This article presents modelling considerations and simulation results for a dust lifting process in a three-dimensional domain. The Eulerian-Lagrangian modelling technique is used. Multiple simulations with different values for the number of particles were performed. The results of the simulations are shown as snapshots of particle position at certain points in time after the passage of a shock wave. Statistical data for the particle positions and collisions are presented. These are: the average height of the particles, the mean square displacement of the particles and the cumulative number of recorded collisions plotted as functions of time. The particle averaged kinetic energy and the mechanical energy lost by particles during collisions are recorded as functions of time in order to study the motion of particles. The results show that simulations of an increasing number of particles render a less intense lifting effect and, more importantly, that the inter-particle and particle-wall collisions represent essential phenomena and need to be included in this type of model. Also, a comparison between two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulations was performed. It was found that, although 2D simulations are still useful, they overestimate the lifting process and therefore a 3D model is preferable. The influence of the magnitude of the restitution and friction coefficients on the process was also studied. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.