SURFACES

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_______________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2005 Surpac Minex Group Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
This software and documentation is proprietary to Surpac Minex Group Pty Ltd.
Surpac Minex Group Pty Ltd publishes this documentation for the sole use of Surpac
licenses. Without written permission you may not sell, reproduce, store in a retrieval
system, or transmit any part of the documentation. For such permission, or to obtain extra
copies please contact your local Surpac Minex Group Office.

Surpac Minex Group Pty Ltd

Level 8 190 St Georges Terrace
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Telephone:
Fax:

(08) 94201383
(08) 94201350

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, we assume no
responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damage
resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
All brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of there respective
companies.
About This Manual
This manual has been designed to provide a practical guide to the many uses of the
software. The applications contained within this manual are by no means exhaustive as
the possible uses of the software are only limited by the users imagination. However, it
will give new users a starting point and existing users a good overview by demonstrating
how to use may of the functions in Surpac Vision. If you have any difficulties, or
questions whist working through this manual feel free to contact your local Surpac Minex
Group Office.

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SURFACES

FILES USED................................................................................................................................................. 4
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................................ 4
Nomenclature........................................................................................................................................ 6
DTM CONVENTIONS:............................................................................................................................... 7
Creating a Digital Terrain Model......................................................................................................... 8
Strings to act as break lines .................................................................................................................. 8
CREATE A DTM ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Graphical Creation............................................................................................................................... 9
File Based Creation ............................................................................................................................ 10
Common point check distance............................................................................................................. 11
VALIDATING SURFACES ................................................................................................................. 11
SECTIONING A DTM .............................................................................................................................. 12
CONTOUR EXTRACT ............................................................................................................................. 14
ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................................................................. 18
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.I)
5 II)
5 III)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

CREATE DTM FROM THE FILE TOPO1.STR ....................................................................................... 19

CREATE A DTM FROM THE STRING FILE PIT1.STR USING THE FILE BASED DTM CREATION USING THE
BREAKLINE TEST AND SPOT HEIGHTS............................................................................................... 20
CREATE A BOUNDARY STRING OF THE PIT TO BE USED IN VOLUME CALCULATIONS......................... 21
USE THE FUNCTION CUT AND FILL BETWEEN DTMS FROM THE VOLUMES MENU TO
CALCULATE THE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE VOLUME BETWEEN PIT1.DTM & TOPO1.DTM AND CREATE A
RESULTING VOLUME REPORT........................................................................................................... 23
CREATE A DTM OF THE FILE DHC2.STR WHICH IS A SURVEY OF DRILL HOLE COLLARS PRIOR TO
MINING AND WILL BE USED TO MODEL THE NATURAL SURFACE. ..................................................... 25
CREATE A DTM OF THE FILE PIT2.STR USING SPOT HEIGHTS AND USING THE BREAKLINE TEST ........ 26
USING THESE TWO FILES, CALCULATE A SURFACE TO SURFACE VOLUME ........................................ 27
APPLYING A BOUNDARY STRING TO TRIM A DTM............................................................................ 29
SECTION THE PIT BY ELEVATION, CREATING CONTOURS EVERY 10 METES OVER PIT1.DTM .............. 32
COLOUR A DTM BY ELEVATION ...................................................................................................... 33
DRAPING A STRING OVER A DTM ................................................................................................... 35
IMAGE DRAPE ................................................................................................................................. 36
CREATING A FLY THROUGH MOVIE ................................................................................................ 42
USE SOME OF THE TOOLS FROM THE ATTRIBUTES MENU FOR ENHANCING THE DISPLAY OF DTMS. 49
UPPER TRIANGLES OF 2 DTM'
S - THIS FUNCTION TAKES TWO DTM'
S AS INPUT AND CREATES A NEW
DTM, WHICH IS AN UPPER SURFACE COMBINATION OF THE TWO INPUT FILES................................. 50
LOWER TRIANGLES OF 2 DTM'
S ..................................................................................................... 51
CREATE SOLID BY INTERSECTING 2 DTM'
S .................................................................................... 52

REVIEW OF SURFACES......................................................................................................................... 54

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SURFACES
OBJECTIVES

To learn about Surpacs graphical file types (*.str & *.dtm).

To learn how to create surfaces (DTMs)
How to create, view and manipulate Digital Terrain Models
To perform surface-to-surface volume calculations.

FILES USED
Files used in this lab exercise are found in the following folder:
C:\ SURFACES\DATA

DISCUSSION
A digital terrain model is a surface joining adjacent strings. It is formed as a combination
of those string lines, and lines joining points on strings.

The joining continues until the surface consists only of non-overlapping triangles. The
software chooses the joins to produce the best-conditioned triangles - that is, those closest
to equilateral triangles.

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The resulting DTM can then be thought of as an undulating patchwork quilt made of
triangular patches.

