Dealing With Surfaces in Dealing With Surfaces in MineSightMineSight

©2012 Dr. B. C. Paul©2012 Dr. B. C. PaulNote – This presentation contains many screenshots from the program Note – This presentation contains many screenshots from the program

MineSight by Mintec. Credit is given to Mintec for the program. Additionally MineSight by Mintec. Credit is given to Mintec for the program. Additionally topics covered in these slides are also covered in various training classes topics covered in these slides are also covered in various training classes

taught by Mintec. While these slides are not intended to directly copy these taught by Mintec. While these slides are not intended to directly copy these classes there is an overlap of subject material.classes there is an overlap of subject material.

One Operation Likely Needed in One Operation Likely Needed in a Mine Designa Mine Design• You will need to bring in topographic map You will need to bring in topographic map

informationinformation• One of the more common file exchange One of the more common file exchange

formats for contour data is dxfformats for contour data is dxf• Often possible to get contour data off the internet Often possible to get contour data off the internet

in the form of a dxf file.in the form of a dxf file.• Place the dxf file in your project directoryPlace the dxf file in your project directory

• You already know how to create a geometry You already know how to create a geometry object and put it in edit mode to receive dataobject and put it in edit mode to receive data

Set Up to Import DXF FileSet Up to Import DXF File

Highlight theMain folder

Click File

Choose Import

Pick DXF fromThe side menu

Choose the DXF File to ImportChoose the DXF File to Import

This is a toughChoice sinceThere is onlyone

Tell it to Load All the Selected Tell it to Load All the Selected LayersLayers

Oh Cool – Look What Appeared Oh Cool – Look What Appeared in My Viewer Window!!!in My Viewer Window!!!

Problems commonly encountered Problems commonly encountered on Imported DXFon Imported DXF• Many styles define shapes with a tightly Many styles define shapes with a tightly

spaced series of pointsspaced series of points• (rather than with wider spaced points and line (rather than with wider spaced points and line

directions)directions)• This can result in contour files with so much point This can result in contour files with so much point

data that they swamp the system and cause data that they swamp the system and cause crashes.crashes.

• Sloppy contour sources may define all Sloppy contour sources may define all contour lines to be a 0 elevation regardless of contour lines to be a 0 elevation regardless of what elevation they representwhat elevation they represent• This is a result of sloppy file preparationThis is a result of sloppy file preparation• But when you get someone else’s files heaven But when you get someone else’s files heaven

alone knows what you will getalone knows what you will get

What Do You Do With Contour What Do You Do With Contour Lines that have no Elevation?Lines that have no Elevation?

True ConfessionsTrue Confessions

• Other people’s sloppy work is a pain in Other people’s sloppy work is a pain in the _ _ _ _the _ _ _ _

• You end up having to take the contour You end up having to take the contour lines one at a time a moving them to the lines one at a time a moving them to the proper elevationproper elevation• This can be even more fun because you This can be even more fun because you

have to find out what the elevation is have to find out what the elevation is suppose to be by looking for the label on suppose to be by looking for the label on each contour line.each contour line.

Activate the Point Editor under Activate the Point Editor under UtilitiesUtilities

Now Go to the Selection Menu to Now Go to the Selection Menu to Make a New SelectionMake a New Selection

Note that the PointEditor is stillGrayed out and notactive

I Picked the 1700 Meter LineI Picked the 1700 Meter Line

Note it hasTurned orange

I Right Click to Complete My I Right Click to Complete My SelectionSelection

Note the lineHas now turnedred

Now I Go to Element and Select Now I Go to Element and Select MoveMove

Tell it To Move the Entire Tell it To Move the Entire ElementElement

Reclick on the Line to Confirm Reclick on the Line to Confirm Your ChoiceYour Choice

Note the line hasTurned yellowAnd the pointEditor is nowActive.

Check Off and Change the Z Check Off and Change the Z CoordinateCoordinate

Click on Apply

Save Your ChangeSave Your Change

Your Done with That LineYour Done with That LineNow you canMove on to theNext.

