Professional Documents
Culture Documents
01introductiontovulcanmanualv8120120817 Libre 150106194505 Conversion Gate01
01introductiontovulcanmanualv8120120817 Libre 150106194505 Conversion Gate01
Introduction to Vulcan
Version 8.1
2012 Copyright
© 2012 Maptek
Maptek, Vulcan, I-Site, BlastLogic and the stylised Maptek M are registered and unregistered
trademarks of Maptek Pty Ltd; Maptek Computación Chile Ltda; Maptek Computación Chile
Ltda, Sucursal Perú; Maptek S de RL de CV; Maptek Informática do Brasil Ltda and KRJA
Systems, Inc. Registered marks are registered in one or more of the following countries:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Greece, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Republic of
South Africa, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this manual shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise - without written permission from Maptek™.
No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein.
Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, the publisher and
author(s) assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for
damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
info@maptek.com
www.maptek.com
Trademarks
Due to the nature of the material, some hardware and software products are mentioned by
name. The companies that manufacture the products claim many of these product names as
trademarks. It is not the intention of Maptek™ to claim these names or trademarks as their own.
ii
About this Manual
You may notice that images are slightly different on your computer; this may be due to
variations in operating systems. In addition some images have been modified to improve
readability.
Conventions used
The following conventions are typically used in training manuals and guides.
Example Description
Design > Object Edit Text in bold are commands or options selected from
a menu, panel or button.
Top Down or Bottom Up Text in italics are used for emphasis, special terms,
design method tab names, column names, panel group names, etc.
Caution: Designates a warning that, if not followed, can lead to a serious outcome such as data
corruption.
Terminology
Every effort is made to use consistent terminology throughout all Vulcan documentation.
The following terminology is typically used in manuals, guides, and help:
The terms panel and dialog box are used interchangeably. Dialog is also used as a
general term to refer to subpanels and tabs.
Panels can have tabs but panels with tree navigation can have subpanels as well
as tabs. The two parts of the panel are called panes. The left pane, also referred to
as the navigation pane or tree pane, contains the navigation list and the right pane
is the subpanel and contains the details.
Option refers to a command or menu selection, while options may refer to choices
available on a panel.
The terms select and click may be used interchangeably.
The terms tick and check are used interchangeably.
The terms clear box and uncheck box may be used interchangeably.
The terms context menu, right-click menu, and shortcut menu are used
interchangeably. They refer to task-specific menus that appear when you right-
click.
The terms Tutorial and Exercise are used interchangeably.
The terms anticlockwise and counterclockwise are used interchangeably.
The terms nominate, choose, pick, and select may be used interchangeably.
The terms directory and folder may be used interchangeably.
Contents v
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Customising Vulcan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Favourites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Context Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Colours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Database Locks and Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Green Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Orange Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Red Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Database Repair and Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Repair a Design Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Restore a Design Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using Vulcan Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
vi Contents
Chapter 5: Label Design Data 57
Analyse Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Menu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Label Colour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Point Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Point Labels to Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Object Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Object Label to Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Contents vii
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
viii Contents
Chapter 16: Triangulation Surfaces 153
Create a Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Data Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Boundary Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Trending Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Spurs Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Condition Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Two Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Grid Mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Image Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Contents ix
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Index 227
x Contents
Getting Started
Hardware and System
Requirements
For computer intensive options such as block modelling, using large triangulations or
databases, recommended requirements are vital.
(1) A 64 bit operating system is recommended.The 32 bit English language version of Microsoft
Excel® 2007-2010 is required for full Chronos menu functionality.
(2) Vulcan works on both 32 and 64 bit operating systems as a 32 bit application.
Tutorial 1-1
Customise your virtual memory maximum.
Graphics Cards
Vulcan supports OpenGL® compliant graphics cards such as nVidia® GeForce®,
nVidia® Quadro® or ATI Radeon™. For best performance, ensure that the latest version
of graphics card drivers is installed.
To verify your graphics card for Microsoft Windows® XP:
1. Right-click on the computer desktop and click Properties.
2. Go to the Settings tab and click Advanced.
3. Go to the Adapter tab to view graphics card details.
To verify your graphics card for Microsoft Windows® Vista:
1. Right-click the computer desktop and click Personalise.
2. Select Display Settings and click Advanced Settings.
The graphic card installed is displayed on the Adapter tab.
Tutorial 1-2
Determine the graphics card installed on your computer.
Environment Variables
Environment variables are values that affect the way computer processes behave. There
are two types of environment variables:
System variables are tied to the machine.
User variables are tied to a specific user profile.
If the same variable is listed in both areas, the user variable is used.
Environment Variables 3
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
HOME
HOME directs Vulcan where to find files such as login.csh and startup.csh.The
Value of this variable is a path to a folder. The path may not contain spaces or special
characters.
ENVIS_RESO
The ENVIS_RESO environment variable points to the location of the Resources folder for
all Vulcan system data files such as:
Plot templates – Stored in the file drafting.dgd.isis
Symbols – Stored in the file symbols.dgd.isis
Line styles – Stored in the file lines.dgd.isis
Tutorial 1-3
1. Ensure the HOME environment variable is set to an appropriate path.
2. Set the TEMP and TMP variables to a file path name which does not include
spaces.
3. Create a resources folder at C:\Vulcan_resources and set up
ENVIS_RESO.
Installing Vulcan
During installation, note any changes made to the system. Backup all files before you edit
or replace them. Administrator privileges may be required to install software or make any
modifications to the computer.
For sites requiring a network licence (FlexNet Publisher), a notification is sent with the
licence file. Use the Install Network licence option to set up the server.
Read the End-User Licence Agreement.
Administrator privileges are required.
Do not install a newer version of Vulcan over an old version. Save each version to
a unique folder.
If installing Vulcan to use with a node-locked Vulcan licencing dongle. It is
important to install the correct dongle drivers.
Installing Vulcan 5
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Corporate Standards
For companies with multiple sites, corporate standards are used to maintain company
wide standards for Vulcan specification files. Each employee accesses a single set of files
stored at a central location. The following file types are supported by corporate standards:
.scd – Colour scheme file
.ftd – Feature file
.gcv – Grade Control configuration file
.bdf – Block definition file
.bef – Block estimation file
.res – Advanced Reserves specification
.tab – Advanced Reserves reporting tables
Corporate standards do not prevent users from accessing their own personal specification
files. By default, it directs users to the corporate standard files first and then allow them to
browse elsewhere.
Licencing
Types of Licences
Licence files are required to run Vulcan. There are two types of licences:
Node-locked – Dongle with matching licence file for use with a single computer.
Floating licence – Dongle with matching licence file on a server, which can be
accessed by multiple users.