Therefore a Digital Terrain Models (DTM) is how Surpac models surfaces. Surfaces are
used in Surpac for such things as 3D visualization & calculating volumes. Most any
superficial feature can be modelled as a DTM: natural topography, lithological contacts,
bedrock/overburden contact, or water table are such examples.
DTMs must come from String data. String files contain the raw data, where as DTM
files contain a mapping of trios of points in the String file that constitute a triangle.
DTMs are made of triangles, with each point of each triangle matched to a point in the
original String file.
Consequently DTM files are not valid without the original String files. That is, a DTM
file cannot be opened if the original String file of the same name does not exist.
Another rule as far as DTMs are concerned is that DTMs cannot fold back on
themselves. That is, a DTM cannot have multiple Z values for a given XY coordinate.
Therefore you cannot model overhanging or vertical surfaces.

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Once created, if the surfaces are to be used to further processing for volumes or more
high end functionality within the surface menu, then the object must be named object 1
trisolation 1. Consider this when creating the surface, as each surface must then be
placed in a separate file.

Nomenclature
The object you create are numbered by a system analogous to that of string and string
segment numbers.
string
object
segment
trisolation
point
triangle
When you define an object you explicitly assign it both an object number and a
trisolation number. That object is then always referred to by the object and trisolation
number originally assigned.
The object number may be any in the range of 1 to 32000.
The trisolation number may be any positive integer.

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DTM CONVENTIONS:
cannot model overhangs or vertical surfaces
one surface to a layer
spot heights v breaklines

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Creating a Digital Terrain Model

Strings to act as break lines
Once created, Breakline strings are those strings which represent physical features that
you can see in the real world e.g. crest of a pit, a fault in a geological model, a contour. If
a string file has been formed correctly, then no breakline strings will cross over other
breakline strings, unless the two strings cross at a common point as shown below.

Spot height strings contain random points, which when connected by a string line, do not
represent any physical feature ie. randomly surveyed points, borehole collars.
When modelling surfaces with DTM'
s, it is important that no triangles are formed across
any breakline strings. If however, the string data consist of spot heights only, then the
triangles will be formed in the most robust manner without taking into account the string
files between the points.

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CREATE A DTM
A digital terrain model can be created in two ways to best suit the data you wish to
model.
1.
Graphically
2.
File Based

Graphical Creation
Recall the file you wish to triangulate into graphics
Select SURFACES | CREATE DTM FROM LAYER

Selecting APPLY from this form will allow the creation of a surface.
Save the file by selecting FILE | SAVE| STRING/DTM or select the save icon
NOTE: The graphical creation of a surface will always enforce the breakline test. You
cannot specify spot heights and the file must always be saved after creation.

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File Based Creation

This function does not require a file to be recalled into graphics. You select the file
during the creation process.
Select SURFACES | DTM FILE FUNCTIONS | CREATE DTM FROM STRING FILE

Define the string file from which the DTM is to be formed. The resultant DTM file will
have the same Location Name and Id Number as the string file it was created from, but
have an extension of .dtm.

Are strings to be used as break lines, if so, check the box. The data may contain spot
heights as well as string data and if so, if you wish to treat these differently to string lines
you must also identify the range of spot height strings.

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Common point check distance

Points which are very close together in the string file from which the DTM is being
created may sometimes cause problems when creating a DTM where some strings are
being used as breaklines. If points are of the order of .005 or closer together this problem
may manifest itself.
A means of solving this problem is to ensure that points within a small distance of each
other have exactly the same X and Y co-ordinates. The common point check distance
provides a means of controlling the manner in which the co-ordinates of such points are
adjusted. Any points which are within the defined distance of each other are guaranteed
to be identical thus eliminating a number of problems before they can occur.
Note that it is not possible to make the common point check distance greater than 0.02 as
large values may have undesirable side-effects in the final DTM which is created.
If you wish to prevent the common point check distance from having any influence on
the resultant DTM, set to 0.0.

VALIDATING SURFACES

The function also validates each trisolation of the object. Validation consists of looking
for:
Duplicate triangles (i.e. identical triangles in the same trisolation)
Invalid trisolation edges (i.e. edges in a trisolation which have more than two
attached triangles). Note that the triangles attached to the invalid edges are
highlighted.
Self intersecting triangles (i.e. triangles in a trisolation that intersect other
triangles in the same trisolation).
If triangles satisfying any of the above are found these are highlighted on the screen in a
user chosen colour and the trisolation is evaluated as having been validated as false. If no
triangles satisfying the above are found then the trisolation is evaluated as having been
validated as true.
NOTE: a dtm can have open sided triangles and be valid as it is not a closed surface.

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SECTIONING A DTM
This function allows you to create horizontal, vertical or inclined slices through a surface
(or solid). The plane of intersection of the slices is defined by entering the Y, X, Z
coordinates at each end of a three dimensional axis line and by specifying the interval
along that axis at which slices are to be taken. The first slice is taken at the start of the
axis and then slices are taken at the specified intervals along the axis until the length of
the axis is exceeded.
Select SOLID TOOLS

CREATE SECTIONS

File: Pit1.DTM
The axis start is the co-ordinates for the starting point of the axis line. The first slice is
extracted at this starting point. The axis end requires the ending point of the axis line.
Slices are extracted PERPENDICULAR to this defined line by the start and end points.
Slices will not be extracted past the axis end point.