Now for the too dense contourNow for the too dense contourAfter selecting the contour line the commonIs Polyline Thin

3 D Modeling and Surfaces3 D Modeling and Surfaces

• I can use my topography to build a 3 D model for my I can use my topography to build a 3 D model for my surfacesurface• It’s a nice visualizationIt’s a nice visualization• I will also use it as a basis later when I build my block I will also use it as a basis later when I build my block

model or design my optimum final pit.model or design my optimum final pit.• I start by telling computer what to use to make the I start by telling computer what to use to make the

surface (my topography obviously)surface (my topography obviously)• I’ll tell the computer to lay out points on the topo and I’ll tell the computer to lay out points on the topo and

then triangulate a wire frame from themthen triangulate a wire frame from them• I’ll convert the wireframe into solid surfaceI’ll convert the wireframe into solid surface

Now Select The Topo to Create A Now Select The Topo to Create A SurfaceSurface

Highlight Topo(the file the importedData went into)

Right Click to Bring upMenu

Choose Select

On the side menuChoose all elements(not they are in red now)

Go to SurfaceGo to Surface

Note I willSend myResults totopography

Under Surface – Pick Triangulate Surface – on side menu pick with selection

It Creates a Wire-Frame It Creates a Wire-Frame SurfaceSurface

We Can Make A Regular SurfaceWe Can Make A Regular Surface (Here is How!) (Here is How!)

Right Click TopographyTo pull up a menu

Pick Properties

Switch to a surface instead of Switch to a surface instead of wire-framewire-frame

Note wire-frame onlyIs highlighted in theRadio button

Highlight the facesOnly button instead

Now I See A Triangulated Now I See A Triangulated Surface InsteadSurface Instead

Lets Consider some Clean UpLets Consider some Clean Up

• I probably don’t need to see the topo I probably don’t need to see the topo lines anymorelines anymore• Lets Turn them offLets Turn them off

• Lets Smooth out those triangulated Lets Smooth out those triangulated faces a bit.faces a bit.

The Topo Lines are in the The Topo Lines are in the Topo FileTopo File

Click on theSave Edit Button

(It is a veryStrange lookingSave buttonCompared toWindows)

Now Highlight Topo and Right Click It Now Highlight Topo and Right Click It to Bring up a Menu – Pick Closeto Bring up a Menu – Pick Close

Note that this is a good reason for keeping objects is separate files so they canBe turned off and on with ease.

Woopy – Now They Are GoneWoopy – Now They Are Gone

Now Lets Smooth That Now Lets Smooth That SurfaceSurface

Select theTopography object

Right Click it for aMenu

Select Properties

Note on theProperties menu thereIs a surface tab

Note the Smooth Shading Option Note the Smooth Shading Option on the Surfaces Tab Screenon the Surfaces Tab Screen

Go ahead and check for smooth surfaces and then click Ok

Now Isn’t That Smooth Surface Now Isn’t That Smooth Surface Impressive?Impressive?

Ok – I Agree – Blue is a Strange Ok – I Agree – Blue is a Strange Color for MountainsColor for Mountains

HighlightTopography

Right Click forA menu

Choose Properties

Go Back to Surface

Note We Have A Color Control Note We Have A Color Control Area and PalletArea and Pallet

This Color Pallet Works Like This Color Pallet Works Like What You Are Familiar WithWhat You Are Familiar With

I think I will go for a brown

And Now I Have My Surface in And Now I Have My Surface in My Choice of ColorsMy Choice of Colors

If I Hate My Viewer Background If I Hate My Viewer Background Color I Can Change That TooColor I Can Change That Too

Click on the Viewer PropertiesIcon to Open the ViewerProperties Dialog Box.

Note There Is a Background Note There Is a Background Color and a Choice PalletColor and a Choice Pallet

Pick the New Color and Pick the New Color and DarknessDarkness

Click on Ok

Now There’s A Background Color Now There’s A Background Color You Don’t See Every Day!You Don’t See Every Day!

Now For Your Skills!Now For Your Skills!

• Assignment #2Assignment #2• Get the starter MineSight File and DXF fileGet the starter MineSight File and DXF file• Copy the DXF file into your MineSight Copy the DXF file into your MineSight

projectproject• Create a geometry object called topolinesCreate a geometry object called topolines• Import the DXF file into your topolines Import the DXF file into your topolines

object.object.• Turn on Topolines and take a screen shotTurn on Topolines and take a screen shot

More of Assignment #2More of Assignment #2

• Create a geometry object called ToposurfaceCreate a geometry object called Toposurface• Use Surface Triangulate to triangulate your Use Surface Triangulate to triangulate your

topolines into Toposurface.topolines into Toposurface.• Take a screen shot of your wireframe topo surfaceTake a screen shot of your wireframe topo surface

• Choose a good surface color and a good Choose a good surface color and a good background colorbackground color• Express the toposurface as a solid surface in the Express the toposurface as a solid surface in the

color of your choosingcolor of your choosing• Reset the background color on the viewerReset the background color on the viewer• Take a screenshot.Take a screenshot.