Store the licence file in an easy to remember location such as C:\Vulcan_licence.
To activate a licence file:
1. Click Licence Administrator on the Vulcan start dialog box.
Licencing 7
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 1-4
Ensure the Licence Administrator can see your licence.
Figure 1-7 Vulcan Licence Administrator dialog box – File or Server box
Licencing 9
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Note: If the borrow time limit is exceeded, the licence is disabled on the machine which
borrowed it. The machine will have to be reconnected to the server to borrow the licence
again.
Starting Vulcan
1. Launch Vulcan from the programs folder or an icon on the desktop.
2. Double-click on Browse and navigate to the folder which contains Vulcan data.
Click OK.
The folder appears in the work area box.
To delete a directory, right-click on the folder and select Remove from
History or Remove all to delete the entire list.
The work area history is stored in a file called .vlauchpref, which is
located in your user directory.
Tutorial 1-5
Browse to the start data folder.
To launch an application, double-click its name on the right-hand side of the dialog box:
Envisage – 3D viewer and editor.
Isis – Database editor that interacts with Envisage.
Plot Utility – Plot files viewer.
Settings – Dynamic Array settings (also called the Dynamic Memory settings).
Dynamic Arrays
Click Settings to launch the VULCAN Dynamic Array Configuration dialog box. Choices
in this option modify the size of Envisage arrays, which allows large objects, grids and
triangulations to be manipulated in Vulcan.
This panel can also be accessed in Envisage under Tools > Dynamic Memory Settings.
Note: If modifying arrays using Tools > Dynamic Memory Settings from within Envisage, you
will need to restart Vulcan before changes can take effect.
If the Envisage Memory Availability bar decreases to a small amount, other options
may not have enough memory available to run. Leave Default values until a higher
setting is required.
Starting Vulcan 11
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Software Setup
The first time Vulcan is launched after install, the 3D Software User Setup Wizard is
displayed.
In Vulcan there are several layouts each with a different resolution size. It is advisable to
select default_1024. The three different layouts are:
Default - Standard screen layout.
Classic - Resembles older versions of Vulcan.
Maxgraphic - Maximises the graphics display area.
The layout can be changed using the Tools > Layout > Import. Layout defaults are
saved in .cui files located in <vulcan>\etc\defaults, where <vulcan> is the
Vulcan install location path.
Tip: Delete the Vulcan.prefs file in your user folder to reset plotter units. Deleting this file
deletes all Vulcan preferences, so make a backup copy.
Tutorial 1-6
Select the default_1024 layout and set the plotter scale units to Metric.
Project Details
A project file (.dg1) must be accessed each time Envisage is started. This file contains
the project code, coordinate extents information for the project and the project units.
Starting Vulcan 13
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Leave as default
Data Overview
The most commonly used data in Vulcan are CAD data and triangulations. CAD data,
such as points, lines, and polygons, are stored in a design database (dgd.isis).
Triangulations are stored as separate files with the extension .00t.
Objects
Sequential point entries make objects. For example:
A group of unconnected points.
A line (sequential group of connected points).
A polygon (sequential group of closed lines).
Layers
Objects are stored in layers.
Layers can contain one or more objects.
Layers can be used to organise objects by common attributes.
Design Database
Layers are not stored as individual files; they are stored in a design database file.
Multiple layers can be stored in a single design database file.
Design databases (also called design files) follow the following naming
convention: <project_code><database_name>.dgd.isis.
The associated index file for a design database is named
<project_code><database_name>.dgd.isix.
Data Overview 15
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Vulcan Explorer
Status bar Report window Windows toolbars Application bar Start menu
window
Main Menu
The Main menu is the horizontal bar below the title bar. Options displayed in the drop-
down lists vary for each Vulcan licence.
Many menu commands provide keyboard shortcuts, which can be used in lieu of a
mouse. For example [Alt+F] opens the File menu.
Windows
There are several types of windows:
Hidden – A window that is not visible. These are useful for enlarging the client
area.
Client – A window positioned in the client area. Use [Ctrl+Tab] to cycle through
windows docked in the client area.
Floating – A window that can be positioned anywhere on or outside the work area.
Floating windows are always visible on top of other windows.
Own – A window that can be positioned anywhere on or outside the work area.
Own windows are used when several Vulcan applications run concurrently. They
are not always visible on top of other windows.
Docked – A window is positioned in a docking area.
Primary Window
The Primary window is the default 3D design window as defined by the coordinate extents
in the .dg1 file. By default, the Primary window is confined to the client area.
To change the primary position:
1. Click Window > Windows.
2. Select the window to move then click the new position for the window.
3. For more advanced options, click the Advanced button.
Tip: Click Windows Explorer to quickly access files in the work area.
The tabs at the bottom of the Vulcan Explorer window provide other views into the
system:
Data – Displays files in the Vulcan work area. Files and layers that are loaded into
Envisage appear bold in this view.
Resources – Displays files in the Vulcan Resources area, which is defined by the
ENVIS_RESO environment variable.
Envisage – Displays only the files loaded on-screen, providing a concise list of
data currently in use.
Report Window
The Report window displays text information generated from the application in use.
Results from options such as statistics or reserves are generated in the Report window.
Close contents
Print contents
Save contents
Clear contents
Application Bar
The visible icons on the Application bar correspond to active utilities such as Envisage or
the Report window. There is also a quick-link to Vulcan help.
Vulcan
Envisage Explorer Vulcan Help
Click the Close button of an open window to close a utility or application. Reopen
applications and utilities via: the Window menu, Vulcan Start, or by clicking the
corresponding icon on the Application bar.
TC Shell, available in Vulcan Start, opens a new shell window, where commands and
scripts can be executed.
When using a command, the current option must be completed or cancelled before
another option can be selected. However, options from the Window toolbars can be used
in conjunction with options from the Menu toolbars. For example, while drawing a line
using Design > Create > Line you are able to rotate and pan without cancelling out of the
line creation option.
To see a list of other available toolbars right-click in a space alongside an existing toolbar.
The list varies between the Menu and Window toolbar docking areas. Another way to view
toolbars is to choose Tools > Toolbar Visibility. Note that the toolbars at the bottom of
the list beginning with [PRIMARY:] are Window toolbars
On the Graphics toolbar, several icons have a small, arrow symbol in the bottom
right hand corner to expand the toolbar. Left-click and hold on the icon to display the child
toolbar. Left-click, hold, and drag to display the child toolbar as a floating window. Close
the child toolbar to hide it under the parent toolbar.
Several icons have three points (ellipsis) in the bottom right-hand corner. Left-click
the icon to toggle the function on and off. Right-click the icon to display a properties dialog
box, which provides additional options used in conjunction with the option.