Axis Line

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Define the axis line, the co-ordinates shown above. Enter a new layer name to store the
sliced range and then name the files which will be created. The distance range is also
specified. The form definition below will create:

A layer named slice which contains all the sections

Individual files named slice10000 (10000 to 11000 in increments of 100)

There are two results produced by this function. The first is a range of string files which
contain the extracted sections in section coordinates. These files are saved to disk. The
second result is a file which contains the extracted sections in real world coordinates.
These sections are automatically displayed on the screen in a different layer. You may
then activate this layer and save this file to disk.

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The segments produced from the Slice Object function will have the same string number
as the object number from which they were extracted. The segments produced may be
open or closed segments. Closed objects will always produce closed segments when they
are sliced. Open objects may produce open or closed segments when sliced. Closed
objects are significant, because the slices generated from slicing a closed object can
automatically be used for further processing where closed segments are required.
One reason to slice a 3DM is to show one section at a time through a geological model
along with the drill holes for that section posted to it. Each of these sections is
represented by a single string file where the ID number of the string file created by the
slicing function represents the section Northing, Easting or Elevation.

CONTOUR EXTRACT
This function extracts contours from a DTM and then stores them in a string file for
viewing or plotting. The contours are created by interpolating line segments across all of
the triangles and then joining them into continuous strings. The contours will exactly
honour the original data from which the DTM was created.
These contours can then be used for plotting or volume calculations and polygon
intersections with other string files.
If contours are required for volumes, or polygon intersection they must be closed strings.
You must ensure that the original DTM is constructed to guarantee this will happen.
Usually this will involve adding an extra boundary string enclosing the string data in the
DTM but with a Z value just greater than the maximum Z value in the data (in the case of
a pit, for example) or just less than the minimum Z value in the data (in the case of a
stockpile, for example).
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Select CONTOURING | CONTOUR DTM FILE

Define the DTM to be contoured by entering its Location, ID number and the DTM field
to be contoured (e.g. Z, D1, D2 etc.).

Define the method that you wish to create the contours.

Interval: The contours to be extracted will be defined by entering an interval with a
minimum and maximum contour value.
Range: The contours to be extracted will be defined by entering a range. Unlike the
Interval method which guarantees that contours will be at integral intervals of the contour
interval, this method permits you to define the contour levels of interest precisely. It is
therefore possible to create contours at intervals of 2 but starting from a non-integral
interval of 2. e.g. 147.5, 149.5 etc.
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This method also permits you to extract contours at irregular intervals thus making it
possible to extract contours at values of particular interest.

Define the plot enhancement requirements

Create index contour file
If you intend to use the contours for plotting, you may wish to be able to plot the index
contours (or contours at some specific invterval) in a different colour to other contours.
For example, if contours were extracted at intervals of 2, then index contours would
probably be at intervals of 10, that is 10, 20, 30, etc.
These index contours may be saved to an Index contour string file thus making it easy to
plot the index contours using a different colour on a hardcopy map.
If you choose to create an index contour file, then the index contours will not be in the
contour string file at all, they will only appear in the index contour file.
Produce contour annotations
If you choose to create contour annotations then a string file will be created which
contains data suitable for use by the Plotting module for labelling the contour strings, at
the mid point of the each contour, with the contour values.
This string file will consist of pairs of points. Each pair of points will be aligned with a
small portion of the contour string, in the middle of the string, with the contour value in
the D1 field of the second point in each pair of points.

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String 1 in the annotation string file will contain all the annotation data for the
"NORMAL" contours while string 2 will contain the annotation data for the index
contours.

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ACTIVITIES
1. Create a dtm from the string file topo1.str using the graphical dtm creation
method.
2. Create a dtm from the string file pit1.str using the file based dtm creation using
the breakline test and spot heights
3. Create a boundary string of the pit to be used in volume calculations
4. Use the function CUT AND FILL BETWEEN DTMS from the VOLUMES
menu to calculate the surface-to-surface volume between pit1.dtm & topo1.dtm
and create a resulting volume report
5. Create a dtm of the file DHC2.str which is a survey of drillhole collars prior to
mining and will be used to model the natural surface.
ii)
Create a dtm of the file pit2.str using spot heights and using
the breakline test
iii)
Using these two files, calculate a surface to surface volume
6. Applying a boundary string to trim a DTM
7. Section the pit by elevation, creating contours every 10 metes over pit1.dtm
8. Colour a dtm by elevation

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PROCEDURE

1.

