Underground Ring Design

Copyright 2008 Gemcom Software International Inc. (Gemcom).
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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.
Gemcom Software International Inc. Gemcom, the Gemcom logo, combinations thereof, and
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International Inc. or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Contributors
Rowdy Bristol
Phil Jackson
John Hylton-Davies
Product Surpac 6.1
Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 4
Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................4
Requirements ...........................................................................................................................................................4
Workflow ..................................................................................................................................................................5
Ring Design Concepts ........................................................................................................................ 6
Terminology ..............................................................................................................................................................6
Ring Design Concepts and Files ................................................................................................................................6
Set Up For This Tutorial ..................................................................................................................... 7
Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP) ......................................................................................................... 7
Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista) ..................................................................................................... 7
Display Menubar and Toolbar ..................................................................................................................................8
Task: Display Menus and Toolbars ........................................................................................................................ 8
Creating a Centreline........................................................................................................................10
Task: View the Data ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Task: Create a DTM of a Floor String ................................................................................................................... 10
Task: Drape a Centreline String over the DTM of the Floor ................................................................................ 11
Task: Raise the Centreline String Above the Floor .............................................................................................. 12
Slicing Objects ..................................................................................................................................14
Task: View the Data ............................................................................................................................................. 14
Task: Slice the Solid ............................................................................................................................................. 16
Setting Up The Rig ............................................................................................................................19
Task: Perform Rig Setup ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Task: Set Drilling Parameters ............................................................................................................................... 20
Moving the Mast ..............................................................................................................................25
Task: Use a Centreline String as a Reference Line ............................................................................................... 25
Task: Move and Rotate the Mast ........................................................................................................................ 26
Creating and Reporting Holes ...........................................................................................................29
Task: Create and Edit Holes ................................................................................................................................. 29
Task: Save Holes .................................................................................................................................................. 34
Task: Report Holes ............................................................................................................................................... 35
Task: Save Default Values .................................................................................................................................... 36
Plotting ............................................................................................................................................37
Task: Save Holes for Plotting ............................................................................................................................... 37
Task: Create a Plot ............................................................................................................................................... 37
Introduction Overview
Introduction
Overview
Ring design is the term given to drilling a fan of holes from an underground drive for the purposes of
blasting ore. Although there are numerous requirements for each design, Surpac can assist you to create
and report practically any type of underground ring.
Requirements
Prior to proceeding with this tutorial, you will need:
• Surpac 6.1 installed, and

• The data set accompanying this tutorial, and
• A basic knowledge of Surpac string files and editing tools as covered in the Introduction to Surpac
manual.
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Introduction Workflow
Workflow
Note: This workflow demonstrates the steps in this tutorial. There are other ways to achieve a result.
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Ring Design Concepts Terminology
Ring Design Concepts

Terminology
• Centreline – a single string segment used in the function Centreline slice to create slices from
solid models.
• Real World Coordinates – a concept where the information in a string file is stored with the
coordinates representing a plan view of the data. In other words, the coordinates represent the
mine grid northing, easting, and elevation. Slices of solid objects to be used for ring design must
be saved in real world coordinates.
• Section Coordinates – a concept where the information in a string file does not represent a plan
view. Data created using the ring design function Save for plot are saved in section coordinates.
• Underground Drive – a tunnel, or opening in rock where the drill rig will be positioned.
• Stope – a 3-dimensional area (usually ore) which is to be mined out by blasting a series of long
holes or ring design holes.
Ring Design Concepts and Files

In the most common cases, you will need three things to perform ring design:
• 3D solid models of surveyed underground drives

• 3D solid models of designed stopes
• A string segment to be used as a centreline for slicing solid objects
For stopeless design, such as for cable bolt holes and "sludge" (or sample) holes, you will need only a 3D
model of the drives and the centreline string. If you have a Surpac block model, you may also slice it at
the same time you slice the 3D solid models of drives and stopes. You may also append DTMs
representing other features, such as fault surfaces to the drives and stope designs prior to slicing. After
slicing, and prior to enabling ring design, you may append any other string files (in real world
coordinates) to the string files created from slicing.
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Set Up For This Tutorial Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP)
Set Up For This Tutorial

Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP)
1. In Navigator, right-click the underground_ring_design folder.

2. From the popup menu, select Set as work directory.
The name of the work directory is displayed in the title bar of the Surpac window.
Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista)
1. In Navigator, right-click the underground_ring_design folder.
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Set Up For This Tutorial Task: Display Menus and Toolbars
2. From the popup menu, select Set as work directory.
The name of the work directory is displayed in the title bar of the Surpac window.
Display Menubar and Toolbar

Task: Display Menus and Toolbars
1. Right-click in the area to the right of the menus.
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Set Up For This Tutorial Task: Display Menus and Toolbars
2. Select Profiles, and then ringdesign as shown.
The ring design menubar and toolbar are displayed.
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Creating a Centreline Task: View the Data
Creating a Centreline
Task: View the Data
1. Open cl1.str.
2. Open floor1055.str.
3. Choose Display > Point > Markers.
4. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.
5. Click the icon.