Move Toolbars
Toolbars may minimise from view, float on the desktop or dock in the window.
Double-click to float
Tutorial 2-1
Practise floating and docking toolbars.
Customising Vulcan
The Tools menu contains options for customising your work area. Preferences can be set
to control display options, such as colour, position of dialog boxes and appearance of the
background.
Preferences
Use Tools > Preferences to modify work area appearance or set defaults.
If working with data which is stored on a network, it is important to:
Enable Network mode: Tools > Preferences > Workbench > Vulcan Explorer
Set up an Alternative Work Area: Tools > Preferences > Envisage >
Miscellaneous
The most commonly used preferences are:
Set a default Rotation mode: Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics >
Input
Stop continued rotation: Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics > Input
Reverse wheel zoom direction: Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics >
Input
Assign Text Defaults: Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Defaults > 2D Text and
Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Defaults > 3D Text
Enable the Properties Window: Tools > Preferences > Envisage >
Miscellaneous
Set up Remote Directories: Tools > Preferences > Workbench > Vulcan
Explorer. See “Remote Directories” on page 205.
Note: [*] New SubMenu and [*] New Toolbar at the bottom of the right panel are
present by default, and can not be deleted.
Tip: To make efficient use of the work area, menu command items can be shown as
submenus in the toolbar. This ensures that the menu commands display in a
vertical listing, however an additional mouse click is required to access them.
4. Click OK to display the new toolbar as a floating toolbar. If a menu command has a
shortcut icon associated with it, then the icon displays in the toolbar in place of the
menu command name.
5. Enter a name for the new toolbar.
6. Tick Set as Default to automatically load the toolbar next time Vulcan starts. The
.vwc file is saved with the convention: <customise_file_name>.vwc.
7. Click Tools > Layout > Save to save the position of all toolbars.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Hotkeys execute menu commands quickly. Key strokes can be customised to execute
commonly used commands.
To customise keyboard shortcuts:
1. Choose Tools > Customise and click the Hotkeys tab.
2. On the Vulcan Menus tab select a menu option. Under Modifier and Key, create a
keyboard shortcut, for example [Shift+F4].
3. Click Apply Hotkey and click OK.
Favourites
Right-click the Primary window to quickly execute stored favourite commands.
Tip: To enable favourites, click Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics > Dialogs and
Popups, then check Right mouse click displays favourite menu items.
To customise favourites:
1. Choose Tools > Customise and select the Favourites tab.
2. From the Vulcan Menus tab (left panel) click and drag the commands into the
Favourite Menus folder (right panel). Click OK.
Favourites section
Right-click
history section
Context Menus
Right-click an object in Vulcan to display associated context menus. Click Tools >
Context Menus to customise commands which appear in context menus.
Colours
Colour schemes are saved in the scheme file (.scd). The file is stored in the current
working directory unless the corporate standards environment variable is enabled. The
Scheme file naming convention is <project_code>.scd or corpstd.scd.
Click File > Colour Table > Colours to edit the current colour palette. Alternately, click
Colour on the Status toolbar, and choose Edit Colours.
Tip: Click File > Colour Table > Save to save the default colour palette before making
changes.
To save the current colour table to a specific design database, click File > Save to save
the active colour table to an open design database (.dgd).
Note: The colour table is not available to other design databases unless it is saved to the
scheme file (.scd) with File > Colour Table > Save.
Tip: To apply a colour table saved to an .scd file to any design database:
1. Open the design database and click Colour on the Status toolbar.
2. Click Edit Colours and click Load Colour Palette.
3. Select the Colour scheme file. Click Open and select the colour table.
4. Click OK twice then click File > Save.
Green Lock
A green lock indicates a .dgd is open.
Orange Lock
Indicates that data may have been lost during an improper shut-down. The database
should be recovered before work continues.
Caution: If everyone on a server crashes at the same time, recovery steps should be followed by
one person at a time. If everyone attempts to recover at the same time, data becomes
permanently lost.
Red Lock
Red locks are activated by an .isis_lock file, which is temporarily created while a
.dgd is active.
Tutorial 2-2
Ensure you have a green lock on a .dgd.
Under some help topics, certain words may be underlined (hyperlinks) or highlighted in
blue (tool tips). Click a hyperlink to open related topics. Hover over a tool tip to display
extra information.
Pages in the Help menu that are frequently referenced can be added as favourites by
selecting Add on the Favourites tab.
Tutorial 2-3
Start Vulcan Help and read about a menu option.
Tip: To load multiple consecutive files, click and hold [Shift], then select the top and
bottom file in the range. Right-click on the highlighted files and select Load.
To load multiple non-consecutive files, click and hold [Ctrl] while selecting
individual files. Right-click on the highlighted files and select Load.
Open icon
Note: An underlay is a temporary graphical item. Examples include triangulations, labels, and
block model slices.
Tutorial 3-1
Practise loading and removing the POLY1 layer and the topo.00t triangulation.
When viewing data in a neutral situation, it is possible to zoom in or out using the
middle mouse button and the right mouse button simultaneously. An overlay circle
temporarily appears on-screen. Drag the cursor towards the circle to zoom out and
move away from the circle centre to zoom in.
When in virtual sphere or Z-up rotation modes (see “Rotate” on page 36), use the
[S] key from the keyboard to zoom in/out.
If the Zoom toolbar is active, use either the + (plus) or - (minus) keys to zoom in
and out. These toolbar icons use a zooming factor of 1.25 and 0.8 respectively.
Right-click to cancel out of zooming mode.
Zoom To Toolbar
The Zoom Data Extents icon sets the zoom value to allow all graphics to be displayed in
the Primary window.
If zooming to a specific object(s) is desired, highlight the object(s) and click the Zoom
Highlighted icon under the Zoom Data Extents child toolbar.
To zoom to the active layer select the Zoom Current Layer icon under the Zoom Data
Extents child toolbar.
Click Reset View on the graphics toolbar to return the Primary window to Plan view.
Zoom Highlighted
Zoom Current Layer
Pan
Panning is accomplished in a variety of ways:
Click on the Pan icon. Once active, use the left mouse button to click relative From
and To points in the Primary window
Tip: Click the [P] key on the keyboard to activate the pan mode.
On a 3-button mouse, hold the middle and left mouse buttons while moving the
mouse.
Position the mouse and zoom in and out with the middle mouse wheel.
Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to pan up, down, right and left.
Rotate
Four different rotate modes are located in the rotation child menu.
Ortho Sphere Rotation: The axes display in different colours. Left-click and hold
rings of the displayed sphere to rotate about the three principal axes (X, Y and Z).