Create DTM from the file topo1.str

The Create DTM function allows you to create a digital terrain model from any string file
loaded in graphics. This creation method will no allow you to turn off the breakline test
or to include spot heights within your creation.
Therefore always consider any data issues that may arise when creating the dtm from the
string file.
-Are there any vertical or overhanging surfaces
-Do I require the breakline test during creation
-Are there any spot heights that must be considered
If any of these conditions are present within the data, these can cause problems when
creating a DTM.
To create a DTM file graphically
a)
b)

Load the file topo1.str into graphics

SELECT | SURFACES | CREATE DTM FROM LAYER

This function will create a DTM from the string file that is loaded into graphics and will
automatically apply the breakline test during creation.

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c)

Remember to save the file once created.

2.
Create a dtm from the string file pit1.str using the file based dtm
creation using the breakline test and spot heights
A surface can also be created file based, or not graphically by selecting a file and then
determining if spot heights or breakline tests are required.
a) Load the file pit1.str into graphics and display the string numbers (ps) to determine if
there are any spot height strings. This file does not contain spot height strings and so do
not need to be included within this form
Select SURFACES | DTM FILE FUNCTIONS | CREATE DTM FROM STRING FILE
Do not tick on Strings to act as break lines
Review how the triangles have formed
Do not save this DTM

Select SURFACES | DTM FILE FUNCTIONS | CREATE DTM FROM STRING FILE

This time tick on Strings to act as break lines

Review how the triangles have formed
Save this DTM

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The message window informs you of the processing as the DTM is created. The
LOG file is a small report containing information about your DTM.
The DTM file is saved automatically as '
PIT1.DTM'
.

It is important to know that for a DTM to be valid, both the DTM and the STR file
must exist. If points are added to or deleted from the string file after the DTM has
been created, the DTM is rendered invalid and must be recreated.
For volume calculations to be valid the Break Line Test must always be selected
during creation.

3.
Create a boundary string of the pit to be used in volume
calculations.

A boundary string file can be used for:

delineating cut and fill material for calculating volumes
finding the intersection of a fault plane with a surface
finding where a pit design breaks the natural surface.

a)
Recall the files pit1.dtm and topo1.dtm into graphics. Note that the pit extends
past the natural topography. To determine the volume of the pit, we need to know this
boundary where the topography cuts the pit design, otherwise our volume estimates will
be incorrect. We do this by creating a boundary string of the intersection between both
dtms.

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b)
Select SURFACES DTM FILE FUNCTIONS Line of intersection between
two DTMs. Once we have this line we can use it to constrain our volumes. Complete
the line as shown below.

Select both of the dtms which you wish to find the intersection and then define the
output file you wish to create.
c)

Once this has processed, a message will appear in the message window.

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d)
This process can also be completed graphically. Ensure that both the dtms are
loaded into graphics and then select SURFACES | CLIP OR INTERSECT DTMS | Line
of Intersection between two dtms and complete the form as shown below.

This outputs the same results, but the fields can be selected graphically.

4.
Use the function CUT AND FILL BETWEEN DTMS from the
VOLUMES menu to calculate the surface-to-surface volume between
pit1.dtm & topo1.dtm and create a resulting volume report

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One of the most common uses of DTM'

s is to calculate volumes. The DTM Volumes
function allows you to compute the volume between two DTM surfaces, contained
within a boundary string.
A DTM of Pit1 and Topo1 already exists, and we can use these files to calculate a
surface to surface volume.
a) From the menu Volumes, choose Cut and fill between DTMs.
b) Fill the subsequent form as follows:

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5.i) Create a dtm of the file DHC2.str which is a survey of drill

hole collars prior to mining and will be used to model the natural
surface.
a)

Clear graphics and recall the string file '

DHC2.STR'
.
This file is a survey of drill hole collars prior to mining and may be
used to model the natural surface. Notice that the file consists of one
spot height string.

b)

Choose Surfaces DTM File Functions | Create DTM from string file
and complete the following form.

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Note that when creating a DTM by the file based method we can turn off the
option '
Strings to act as break lines'
c)

The resulting is saved as '

DHC2.DTM'
.

5 ii) Create a dtm of the file pit2.str using spot heights and using
the breakline test
a)
Load the file pit2.str into graphics and display the string numbers (ps)
to determine if there are any spot height strings. The string 9999 are spot
heights and can be used during the creation of the dtm.
b) Select SURFACES | DTM FILE FUNCTIONS | CREATE DTM FROM
STRING FILE

c)

The resulting is saved as '

PIT2.DTM'
.

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5 iii) Using these two files, calculate a surface to surface

volume
a)

Choose Volumes -- Net volume between DTMs and enter the

parameters as shown below. String #2 of Pit2.str can be used as a
boundary string for the volume calculation.

b)

complete the form below, this is the output file name for the report.