The floor and centreline strings are displayed.
Task: Create a DTM of a Floor String
1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

2. Open floor1055.str.
3. Choose Surfaces > Create DTM from layer.
5. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.
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Creating a Centreline Task: Drape a Centreline String over the DTM of the Floor
7. Click Yes.
Task: Drape a Centreline String over the DTM of the Floor

2. Open floor1055.dtm.
3. Open cl1.str.
4. Click the icon to view the data in section view.
5. Choose Surfaces > Drape string over DTM.
6. Follow the prompt at the bottom of the screen and click the centreline string.
Note: The option to Interpolate New points must be ticked in order to create new points on the
centreline wherever it crosses a triangle edge.
If Interpolate new points was not ticked, you would get an output file with only the two end points.
You will see the string draped to match the contours of the DTM surface.
8. In the Layers property window, right-click on cl1.str.
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Creating a Centreline Task: Raise the Centreline String Above the Floor
9. Click Save layer.
11. Click Yes.
Task: Raise the Centreline String Above the Floor

2. Open cl1.str.
3. Choose Edit > String > Maths.
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Creating a Centreline Task: Raise the Centreline String Above the Floor
4. Enter the information as shown below, and then click Apply.
5. Click the string.

6. Press ESC.
The centreline has been raised 2 metres vertically.
7. Open floor1055.dtm.
The centreline string is displayed 2 metres above the floor.
8. Use the layer chooser to make cl1.str the active layer.
9. Save cl1.str.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 01_create_centreline.tcl. You will need to
click Apply on any forms presented.
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Slicing Objects Task: View the Data
Slicing Objects
Task: View the Data

2. Open ringex1.dtm.
3. Spin the data around to get a feel for the solids models.
4. Choose Display > Hide everything.

5. Choose Display > Surface or Solid.
The Object 3 is displayed.
Note: Object 3 represents the ore zone. Notice that it contains holes where the drives pass
through it.
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Slicing Objects Task: View the Data

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Slicing Objects Task: Slice the Solid
Objects 1 and 2 are the drives, created from survey data. Object 3 was created by outersecting the
solid of the ore zone by the solid of the drives.
Objects 1 and 2 Object 3 (outersected by objects 1 and 2)

Note: It is a good idea to use outersected solids for creating ring design slices, since the toe (or
end) of the hole will be located at the point where the hole intersects the stope. As shown below, if
the 3D solid of the stope were not outersected by the drives, you may not achieve the desired
result.
Hole drilled in stope outersected by Hole drilled in stope NOT outersected by

drives drives
Task: Slice the Solid

3. Open cl1.str.
4. Use the layer chooser to select ringex1.dtm as the active layer.
5. Choose View > Surface view options > Hide triangle faces.
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6. Click the Zoom all icon .

You will use the southwest endpoint of cl1.str as the point from which the first ring will be created.
In this example, the rig will start from the southwest end of the stope and work toward the
northeast, numbering the rings 1,2,3,4, etc.
7. Choose Solids > Solids tools > Section using centre line.
8. Click a point below and to the left of the southwest end of the centreline, as shown below.
The software will choose the nearest location on the line.

9. Click the other endpoint of the centreline by positioning the cursor northeast of the northeast
endpoint of the line.
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12. Select the icon to change to a section view.

The sections are displayed.

14. Open 1055sec25.str.
16. Spin the data around to verify that the section has been created correctly.
The Solids section is displayed.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 02_slice_objects.tcl. You will need to click
Apply on any forms presented
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Setting Up The Rig Task: Perform Rig Setup
Setting Up The Rig

Task: Perform Rig Setup

2. Choose Ring design > Start ring design.
Note: The default value of ssi_etc:rings.ssi would read values from a file in the ssi_etc: directory.
In this example, you will store the data in a file named rings.ssi in the local data directory.
At the bottom of the Surpac frame, the name of the default rig will be displayed. If you are using
ring design for the first time, it will display OLD DEFAULT RIG:
4. Choose Setup > New rig.

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Setting Up The Rig Task: Set Drilling Parameters
The diagram below shows how the parameters entered in the above form relate to the rig you are
creating.
6. Choose Setup > Select rig.

7. Click tutorial, and then click Default.
The tutorial rig is set as the default rig the next time you invoke ring design.
8. Click Apply.
The rig name tutorial is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the Surpac frame.
Task: Set Drilling Parameters
1. Choose Ring design > Open section files of stopes and openings.
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The first section is displayed.
3. Click the next section icon until you get to section 9.