Virtual Sphere Rotation: Left-click and drag the mouse to rotate.
Z-Up Rotation: Left-click and drag the mouse to rotate. Similar to Virtual Sphere
Rotation, except the Z axis is always up. This mode ensures that the horizon
remains horizontal when viewing topographical data.
Ortho Rotation: Left-click and drag the mouse to rotate. Keyboard strokes can
control rotation around vertical [V], the plane of the screen [W], and perpendicular
to the screen [U].
Tutorial 3-2
Try all four rotate modes and select the most comfortable option.
Click Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics > Input to set the default rotation.
Tip: Rotation speed is controlled by the distance the cursor is away from the centre of rotation.
To decrease the rotation speed, move the cursor away from the centre of rotation and
describe a wide arc. To speed up the rotation, move the cursor in a tight circle around the
centre point.
Tutorial 3-3
Set your favourite rotate mode as the default.
The Overview window may be resized, moved or docked. This window is associated with
a modified set of toolbars.
Tutorial 3-4
Load an Overview Window. Zoom in/out in the Primary window. Notice the blue extent
lines change in the Overview Window as you zoom.
Perspective View
Perspective View displays data from an isometric perspective. This is ideal for
visualisation of topographic models. Click the Perspective View icon or by pressing the
[V] key to toggle the option.
Using Zoom in Perspective View mode, behaves differently from zooming in normal
view. When zooming in perspective mode, three boxes are displayed to help visualise the
zooming process.
All objects inside the smallest box are still visible after the zoom. All objects outside the
largest box are not visible after the zoom. Objects between these two boxes may be
visible, but it depends upon the depth of the zoom. The middle box represents the user-
defined area.
In the above example, the data closest to the viewer appears to be distorted by the
perspective. In actuality, all tunnels are of the same cross-sectional size. Perspective
View mode is a visualisation tool only and is not recommended for normal digitising work.
Tutorial 3-5
1. Turn Perspective View on.
2. Try zooming, panning, or rotating and pick out differences between being in
regular view and Perspective View.
3. Turn off Perspective View.
Tip: When using Perspective view, open an Overview window and note the perspective
pyramid. The apex of the pyramid is the viewing point and the pyramid itself defines the
depth of view. Data not within the pyramid overlay are not visible in the Primary window.
Other Views
The Window file holds information about windows that are created. The Window file uses
the naming convention <project_code>.wnd.
The Envisage view can be changed in several ways using the View menu. The most
common tools are:
View > Change View > Set View: Select an axis position in Envisage, then
specify the rotations around the X, Y, and Z axes.
View > Change View > Vertical Exaggeration: Enter a vertical exaggeration.
This exaggeration has an effect until the Reset View resets exaggeration to a
default value of one.
View > Windows > Fit Layer: Generates a new temporary window which fit to the
coordinates of a nominated layer. This is useful if the data is located outside the
extents defined in the .dg1.
Visibility
Vulcan has two visibility toolbars, Visibility and PRIMARY:Visibilty.
The Visibility toolbar is associated with tools located under View > Visibility.
The PRIMARY:Visibilty toolbar is a Windows toolbar; therefore it is not associated
with any menus. It is useful because these visibility tools can be used while
performing other menu options. For example, while digitizing a design, a
Other Views 39
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
triangulation which is impeding the view of other objects can be rendered invisible
without exiting a digitizing mode.
Tip: To make an entire layer in which the object resides visible, shadowed or invisible, choose
a visibility option, then press and hold the [Shift] key while selecting the object.
Section View
Create Section View
Click View > Create Section (or press the Create Section View icon on the Standard
toolbar) to limit what is viewed on-screen to a defined section and thickness.
Note: This option does not unfold a section based on a multi-segment line. To unfold a section,
use tools in Geology > Drilling Section.
The Create Section dialog box is broken down into four areas:
Section Type – Defines the window and objects to slice through.
Create or replace the window’s primary section: The view changes
according to chosen specifications.
If Create a section through all objects or Create a section through a
single object are used, the view is not realigned until Align view is
enabled on the Slice Properties toolbar.
Primary Section Shadows – Shows data in a buffer outside the defined section
width
Clipping Planes – Defines the section’s appearance.
Select Plane By – Choose the method for defining the section. If 2 points or 3
points are used, standard snap modes can be used to define these points.
The coordinates of the current screen plane are displayed in the status bar. To exit
Section view, left-click the Toggle Sliced View icon on the Graphics toolbar.
Section View 41
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 3-6
1. Create a Section view with a clipping width of 25 on either side of the section.
2. Make your step size 50.
3. Select the plane by 2 points and click anywhere along the topo triangulation.
Where multiple non-primary sections have been created, the clipping width of each
individual section is influenced by the others. A fail-safe way to have the current section
obey the clipping criteria, is to set all of the non-current sections to No Clipping.
Slice Forward and Slice Backwards steps forward and backward through the
data at the defined Step interval.
Move Slicing Plane navigates through the data dynamically. Enable the option,
then hold down the left mouse button while dragging. This command can also be
accessed using View > Move Sections.
Align View With Current Slicing Plane is useful after rotating out of the Section
view. It is frequently used after creating a non-primary section, because this type of
section does not automatically change the view to be in the plane of the section.
Highlight Intersections toggles plane intersects on and off. For example, the
intersection of a triangulation with the section plane.
Drag the Display slider bar pointer to control the visibility of the section plane grid. The
grid display is invisible when the slider control is all the way to the left and fully visible
when the slider bar is all the way to the right.
Tip: The colour of the section grid plane display, and optionally, the coordinate
annotation, is set in the Create Section dialog box using the Display colour palette.
Tutorial 3-7
Move up and down through the sections with the Overview window on to become
familiar with Section view.
Section View 43
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
To begin digitising in Envisage first create (using New Layer) or allocate a layer.
To create Points, indicate an X,Y and Z location in 3D space using the mouse
cursor.
Line segments are created from a series of X, Y, Z locations.
A Polygon is a connected series of lines and a Textured Polygon is one with a
triangulation or texture image tiled over it.
To define a Rectangle, select the bottom left and a top right corner.
Use Spline, Arc, and Ellipse commands to create curves.
Any closed CAD data, such as polygons and circles, can be filled with a pattern. To
add a pattern right-click on the object, select Properties and choose a Pattern.
Do not digitise a closing segment when creating polygons as it is created using the
shortest distance between the first and last points digitised. Right-click to close.
Use the backspace key to undo the last digitised point while still actively digitising.
If not in an active digitising mode, use Design > Point Edit options to modify
existing points.