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The results from the DTM volume calculations can be saved to a csv file and
optionally to a boundary string file. This string file contains details of the calculations
in the Description Fields. The results that are saved to the D fields and the order in
which they are saved are described below. These values can be found starting with the
D1 field.

slope area of first DTM

slope area of second DTM (only if 2 DTMs are used)
area of boundary segment
volume between 2 DTMs (or between the first DTM and datum plane z=0)
average thickness (volume/area of boundary segment)
total of first quality parameter (if it is used)
average value of the first quality parameter (only if it used)
total of the second quality parameter (only if it is used)
average value of the second quality parameter (only if it is used).

Next you will be prompted to save the modified files.

c)
Save modified DTM.
Because you use a boundary string to calculate DTM volumes, triangles which lie
outside the boundary string are deleted. Hence the prompt to save the modified DTM.
The first DTM is DHC2 and there is no point in saving this file, so simply Apply the
blank form.

Once again a prompt to save the modified DTM is presented, this is for the second
DTM PIT2.
d)

Apply the blank form as we do not need to save this file.

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The volume report results are in the file '

PIT2.NOT'
, which will be displayed on the
screen.

DTM creation is strongly influenced by data integrity. It is advisable before

creating DTM'
s to clean up the string data with the Edit -- layer -- Clean
functions. Cleaning duplicate points and cross-overs can identify many data
problems prior to DTM creation.

6.

Applying a boundary string to trim a DTM

This function applies a boundary string to trim a DTM. The boundary string can
consist of any number of closed segments and may contain clockwise and internal
anticlockwise segments, i.e. representing pillars or waste volumes. This function is
used to prepare a file for viewing solids modelling or contouring within a restricted
area.
a)

Recall the string file '

LEV1665. STR'
.
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Rotate the image within graphics to view the file.

This is a pick up of some underground workings.

b)
Select Inquire Segment properties (alias IDS) and select a number of points
on the string, note that the pillars are anti-clockwise and the drives are clockwise.
c)

Select Surfaces

Create DTM from layer and apply the confirmation form.

d)

Save the resultant DTM to a file '

LEV1665'
.

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Note that when the DTM was created, no distinction was made between clockwise or
anti-clockwise strings. The result is a rather untidy DTM which does not accurately
model the original survey data. By using the floor string as a boundary string, the anticlockwise segments will act as areas of exclusionThe DTM Clip function does exactly
this.
e)
f)

Select Surfaces

Clip or intersect DTMs

Clip DTM with string

Select a point on the string to perform the clipping operation. Save the
resultant data to DTM file LEV1665.DTM

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Note how the triangles outside the boundary strings have been clipped. This is one
way of beginning to create a 3D model of these underground workings.

7.
Section the pit by elevation, creating contours every 10
metes over pit1.dtm
a)
Recall the file pit1.dtm into graphics. We now wish to extract or create
contours by elevation every 10 metres over the pit.
b)
Plot a grid over the area to determine the minimum and maximum extents of
the pit. The elevation of this DTM goes from 45 to 245 metres.
c)

Select CONTOURING

CONTOUR DTM IN LAYER

determine if you wish to contour by interval or range and select a contour layer to
output the string file.

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d)
If you wish to save the sliced string file, change your active layer to slice
and then save the file.

8.

Colour a DTM by Elevation

a)

Recall the file PIT1.dtm into graphics

b)

Display colour contours with the Display

DTM with colour banding

Viewing the DTM by drawing shells is another method of displaying DTM'

s. rawing
shells and using false colouring of triangles is very similar to contouring your data.
You can nominate to draw shells by:

specifying the number of bands

setting the band width

c) Enter the parameters as shown below and choose Apply.

As you have nominated to display bands every 200 ppm, the image on screen
represents the following:

blue - 0 to 200ppm
green - 200 ppm to 400 ppm and so on

d) Choose Display -- DTM and enter the parameters as shown below.

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9.

Draping a String Over a DTM

Recall the file topo1.dtm into graphic

Recall the file dhcollar1.str into graphics
Note that the drillhole collars are at an elevation of 300m.
To determine the correct elevation of the drill hole, we will drape the drill hole
collars onto the topography to determine the point of intersection.

Select SURFACES | DRAPE STRING OVER A DTM

And select the string to drape over the dtm. Ensure that you uncheck the Interpolate
New Points.
Note: If you wished for new points to be interpolated between the existing points
where the string intersects the edge of a given triangle select Y

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10.

Image Drape

This function permits you to apply advanced rendering techniques to Digital Terrain
Models and Solid Models by draping an image stored in a GIF file over the model.
This technique is very useful when:

An aerial photograph has been scanned and saved in a GIF file and you wish
to drape it over a DTM of the surface to give a photo-realistic representation
of the land surface. This technique requires you to digitise a number of control
points, known as registration points in the image and in the DTM.
This technique requires some effort to produce reasonable results as matching
points in the image and the DTM must be selected with care otherwise the
image will not match the DTM very well. The co-ordinates of the control
points may be saved to a registration file (.rgf) to simplify future image
rendering.

You want to display solid models of orebodies with a texture appropriate for
rock type which it represents. In this case, you require a GIF file of a suitable
texture which is then '
tiled'over the model.