Note: The information on the status bar at the bottom of the screen changes each time next
section is clicked.
Note: When using the next section and previous section icons , the view presented in
graphics will always be perpendicular to each section.
4. Choose Setup > Rig position.
5. Click near the lower drive, then near the stope.
The rig is positioned in the lower drive as displayed.
6. Choose Setup > Drilling parameters.
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Page 22 of 41
Toe spacing algorithms are displayed below. The toe spacing is a unit of measure (metres or feet)
for all algorithms except for angular. When the angular toe spacing algorithm is selected, the toe
spacing is in defined in degrees.
For more information on the fields, click the Help button to display the online reference manual,
and/or review the field and form help.
Page 23 of 41
8. Choose Ring design > Save ring design settings.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 03_setup.tcl. You will need to click Apply
on any forms presented.
Page 24 of 41
Moving the Mast Task: Use a Centreline String as a Reference Line
Moving the Mast

Task: Use a Centreline String as a Reference Line
1. Open cl1.str.
2. From the Ring Design menu bar, choose View > Zoom to extent of current section.
3. Zoom in on the drive where the rig is positioned.
4. Choose Move mast > By graphics.
5. Practice moving the mast by clicking and dragging it around.
6. Press ESC.
7. Choose Setup > Select reference line for offsets.

8. Click the centreline string.
9. Click and drag the mouse on the screen to view the data as shown:
After selecting the reference centreline, the point where the centreline intersects the plane of the
section will be marked with a small red triangle. A reference distance and direction will now be
stored for every hole drilled on this section.
10. From the Ring Design menu bar choose View > Zoom to extent of current section to return to a
view perpendicular to this section.
11. Choose Display > Hide strings > In a layer.
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Moving the Mast Task: Move and Rotate the Mast
Task: Move and Rotate the Mast
1. Choose Move mast > By coordinates.

The mast is moved so that its pivot point is on the centreline. By selecting a reference line, we have
set up a coordinate system within the plane of the section whose origin is at the point where the
centreline pierces the section. This coordinate system is only used for positioning the rig, and for
reporting the rig pivot point position relative to the centreline.
3. Choose Rotate mast > To angle.

The mast is rotated to an angle of 300 degrees as displayed.
5. Choose Rotate mast > By angle.
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The mast is rotated clockwise from its current orientation by 45 degrees.
7. Choose Rotate mast > By graphics.

8. Click and drag the mast around, then release the mouse.
Note: How the mast follows the cursor around the screen.
9. Press ESC.
10. Choose Rotate mast > To point.
11. Click once with the mouse button.
13. Enter the information as shown and then click Apply.
14. Choose Rotate mast > To angle.

The mast is moved to the centreline as displayed.
16. Choose Move mast > By distance.

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18. Choose Move mast > From wall.

The mast is displayed in the following orientation.
Note: The distance shown will change when you select the left or right radio button. This is the
horizontal distance in the plane of the section from the pivot point to the point on the wall.
Leave the mast in this position for use in the next section, Creating and Reporting Holes.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 04_move_mast.tcl. You will need to click
Apply on any forms presented.
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Creating and Reporting Holes Task: Create and Edit Holes
Creating and Reporting Holes

Task: Create and Edit Holes
Note: In order to perform the steps in this task, you must have completed the previous task.
1. Choose Create holes > At current mast orientation.

2. From the Ring Design menu, choose View > Hole IDs four times (until you see the number "1" for
the second time).
The hole is displayed.
3. Choose Create holes > Parallel to an existing hole.

4. Click hole number 1.
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Three holes are displayed.
Assume that after looking at this result, you decide that you would rather drill hole number 3 and all
remaining holes with the rig at the centreline point.
6. From the Ring design menu, choose Edit > Delete one hole.
Hole number 3 is removed.
10. Choose Setup > Drilling Parameters.

12. Choose Create holes > Offset from existing hole.
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Hole number 3 is created to the left of hole number 2, using the AECI algorithm, and a toe spacing
distance of 1.5.
15. Choose Create holes > At selected location.

16. Click a location on the left stope wall to create a hole similar to that shown.
17. From the Ring design menu, choose Edit > Rotate hole.
18. Click hole number 4, then release to select hole number 4.
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19. Click hole number 4 again and drag it to the lower stope limit, or footwall as displayed.
20. From the Ring design menu, choose Edit > Edit hole length graphically.
21. At the prompt, click and drag the toe, or end of the hole to the new position.
When you release the mouse, the length of the hole will be reset to that position. This function is
not an exact means of setting a hole length.
22. From the Ring design menu choose Edit > Set length of one hole.
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25. Press ESC.