Undo/redo functionality can be used to undo an entire object rather than just a
point.
The Design toolbar can be turned on/off under Tools > Toolbar Visibility.
Tutorial 4-1
CAD Creation – Points, Lines, and Polygons
1. Ensure that a design database is open so that a new layer may be created.
2. Click Design > Create > Layer and enter DESIGN for the layer name and a
description.
3. Create five points anywhere on your screen using Design > Create > Point.
4. Create a line anywhere on your screen using Design > Create > Line.
5. Create a polygon using Design > Create > Polygon.
Tutorial 4-2
CAD Creation – Arcs and Circles
1. Create a new layer using Design > Create > Layer.
2. In the Layer field, type DESIGN2.
3. Add a Description then click OK.
4. Click Design > Create > Arc.
5. Select both options Centre and Radius and Radius and set the diameter to
10. Enter 1 for the Arc length step size. Click OK.
6. When prompted, indicate the centre point.
7. Right-click to exit the command.
8. Click Design > Create > Rectangle.
9. Use Design > Create > Polygon Textured.
10. Choose Use tiled texture and select EARTH
Symbols
Symbols can also be chosen for use in the design. Vulcan contains a symbol database,
symbols.dgd.isis, found in the Vulcan Explorer window under the Resources tab.
This database contains some standard symbols for oil and gas wells. Symbols from this
database can readily be added to a design layer using Design > Create > Symbol.
Custom, user-defined symbols can also be created using File > Symbols > New along
with standard Vulcan CAD tools.
Tutorial 4-3
1. Insert a symbol using Design > Create > Symbols.
2. Choose Centre Scaled X.
3. When prompted indicate the first and second alignment points.
Snap Modes
The Snap Mode options are located on the Digitise window toolbar.
Toggle Dynamic
Volume, right-click
for properties
Snap To Objects Key In Enter Zoom Factor
Point Data
Create line at given angle
Smart Snap, right-click for properties
Indicate
Indicate (or Free snap mode) digitises points without snapping to existing objects.
Points are created on a default Z elevation defined on the status bar at an X and Y point
indicated with the mouse.
If a gradient is defined on the status toolbar, the first point inherits the default Z value and
the remaining points follow the defined gradient. Hold down the [Shift] key to digitise a
point with the same Z level as the last edited/selected point.
Snap Modes 47
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tip: Use the Indicate mode in Plan view or in Section view. If the screen is rotated, the
resulting point may not be created where intended.
Snap to Objects
Snap to Objects snaps to any existing graphical object. The X,Y and Z coordinates are
interpolated from the object clicked.
Snap to Points
Snap to Points digitises at points or intersections. When a position is chosen in
Envisage, snapping occurs to the closest existing point. The X, Y and Z coordinates for
the new point are the same as the existing point.
Tip: Before creating a point, hold the [Shift] key to preview where Vulcan will ‘snap to’.
To snap to a point, click on the line segment close to the desired point instead of clicking
the exact point desired.
Snap to Grid
Snap to Grid requires that a 2D mapping grid is loaded on-screen. When executed, input
is snapped onto the closest grid intersection beneath the cursor.
Custom Cursor
To activate the custom cursor, left-click the custom cursor icon on the graphics toolbar.
Right-click the icon to modify cursor properties.
A Scaled Cursor changes accordingly when zooming in or out. A Fixed Cursor does not
dynamically scale up or down but remains the specified size, which is from edge to edge
of the cursor. For example, if Circle is checked as the Scaled Cursor, then the specified
size is the diameter of the circle.
Bearing Input
Tip: To get or create a point relative to the last digitised point, enter an R in front of a
coordinate value or check All Relative.
Tutorial 4-4
Use Key In Point Data to create the shape shown below in a new layer named
CAD_INPUTS.
Tip: Vulcan remembers the coordinates of the last created or selected point. Relative values,
are calculated from the last point entered or selected in Envisage.
Bearing Input
Bearing Input creates new points at a specified angle and distance or from the last point
when in a digitising mode.
Points are created with this tool in one of three ways.
Bearing units
Angle units
Tutorial 4-6
Use Bearing Input, Angle Input and Keyboard Input dialog boxes to draw the purple
shape shown below in the CAD_INPUTS layer.
Tutorial 4-7
1. Create a new layer named BOUNDARY.
2. Digitise a point: X:77802, Y:4958, Z:200
3. Draw the polygon shown below.
Track Section of Existing Line traces portions of objects quickly. This is helpful when
tracing contours or pit strings. This option only works in an active digitising mode such as
Design > Create > Polygon or Design > Create > Line.
Tip: If the track section is tracing the line or polygon the wrong way, press the space bar to
trace the opposite way.
Tutorial 4-8
1. Load layer TRACK_SECTION on-screen.
2. Create a single polygon that traces around all four lines in the loaded layer.
3. Click Design > Layer Edit > Copy to create a copy of the polygon to a new
layer named TRACK_SECTION_POLYGON.
Text
Using Fonts
There are two types of text in Vulcan: 2D text and 3D text. 2D text is always oriented in
Plan view. 3D text can be created in any plane.
Text fonts are stored in the Resources area as .font files. If the files are missing, the text
does not appear. Furthermore, if the environment variables TEMP and TMP are not set up
correctly, the text drop-down lists are blank. 2D and 3D text defaults can be set in Tools >
Preferences > Envisage > Defaults. For more information on the resources area, TEMP,
or TMP, refer to “Environment Variables” on page 3.
Tutorial 4-9
Click Tools > Preferences and turn off text defaults for both 2D and 3D text.
2D Text
There are two basic types of 2D text:
Fixed Fonts remain the same size in Envisage and are always horizontal and
legible, no matter how the screen is rotated or zoomed. These fonts are ideal for
drillhole labelling. Do not use for plotting as it is difficult to determine the text size
on the actual plot. The fixed fonts are: SMALL, NORMAL, MEDIUM and LARGE.
Scaled Fonts resize with zooming. Text size is set a particular scale. The text is
only legible in plan view.
Vector Fonts are supplied with Vulcan and are available to every Vulcan
user. SCALED, TIMES+ or SCRIPT are all vector fonts.
True Type Fonts are loaded on an individual computer independent of
Vulcan. To create a True Type font, right-click on any 2D text object and
select True Type Font.
Note: A True Type Font can be applied to any 2D text object, but fixed text must
be converted to scaled text before the True Type font can be applied.
Envisage converts the text automatically when choosing to apply a True
Type Font.
Tutorial 4-10
1. Create a new layer: PRACTICE_TEXT.
2. Add three separate 2D text objects using:
a. A fixed font.
b. A scaled font.
c. A vector font.