Display: EOM_PIT.DTM
Choose IMAGE | Drape an Image file over a DTM from the FILE menu to display
the prompt:

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Select the triangle of interest

Select a triangle on the trisolation to which the GIF file is to be applied to display the
DRAPE IMAGE OVER A DTM or TRISOLATION form.

The registration file stores the parameters used for registering a GIF file over a DTM
so that the image can be made to match the DTM precisely. In addition to the name of
the GIF file and the filter colour, the registration file records the image coordinates (X
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and Y pixel values) and the corresponding real world coordinates for each of the
registration points.
If you are using either of the tiling options then any file name which you might enter
into this field has no effect on the result.
A minimum of 3 registration points are required and a maximum of 100 can be used.
As more registration points are used, the image will develop a progressively better
match with the DTM.
Enter a name to create a new registration file.
If the registration file named does not exist then it is created and all the details are
saved to it after the registration points have been defined.
If the registration file already exists, the parameters are displayed on the form to
permit you to alter them to suit your requirements.
Registration files are commonly used to simplify the task of draping an image over a
DTM as defining registration points repeatedly for the same image/DTM can be quite
time consuming.
Image file
This is the GIF file which contains the image to be draped over the DTM.
Image draping method
The image can be draped over the trisolation using one of two different methods, with
each method having two variations. These methods are:
Registering the image.
This is where the image and the DTM over which it is to be draped are displayed side
by side, in different viewports, and matching pairs of points are selected, using the
mouse, to control the process of draping the image over the DTM.
This method is most suitable when the image is of an aerial photograph and the DTM
is the land form at the time the photograph was taken.
The two variations for this method are:
register with new points
This method will use whatever registration points are displayed in the registration
points scrolling region and will require more registration points to be defined. You
may find that this method will be used a number of times with an image and DTM to
progressively improve the match between the image and the DTM.
register with existing points
This method will only use the registration points displayed in the registration points
scrolling region. If fewer than 3 registration points are present in the scrolling region
when you press Apply, you will be required to define some more registration points.

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Tiling the image.

This is where the image is given dimensions, in the real world X and Y
directions, and the image is tiled over the selected trisolation in tiles of these
dimensions.

This method is useful for applying images of different material textures to make solid
models of orebodies, for example, appear more realistic. The best results will be
achieved with images which have no obvious pattern especially when tiling over solid
models as the image may be distorted considerably when folding underneath the solid
model.
tiling
This tiling method simply places the image in tiles of the specified size over the
trisolation.
mirror tiling
This tiling method creates a mirror image of every second tile, in both the X and Y
directions.
Define registration points by
When using registration points, you always use the mouse to select the registration
point locations in the image. To define the registration point coordinates in the DTM
however you may choose from:
graphics
The mouse is used to select the location of the registration point on the DTM. Use this
method when only approximate locations for the registration points are known or
when surface features, roadway intersections for example, are being used.

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keyboard
The coordinates of the registration points are entered into a data entry form using the
keyboard. This method is appropriate when the registration points are surveyed targets
which are clearly identifiable.
Transmission colour
The textured image may be made transparent by specifying a transmission colour.
This colour is allowed to shine through the textured object when another object falls
behind it. Best results can be obtained by using a grey colour.
Ambient colour
Some graphics cards adaptors may cause a dimming of the textured image. This can
be countered by specifying an ambient colour that is reasonably light in colour.
To cancel the effect of the transmission colour and ambient colour as applied by the
IMAGE DRAPE function, you can use either the CLEAR SCREEN or ERASE
OBJECTS functions.
Image colour filter
The image colour filter works in a manner similar to colour filters in photography. By
leaving the colour filter blank, the image is presented in the colours as defined in the
image file.
Image and Real World coordinates for registration points
If an existing registration file is being used, all the saved parameters, including
previously defined registration points are displayed here. There must be a minimum
of 3 registration points to register the image to the DTM with the maximum number
of registration points being 100.
Complete the DRAPE IMAGE OVER A DTM or TRISOLATION form and choose
Apply to either drape the GIF image over the selected trisolation or to define
registration points for controlling the image registration process.
The registration points must now be defined by first selecting, using the mouse, a
location in the image.
Digitise registration point # in viewport 2
Locate the mouse over the required point in the image and press the mouse button to
define the image coordinates for a new registration point. The following prompt will
be displayed:
Digitise registration point # on the DTM in viewport 1
Locate the same point in viewport one and press the mouse.
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After digitising the location of the registration point in the DTM or entering the
coordinates of the registration in the DEFINE COORDINATES FOR IMAGE
REGISTRATION POINT form, you will be prompted to digitise another registration
point. When sufficient registration points have been defined, press Escape to display
the REVIEW REGISTRATION POINT COORDINATES form.
These are the real world coordinates of the corresponding locations for registration
points in the DTM.
Complete the REVIEW REGISTRATION POINT COORDINATES form and choose
Apply to drape the image over the selected trisolation.

