Modernising block model management

Co-authored by Silvia Misk, and Rachel Murtagh.

How BlockSync, Leapfrog Geo and Leapfrog Edge are centralising, automating, and modernising geological block models for data-driven resource estimation.

Resource estimation is a critical, multi-million-dollar process for mining projects, with block models serving as the main carrier for geoscience data to inform operational decisions. Maintaining and managing these models is critical yet challenged by manual processes, isolated files, version confusion, and a lack of collaboration.

The emergence of modern technology reshapes how mining teams approach block model management and unlocks new levels of efficiency, collaboration, and confident data-driven decision-making across the mining value chain.

The traditional challenges of block models

Many of us are familiar with the traditional woes of block models; file format and block geometry compatibility issues, large file sizes, version control headaches, and barriers to sharing and collaboration. Ensuring that everyone is working from the same source of truth is difficult and as a result, errors still occur and mistakes are made.

Disconnected software solutions often break block models into subsets and then rely on a set of tools and scripts in the hands of few skilled users to manually reaggregate data for a site-wide view. The full model is often too large to process efficiently on a single machine, and workflows became increasingly fragmented.

One source of truth for every block model

BlockSync, developed by Seequent and built on the Seequent Evo platform, directly addresses these longstanding pain points. As a cloud-native, open, and auditable system of record for block model data, BlockSync centralises models from any source—both Seequent and non-Seequent formats—into a single, secure location. Every change and version are tracked, supporting transparent and robust audit trails and facilitate true collaboration.

With cloud-based version control, users always access the latest approved model, while being able to compare and roll back to previous iterations as needed. All model definitions, including metadata and parameters, are stored for seamless integration with downstream tools and workflows. Reporting is instant, comparisons are straightforward, and all updates are logged for future reference.

Seamless integration with Leapfrog Geo and Edge

BlockSync is tightly integrated with the Leapfrog software suite, enabling any block model to be easily visualised in 3D and queried in Leapfrog’s powerful interactive scene. The dynamic UI ensures that the latest version is always displayed, while all previous versions remain trackable.

BlockSync improves performance with large models by recalculating only the affected area (e.g., a single domain) instead of re-running the entire model. This directly addresses one of the most significant user pain points—slow recalculations when using combined estimators.

Block model management often depends on standard operating procedures (SOPs), which rely heavily on user training and compliance to be effective. BlockSync simplifies this by offering a flexible centralised solution that maintains data quality and reporting confidence, and ensure that resource estimates and mine plans are always based on the latest, vetted data.

Block model in Leapfrog Geo

Open data for smarter workflows

To unlock the full potential of advanced analytics and AI, BlockSync’s open architecture supports access via APIs, allowing teams to automate ‘reading-from’ and ‘writing-to’ models—whether full models or subsets—embedding version management into scripted workflows. This flexibility enables tailored solutions, such as automating short-term model updates or integrating with existing dashboards and analytics platforms.

Teams gain the flexibility to shape workflows to their unique needs, whether that’s instant reporting, daily grade control updates, or collaborative model validation. Automation reduces reliance on error-prone manual processes and accelerates the feedback loop between exploration, estimation, and operations.

Raising data confidence and reducing risk

A key benefit of centralising and automating block model management is the reduction of operational risk. By storing every version, change, and annotation in a secure cloud environment, BlockSync provides full transparency and confidence in reporting. Regulatory compliance, auditability, and data quality are maintained, while the system transcends individual user preferences and non-standard practices. Data integrity is no longer dependent solely on SOPs and training, but on robust, reliable technology and transparent workflows.

This approach strengthens trust in the data that underpins multi-million-dollar decisions. The result is faster, smarter, and more confident planning, ensuring both near-term efficiency and long-term value creation.

A future-proof workflow

Block models are here to stay. They remain the common currency for summarising and understanding spatial ore-body properties and knowledge.

The evolution of block model management—from isolated, manual workflows to centralised, automated, and collaborative systems—marks an exciting time for the mining industry. By centralising data, enabling open and flexible workflows, and supporting seamless collaboration, this streamlined connected integrated workflow meets the industry’s growing need for scalability, transparency, and a data-driven future.

The future of subsurface intelligence is here