3. Apply a True Type font to the scaled text.
4. Load the BOUNDARY layer and label the boundary polygon with your name and
today’s date. Ensure the text is a reasonable size and is easy to read.
3D Text
Unlike 2D text, 3D text can be used in any plane. There are no different types of 3D text.
All available fonts are listed, and you may not apply a True Type font after creation. The
fonts provided are similar to the vector fonts of 2D text. 3D text is a particular size at a
particular scale, and therefore becomes larger and smaller with zooming.
Text 55
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
To create 3D text:
1. Click Design > Create > Create 3D Text.
2. When prompted, indicate text origin and direction.
3. Click Design > Text 3D Edit to edit the text or its attributes.
Right-click the text and select Edit Text to change text content.
Right-click the text and select Properties to alter text attributes.
Choose to mirror text in the Horizontal plane or the Vertical plane.
3D text can mirror in horizontal and vertical planes to obtain correct text
facing.
The limits for 3D text are 132 characters per line with a maximum of 60
lines.
Tip: Create a Section view in the plane where text should appear before creating text. Manual
rotations may not be exact, which may cause improper text placement.
Tutorial 4-11
1. Create 3D text in the PRACTICE_TEXT layer using various rotations to
experiment with how 3D text works.
2. Set up 2D and 3D text defaults in Tools > Preferences.
Menu Options
Label Colour
By default, label colour is defined by a colour choice made in Tools > Preferences >
Envisage > Graphics > Colours. Click Analyse > Label > Underlay Label Colour to
override a default colour choice.
Analyse Tools 57
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Point Labels
Analyse > Label > Point Label displays as fixed font, which means labels remain the
same size in Envisage regardless of the current zoom and are always legible regardless
of screen orientation. Analyse > Label > Point Label to Text described later in this
section allows control over text properties.
1. Click Analyse > Label > Point Label.
2. Select a label method. Attributes vary with the label method chosen.
Point Label allows one set of labels to be displayed at any given time.
Load data to be labelled in Envisage, then select data with an appropriate method.
Command Definition
Group and Layer Selects all objects within a specific group and layer.
Feature and Layer Selects objects with common features in a single layer.
Tip: To label the points using a context menu, right-click on an object and select the
appropriate label method.
Menu Options 59
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 5-2
1. Load the MY_LABEL layer.
2. Ensure no object is labelled.
3. Click Analyse > Label > Point Label to Text.
4. Select MY_LABEL from the Layer drop-down list.
5. Check Name and W.
6. Change the TrueType font to SCALED.
7. The text should be 2 cm at a Drafting angle of 45 decimal degrees.
Object Label
Clicking Analyse > Label > Object Label displays as fixed font, which means labels
remain the same size in Envisage regardless of the current zoom and are always legible
regardless of screen orientation. Click Analyse > Label > Object Label to Text to control
font type or size.
Select a label type. Attributes vary with the label method chosen.
To remove the object label click Analyse > Label > Remove.
Tutorial 5-3
1. Load the MY_LABEL layer. Ensure no object is labelled.
2. Click Analyse > Label > Object Label.
3. Label every object in MY_LABEL with its corresponding Name displayed in the
Centre of each object.
4. Label every object in MY_LABEL with its corresponding Value displayed with 2
Decimals.
5. Label every object in MY_LABEL with its corresponding Group.
Tutorial 5-4
1. Load the MY_LABEL layer. Ensure no object is labelled.
2. Click Analyse > Label > Object Label to Text.
3. Select MY_LABEL from the Layer drop-down list.
4. Set up the Settings tab so that each object’s Name appears in the Centre of the
object.
5. Change the TrueType font to SCALED.
6. The text should be 4 cm at a Drafting angle of 45 decimal degrees.
7. When prompted, Select by Group and click the triangle.
8. Append the resulting text to MY_LABEL.
9. Right-click on a label and select Move to reposition it.
Tutorial 5-5
1. Load the REFERENCE_POINT layer.
2. Label the start point of the boundary polygon with X and Y coordinates.
3. Save the labels to a layer named REFERENCE_POINT_LABEL.
4. Label the gradient of the RAMP layer.
Menu Options 61
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Layer Edits
To modify layers, select options in Design > Layer Edit.
Command Definition
Transfer Moves data from one layer to another. An existing layer may be
chosen, or enter a unique name to create a new layer.
Edit Tools 63
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tip: All options in Vulcan prompt in the lower left hand corner (as well as the top of the screen)
for selections and actions. Follow the prompts when learning a new menu option.
Tutorial 6-1
Transfer the boundary polygon from the REFERENCE_POINT layer into a layer named
BOUNDARY.
Object Edits
Use tools in Design > Object Edit to modify objects loaded in Envisage.
Command Definition
Delete By Poly Deletes points outside or inside selected polygons. Lines, which
connect points, may not be flush with the selected polygon.
Clip by Poly Deletes points outside or inside selected polygons and relimits
lines to the edge of the polygon. Resulting object lines are flush
with the selected polygon.
Trim Cuts lines to a nominated object so that they are flush with the
object. This is similar to the AutoCAD trim function.
Command Definition
Join Lines Combines objects at end point locations to create one object.
Consistent Makes point order within each selected object either consistently
clockwise or counterclockwise.
Several examples of how the Object Edit functions work are provided below. The options
are easy to understand by following the prompts and reading the associated dialog boxes.
To register an object:
1. Load layers TOP_PIT and topo.00t triangulation on-screen.
Hover the cursor over the TOP_PIT layer. Notice that the elevation displayed at
the bottom of the Vulcan screen is zero. If the triangulation is solid shaded and you
are in plan view, you will not be able to see the layer without rotating the display or
making the triangulation transparent.
Object Edits 65
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 6-2
Register the polygon in the BOUNDARY layer to the topo.00t triangulation as shown
in Figure 6-4.
5. When prompted to select object, choose the line on the upper left.
6. Pick point 1 as the start point and point 2 as the end point.
7. Enter a Gradient of 20. Uncheck Grade with constant length. Click OK.
8. You are prompted to Retain or Reject graded object. Select to Retain the grade.
You can continue selecting objects for editing. Pick the upper middle line.
9. Pick point 2 as the start point and point 3 as the end point.
10. Enter a Gradient of 20. Check Grade with constant length.
11. Select Move points following end point, which assigns new X, Y and Z
coordinates to all points following the end point, in such a way that the gradients
following the end point are not changed.