Helpful Hints
Adjusting the view
When defining the registration points either in the image or in the DTM, it is
generally necessary to adjust the view by either windowing in or out to find the best
location for the registration point. By pressing the ASSIST key, generally F11 you
can invoke the Viewer to adjust the view. On exiting from the Viewer you will be
prompted to select the point of interest.
Resizing the viewports
The original viewport containing the selected trisolation is split vertically so the the
image and trisolation can be displayed side by side. You may find that the viewports
are too small. It is possible to resize and move the active viewport while in the midst
of a point digitise action if you find it necessary to alter the viewport size and/or
location. If the two viewports overlap then the viewport in which the point must be
digitised is brought to the front when necessary.
Finding the registration points
It is generally easier to locate the position of registration points in the DTM if the
image has been rendered with a Light Source before starting the process of defining
the registration points. This is because surface features are much more obvious when
rendered with a light source and easier to relate to the image.
Memory usage
Image files, especially if they are large, can consume a considerable amount of
memory. To estimate the memory requirements for displaying an image, use the
following formula:
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image memory usage = X pixels * Y Pixels * 3 bytes

Therefore, an image which is 1000 pixels square will require of the order of 2.5 Mb of
memory.

11.

Creating a Fly Through Movie

Now that we have an gif image draped over a DTM, we can now digitise a string to
follow and then the view along string function allows you to effectively fly in the
direction of a string. This is an excellent method for viewing files.
Close all files that are open in graphics.
Drag and Drop EOM_PIT.RGF

You will now digitise a line that you wish to fly along.
The first step is to set the string number for any digitising that will be done. On the
toolbar, click on the design string icon
.
Set the string number to 500, and then click on the
apply button.

Next you will create a new layer for the digitising work to be
placed into.
On the toolbar, select the layer selection box, and click on the
<new layer> option.

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Enter the name of the new layer and then

click on the Apply button.
Now any of the digitising will be placed
into the layer that was created.

The final step before you start creating your line is to tell Surpac that when you
digitise a point it should snap onto the DTM surface.
From the toolbar, select the snapping list options and click on the
Triangle option.
Now you are ready to digitise your line.

On the toolbar, select the

icon. Now you can digitise you line. If you wish to
window in you can do so at any time, and then start the digitising again by clicking on
the icon again.
Once you have digitised
you line, you should save
the string file.
Save the file as fly1.str
Due to the way the view
along string function
works, it is a good idea to
now lift the string up a
certain distance off the
DTM surface. This will be
done using string maths.

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From the Edit menu, select the

String > Maths option.
Click anywhere on the digitised
string.

Enter the expression as shown, which will lift the string 10 metres above the DTM
surface.
Another helpful hint will be to smooth the string out. This will remove any very sharp
turns in the line.

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From the Edit menu, select the

String > Smooth option.
When the next form is displayed,
click on the Apply button without
making any changes.
Now save the file again.

View Along String

Now you can run the view along string function. One more step to make the result
look even better is to hide the line that you will fly along. When you start the function
you only need to see the first point in the line, and as such you can hide the rest.
From the Display menu, select the
Hide Strings > In a layer option.
When the form is displayed, click on
the Apply button without making any
changes.
This will hide all of the strings in the
active layer.
Next you must display the first point
in the fly string.

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From the Display menu, select the Point

> markers option.

On the form, only enter the

number 1 in the Seg pnt
range.
This is telling Surpac to
only display the first point
for the strings in the current
layer.
In your fly layer, you only
have one string so this will
be enough.
Click on the Apply button.
From the View menu, select the
Data view options > View along a
string option.
This will display a form on the
screen with the different viewing
options.

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Smaller the value the slower the

On the form, select the along string option on the left. In the middle of the form, enter
display.
a camera field width of 100, and the max distance between frames as 5. The bigger
this distance, the faster the camera will move along the string.
It is also possible to save an image at set points, which would then allow you to link
them together as a movie. This would require another piece of software but this can
give very good results.
Click on the Apply button and then click on the first point of the fly string.

Any time you wish to run the animation again, click on Zoom All, and then go to the
View along string function as shown earlier.
Saving the images to make a movie

top

Run the view along string function again, but this time on the right of the form, enter
a name to be given to images that will be saved at set points.

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You can set the number of

pixel to higher resolutions that
the default if required.

This will create better images, but will also create bigger files for each image.
This option will create a very large number of files, so be careful about how much
memory you have free on you computer.

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12.
Use some of the tools from the Attributes menu for
enhancing the display of DTMs.
a)
b)

Choose View -- Data view options -- View by bearing and dip

Enter a bearing of 45 and a dip of -45.

There are a number of functions for enhancing the display of objects. Try the
following icons to display the pit with rendered surfaces.
c)

Toggle the Faces on/off icon.

Colouring of triangles is removed.

d)

Toggle the Edges on/off icon.