26. Choose Create holes > Between two holes.
27. Click hole 3, and then hole 4.
The holes will be created between holes 3 and 4. Notice that several holes which came near, or
would have intersected the upper drive, were shortened. When holes would normally terminate at
a surveyed opening, they are shortened by the break-through tolerance value. In our case, this was
set to 0.75m on the Drilling Parameters form.
29. From the Ring design menu, choose Edit > Renumber holes.
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Creating and Reporting Holes Task: Save Holes

The holes are renumbered clockwise from 1 upwards, starting at the footwall.
Task: Save Holes
1. Choose Ring design > Save holes.

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Creating and Reporting Holes Task: Report Holes
The string file 1055_4nw_holes9.str will be created in the working directory.
Task: Report Holes
1. Choose Reports > Drilling report.

Note: To add rows to the table, right click in the blank area beneath the table, and select Add.
The fields can then be selected from a drop down list.
Page 35 of 41
Creating and Reporting Holes Task: Save Default Values
The drilling report will be written to the file 1055_4nw9.not, which can be displayed in a text editor.
Task: Save Default Values
1. Choose Ring design > Save ring design settings.

Note: In practice, you would normally want to use the default file of ssi_etc:rings.ssi. You are saving
rings.ssi in the local directory for training purposes only.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 05a_create_holes.tcl and
05b_report_holes.tcl. You will need to click Apply on any forms presented.
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Plotting Task: Save Holes for Plotting
Plotting
Task: Save Holes for Plotting
1. Choose Ring design > Save holes and sections for plotting.
The file 1055_4nw9.str is saved to the work directory.

String files saved with Save holes and sections for plotting will contain:
Data String Numbers

Drill Holes 1,999
Drives Drive string number + 1000
Stopes Stope string number + 2000
Rig Pivot Points 32000
The following string numbers will be used in plotting. In this example, 1055_4nw9.str will contain:
Data String Numbers
Drill Holes 1,17
Drives 1001, 1002
Stopes 2003
Rig Pivot Points 32000
Task: Create a Plot
1. Choose Plotting > Entity > Import.

The results of the function will be written to the file entity_load.log.
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Plotting Task: Create a Plot
Entity load log is displayed.
3. Close the log file.

4. Choose Plotting > Map > Import.
The results of the function will again be written to the file map_load.log.
Map load log is displayed.
6. Close the log file.

7. Choose Plotting > Map > Edit.
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View the contents of the map we will be processing (ringex1), and then click Apply.
9. Choose Plotting > Entity > Edit.

10. Choose Plotting > Process > Map.
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The Plot Preview window opens, and the plot is displayed.
This is only one manner of presenting ring design holes. You can also edit the entity and map definitions
provided, or create your own to customise your plots.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this section, run 06_plotting.tcl. You will need to click Apply
on any forms presented.
Page 41 of 41

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Copyright 2008 Gemcom Software International Inc. (Gemcom).

• Surpac 6.1 installed, and

Ring Design Concepts

Ring Design Concepts and Files

• 3D solid models of surveyed underground drives

Set Up For This Tutorial

1. In Navigator, right-click the underground_ring_design folder.

Task: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista)

1. In Navigator, right-click the underground_ring_design folder.

2. From the popup menu, select Set as work directory.

Display Menubar and Toolbar

1. Right-click in the area to the right of the menus.

2. Select Profiles, and then ringdesign as shown.

The ring design menubar and toolbar are displayed.

5. Click the icon.

Task: Create a DTM of a Floor String

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

5. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.

6. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

Task: Drape a Centreline String over the DTM of the Floor

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

9. Click Save layer.

10. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

11. Click Yes.

Task: Raise the Centreline String Above the Floor

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

4. Enter the information as shown below, and then click Apply.

5. Click the string.

8. Use the layer chooser to make cl1.str the active layer.

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

4. Choose Display > Hide everything.

The Object 3 is displayed.

9. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

The Object 1 is displayed.

10. Choose Display > Hide everything.

The Object 2 is displayed.

Objects 1 and 2 Object 3 (outersected by objects 1 and 2)

Hole drilled in stope outersected by Hole drilled in stope NOT outersected by

Task: Slice the Solid

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

6. Click the Zoom all icon .

The software will choose the nearest location on the line.

11. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

12. Select the icon to change to a section view.

13. Click the Reset graphics icon .

Setting Up The Rig

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

4. Choose Setup > New rig.

6. Choose Setup > Select rig.

Task: Set Drilling Parameters

The first section is displayed.

3. Click the next section icon until you get to section 9.

6. Choose Setup > Drilling parameters.

7. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

8. Choose Ring design > Save ring design settings.

Moving the Mast

7. Choose Setup > Select reference line for offsets.

12. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

Task: Move and Rotate the Mast

1. Choose Move mast > By coordinates.

3. Choose Rotate mast > To angle.

The mast is rotated to an angle of 300 degrees as displayed.

5. Choose Rotate mast > By angle.