12. Select to Retain the grade.
13. Pick the upper right line.
14. Pick point 2 as the start point and point 3 as the end point.
15. Enter a gradient of 20.
16. The Confirm menu is displayed. Select the Do not move following points option.
17. Select to Retain the grade. The objects should look like those shown in Figure 6-6.
Object Edits 67
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
5. Apply a 2D Filter with a Minimum deviation from the line of 0.1. The filtered line
is displayed in grey, and you are prompted to Retain or Reject the filter.
6. Zoom in close enough to view the filtered points. If the new object is acceptable,
select Retain filter. Output from the filtering process is displayed in the Report
window.
Note: If an object is designed in 3D, such as triangulation profiles, select the 3D Filter
option. This option allows you to specify the deviation from the line and filters X, Y,
Z values, whereas the 2D Filter does not change the Z value. If filtering contour
lines, a 3D filter does not affect the Z values as each object has only one unique Z
value.
Tutorial 6-3
1. Close all open layers.
2. Load my_split.arch_d using File > Load Archive.
3. Right-click the green line, then click Label > Point Sequence. Choose to label
All Points.
4. Click Design > Object Edit > Split and select Split by point. Follow the
prompts to split the green line at points 4 and 8.
5. Click Design > Object Edit > Join Lines. Join both sides of the solid green line
with the ends of the dashed blue line.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 to join the solid red line with the dashed purple line.
7. Delete the two remaining solid inner strings.
Tutorial 6-4
Load the layer named 50_METER_LINES. Use options in Design > Object Edit to cut
the lines so they exist only within the boundary polygon as shown in Figure 6-8.
Point Edits
Design > Point Edit tools modify points, or points in objects, loaded in Envisage.
Command Definition
Note: To ensure accurate point selection, click the line near the point, not on the point.
Point Edits 69
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tip: Hold the [Shift] key while moving a point in Indicate mode to toggle the choice made in
Tools > Preferences > Envisage > Graphics> Input.
Tutorial 6-5
1. Load the MY_POINTS layer.
2. Click Design > Point Edit > Move and move one of the points in the hexagon.
3. Click Design > Point Edit > Move To Intersection and move one of the points
in the line to a corner of the square.
4. Click Design > Point Edit > Append and to extend one end of the line.
Tutorial 6-6
1. Load the RAMP layer.
2. Change the Z elevation of the uppermost point to an elevation of 100 to match
topo_countours.00t.
3. Apply -8% grade to the ramp. Ensure the first and last points do not move.
Command Definition
Interpolate Inserts points to divides a single line segment into multiple line
segments. Enter a desired distance between points or a number
of resulting line segments to control segmentation.
To replace a string:
1. Draw a polygon on-screen (Design > Create > Polygon).
2. Right-click twice to exit the command.
3. Click Design > Point Insert > Replace String.
4. When prompted, select the object, then click on a start and end point.
5. Select to replace the highlighted or not highlighted portion.
6. Re-digitise new point locations for the chosen segment. Begin at the point labelled
S (start) and work toward the point labelled E (End).
7. Right-click when the string is re-created.
8. Select Interpolate to alter digitised Z values, or Do not interpolate to retain
digitised point elevations.
9. Observe the preview, and choose to Retain or Reject replacement.
10. Right-click to exit the command.
Point Insert 71
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 6-7
1. Load the MY_POINTS layer.
2. Click Design > Point Insert > Insert to change a section of the hexagon. Do
not interpolate Z values.
3. Click Design > Point Insert > Interpolate. Select the square and one of its
sides. Choose Equal parts, then enter 4.
4. Interpolate 4 points into another side of the square which is perpendicular to the
side chosen in step 3.
5. Click Design > Point Insert > Apply Curve and apply a curve with a radius of
50 to the corner between the two sides of the square modified in steps 3 and 4.
Tutorial 6-8
1. Load layer TRACK_SECTION_POLYGON created in Tutorial 4-8 and the
EXTENSION layer.
2. Modify the polygon in the TRACK_SECTION_POLYGON layer to include the
object in the extension layer. See Figure 6-10.
Polygon Edit
Design > Polygon Edit options alter existing polygon objects.
Command Definition
Tutorial 6-10
1. Close all open layers.
2. Load my_build.arch_d using File > Load Archive.
3. Click Design > Polygon Edit > Build.
4. Enter MY_POLYS as the Polygons layer name and click OK.
5. Select by Layer, and choose any object in MY_BUILD.
6. Confirm Build polygons and Retain polygons.
7. Remove the MY_BUILD layer to view resulting polygons.
Tutorial 6-11
1. Using various CAD tools of your choice, draw a polygon as outlined below with
reference to the boundary polygon. This serves as the base of our warehouse.
Ensure this polygon is in a new layer named WAREHOUSE.
2. Register this polygon onto the topo.00t triangulation. Use a lowest point
registration so that the base of the polygon is flat.
Polygon Edit 73
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Move Data
The Move toolbar contains various tools to change the position of objects. Click Tools >
Toolbar Visibility and check Move to enable the toolbar. The Move toolbar is a
subtoolbar (child) of the Modify toolbar.
Translate
The most common move command is Design > Transformation > Translate. It is used
to specify a reference point (start point) for the movement and then the destination point
(translation point). The selected objects are moved along a vector between the reference
point and destination point. Since object movement is based solely on distance and
direction between the reference and destination points, these points can be specified
anywhere in Envisage. It is not necessary to snap to data when creating reference and
destination points.
Tip: Use the Input options (keyboard, bearing, and angle) in the Digitise toolbar to specify
exact point coordinates when moving objects.
To use Design > Transformation > Translate, load the CAD_INPUTS layer on-screen
and follow the instructions below to create a copy of the purple box as shown in Figure 6-
13.
Tutorial 6-12
Create a copy of the WAREHOUSE polygon ten metres directly above it. See Figure 6-
14. The new polygon is used to design the warehouse roof.
Drag
Design > Object Edit > Drag quickly moves or creates a copy of an object loaded in
Envisage. Left-click and hold the object, then drag it to a new location. Release the
mouse, then choose to Move or Copy the object.
Tip: Design > Object Edit > Drag moves or copies 2D text, but does not work with 3D text.
Right-click on a loaded design object and choose Move to quickly move the object. Move
the mouse to preview the new location position. Left-click once to place the object in the
desired location.
Tutorial 6-13
1. Create crest line for the warehouse roof as shown below. The line should divide
the roof into two equal parts.
2. Change the Z elevation of the roof crest line so it is three metres higher than the
roof polygon.
Move Data 75
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Report Attributes
Use the information icon located on the Status toolbar to quickly obtain properties for any
object loaded in Envisage.
Note: Right-click any object and choose Report Details to view robust object information.
Alternately, click Analyse > Details > List. For more details, see Table 9-1 on page 89.