Triangle edges are erased.

The image will disappear entirely at this stage but DON'
T PANIC.
e)

Toggle the Hide on/off icon.

Any triangles behind triangles are removed from display.

f)
Choose View -- Surface view options -- Perspective projection
g)
Choose the Light On icon and complete the form as shown below.

h)
Toggle the Faces on/off icon back to on.
Shading is redrawn.
This is a fairly lengthy set of steps that has been made easier with the advent of
function icons but has been inproved even further by recording a similar series of
steps and using the ability to assign a SCL macro to an icon.
i)

Toggle the Render icon and observe the effect on the displayed DTM.

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This macro render.tcl may be used as an example on how to assign a macro to a

toolbar icon, choosing Customise -- Customise menus/toolbars and observing the
properties of the Main toolbar will reveal the syntax used.

13.
Upper triangles of 2 DTM'
s - This function takes two DTM'
s
as input and creates a new DTM, which is an upper surface
combination of the two input files.
Combining a DTM representing a proposed waste stockpile and a DTM representing a
topological ground profile to produce a new DTM of the ground profile containing the
waste stockpile.
a)
Recall the two DTM'
s called `TOPO_DUMP1.DTM'and `DUMP1.DTM'
,
appending them both into the same layer.
b)

Go to Surfaces

Clip or intersect DTM'

s

Upper triangles of 2 DTM'

s.

The DTM/DTM UPPER RESULTS STORAGE form is displayed. The layer name
cannot be the same as any of the current layers.

c)
Now follow the prompt by picking each of the DTM'
s. The order of selection
is not important.
The program will go through the process of joining the two DTM'
s, finishing with the
statement `Calculations are completed'
.
You will now be in the layer you specified with the resultant DTM displayed.
The result is the waste stockpile surface incorporated into the topographic surface.

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14.

Lower triangles of 2 DTM'

s

This function takes two DTM'

s as inputs and creates a new DTM, which is a lower
surface combination of the two inputs.
Combining a DTM representing a proposed pit design and a DTM representing a
topological ground profile to produce a new DTM of the ground profile containing the
pit design.
1. Recall the two DTM'
s called `TOPO1.DTM'and `PIT1.DTM'
, appending them
both into the same layer.
These represent a topographic surface and a pit design surface model.
2. Go through exactly the same process as described in the previous exercise except
choose Lower triangles of 2 DTM'
s.
The result is a surface representing the pit incorporated into the topography.

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15.

Create solid by intersecting 2 DTM'

s

This function takes two DTM'

s as inputs and creates a 3DM, which is the volume
enclosed between the intersection of the two DTM'
s.
Combining a ground terrain profile with a proposed pit profile to find the volume of
material which must be extracted to create the pit.
a)

Recall the two DTM'

s called '
TOPo1.DTM'and '
PIT1.DTM'
, appending them
both into the same layer.
These represent a topographic surface and a pit design surface model.

b)

From the Surfaces, Clip or intersect DTM'

s menu choose Create solid by
intersecting 2 DTM'
s.
The DTM/DTM INTERSECT RESULTS STORAGE form is displayed.
You are prompted for a layer name in which to display the resultant DTM and
the object number to assign to this DTM.

c)

Enter values of your choice, e.g. Layer INTERSECT, object number 3.

The layer name cannot be the same as any of the current layers.

d)

Now follow the prompt by picking each of the DTM'

s. The upper DTM
(topography) must be selected first, followed by the lower DTM (pit).

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The program will go through the process of joining the two DTM'
s, finishing with the
statement `Calculations are completed'
.
You will now be in the layer you specified with the resultant 3DM displayed. The
result is a solid 3DM representing the material that will have to be removed from the
designed pit. The image below shows before and after the DTM/DTM Intersection.

e)

Choose Report volume of solids from the Solids Tools menu to create a note
file with the volume of the Pit below the topography

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REVIEW OF SURFACES

String file (*.str) contains spatial data

DTM file (*.dtm) contains triangles
A DTM is a digital terrain model which is an indexed list of triangles which
contain no spatial data
DTM file is invalid without an associated string file
Triangles are referenced in 3-D space by points in strings and the triangles are
formed by connecting groups of three data points together by taking their
spatial location in the X - Y plane into account.
Vertices of triangle coincident with a string point.

Uses:
Surface to surface volumes
model weathering surfaces, topography
visualisation
extract sections and plans

CONVENTIONS
1 DTM surface per file
Breakline v SpotHeight
No vertical or overhanging surfaces

String file hierarchy

String
Segment
Point

Breakline strings are those strings which represent physical features that you
can see in the real world e.g. crest of a pit, a fault in a geological model, a
contour. No breakline strings should cross over other breakline strings, unless
the two strings cross at a common point.
The breakline test is an important concept to understand if DTM is to
accurately model terrain
Spot heights are random points so will triangulate nearest neighbour

DTM file hierarchy

Object
Trisolation
Triangle

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