEE's 43rd Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique and register before November 30 to receive discounted early bird rates. As many as 1,600 blasters, manufacturers, government officials and suppliers gather from all over the world to gain new insights and to form new business alliances. Participation will be strong as the largest conference of its kind in the explosives industry comes together in Orlando. Register online today!
Room Reservations
Click here to book your sleeping room reservations online, or call the Caribe Royale Orlando at 1-888-258-7501 or (407) 238-8000. Please be sure to mention ISEE to receive the conference discount rate of $179 single/double. Your help is needed in keeping meeting costs down by reserving your sleeping rooms at the Caribe Royale Orlando. Please watch out for housing poachers.
Transportation
You will receive a discount off the lowest applicable published airfare when you make airline reservations with United Airlines. Book online at www.united.com and enter the promotions code ZX62936208.
Mears Transportation provides shared ride shuttle service from the Orlando International Airport to the Caribe Royale Orlando for the discounted rate of $33 round trip. Click here for the coupon. You can book online! To receive your online discount, please go to the Mears website, click on the “Book Orlando Shuttle Now” box then enter the code 529100539 in the promo code box provided in the lower left corner.