Data Attributes 77
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Change Attributes
To change a layer name or description, use Design > Layer Edit > Name.
Manipulate other object attributes through options in Design > Attribute Edit.
Groups
Utilize groups to work with a number of otherwise un-related objects simultaneously. To
group objects together, select desired objects and set the group attribute to a common
value. Select object within a single layer, or across multiple layers.
To group data together manually:
1. Click Design > Attribute Edit > Group.
2. Select the data to be grouped.
3. Enter a Group name.
Design > Attribute Edit > Group by Attribute groups different objects by graphical
attributes such as colour, line type, pattern or object value. Check grouping with the
Information icon.
Tutorial 7-1
1. Load the CONTOURS layer on-screen.
2. Group the contour lines into MINOR and MAJOR groups. Major contours are at 5
meter intervals (100,105). All other contour lines are in the Minor group.
3. Use View > Visibility > Design Visibility to hide all minor contours and show
only major contours in Envisage.
Features
A feature is a predetermined set of attributes, such as colour, line type or pattern.
Features require set up before they can be applied to data.
Setting up Features
Design > Feature Edit > Create configures feature sets. Up to 512 features can be
created and stored in a <project_prefix>.ftd file in the current working folder.
Note: When specifying a feature name, the word ‘SYMBOL’ can not be used.
Each type of attribute defined in a feature can be applied one of three ways:
Attribute Definition
Prompt Asks for attribute choices during object creation. Text entered
when the feature was created appears as a prompt for the
person using the feature. For example, if the feature should
prompt for the name of an object, enter Surveyor Name as the
prompt. When someone uses the feature, he or she is asked to
enter Surveyor Name as the object name.
Change Attributes 79
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
The following dialog boxes show some properties that can be set for a feature.
Figure 7-4 Define Layer/object names Figure 7-5 Establish object attributes
Toe Crest
Layer Name Prompt for survey number/date Prompt for survey number/date
Object Name Prompt for Surveyor name Prompt for Surveyor name
Using Features
After features have been set up, they can be applied to existing data or to new objects.
Features can not be assigned to text objects or symbols.
Design > Attribute Edit > Feature applies features to existing data.
Tutorial 7-4
Load the TOES_AND_CRESTS layer. Assign the TOE feature to the toe strings, and the
CREST feature to the crest strings.
Design > Create > Feature applies features to data upon creation. Select the feature and
digitise objects in Envisage. Objects express attributes defined in the feature selected.
Tutorial 7-5
Create a new layer named SURVEY and using the features created, draw a toe and a
crest line.
Change Attributes 81
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Objects which share a common feature can be made visible, invisible or shadowed. The
Visibility toolbar contains the feature visibility icons:
Visible by Feature
Shadow by Feature
Invisible by Feature
The same visibility settings can be found under View > Visibility.
Tutorial 7-6
Practise using the visibility settings using both features and groups.
File Selection
In general, there are two ways Vulcan prompts for file selection. The desired file is either
moved from the left side of a panel to the right side, or it is chosen from a drop down list.
Both panels usually include functionality to Browse to a folder other than the current
working directory.
File Selection 83
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Note: Import .csv files with File > Import > ASCII. Do not use File > Import > CSV as this
imports .csv files into an Isis database.
Tutorial 8-1
Import the import.asc file into a layer named POINT_IMPORT. Ensure the objects
imported are points instead of lines.
Tip: ASCII imports can utilize feature codes. The field which contains a feature code is defined
on the Object Records tab. See “Features” on page 79.
Tutorial 8-2
Export a .csv file of the boundary polygon named boundary. Include X, Y and Z and
Point Number in the file.
Note: Shape files require a data file (.shp), an index file, (.shx) and a database table (.dbf)
located in the same directory. Each of these files contain the same prefix.
ESRI shape files contain attribute information for the objects which may vary from the
individual object ID to large sets of data describing that object. Limited shape file
attributes may be imported with design strings. Use the Options and Metadata Options
tabs.
Coordinate
Use Analyse > Details > Coordinate to display the easting, northing and elevation of a
point in the Report window. To ensure accurate results, use Snap To Points mode to query
points or Snap To Object to query a string.
Analyse Toolbar 87
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 9-1
1. Close all open layers.
2. Load my_analyse.arch_d using File > Load Archive.
3. Click Analyse > Details > Coordinate. Ensure you are in Snap To Points
mode, and select the six points of the hexagon.
4. Click Analyse > Details > Distance. Ensure you are in Snap To Points mode,
and select two points of the hexagon.
5. Click Analyse > Details > Along String. Ensure you are in Snap To Points
mode, and select two points on opposite sides of the hexagon.
Area
Analyse > Details > Area reports an area of an interactively digitised polygon, results are
displayed in the Report window. Use appropriate snapping modes to increase accuracy.
Tip: If the polygon is not drawn in Plan view, click View > Create Section to align Envisage
with the desired plane. This ensures that area is reported accurately.
Polygon Area
Analyse > Details > Polygon Area measures planar areas and projected volumes of
existing polygons. This option can also calculate the area of ‘doughnut’ polygons (i.e.
polygons within polygons). Results are generated to the Report window.
Tip: Polygons must be loaded into Envisage before attempting to calculate area.
Use Design > Object Edit > Coalesce to combine two polygons which define a doughnut
into one object using before calculating doughnut areas.
To calculate volume, enter an assumed thickness in the panel.
Command Definition
Strike/Dip Calculates strike and dip for a plane containing three selected
points.
Possible uses:
Obtain strike/dip for any rotated view.
Report strike/dip of a plane in a triangulation.
Tutorial 9-3
1. Close all open layers.
2. Load the MY_ANALYSE layer.
3. Click Analyse > Details > Centroid and display the hexagon’s centre point.
When prompted, select Keep Underlay.
4. Click Analyse > Details > Strike/Dip. Ensure you are in Snap To Points mode,
and select the triangle’s vertices. When prompted, select Keep Underlay.
5. Click File > Underlays > Convert to Object. Enter UNDERLAYS for the Layer
name. Click the hexagon’s centroid point and the triangle’s strike/dip symbol.
6. Click File > Underlays > Remove All to remove underlays from MY_ANALYSE
and view the design data saved in the UNDERLAYS layer.
7. Click Analyse > Details > List and select any object.
Tutorial 9-4
1. Find the dip of a slope defined by the CONTOUR layer.
2. Find the number of points in the boundary polygon.
Polygon Area 89
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tip: When closing Vulcan, there is an option to compress and rebuild design databases
automatically however this option does not include Isis databases. It is good practice to
periodically compress and rebuild Isis databases manually.
Database Overview 91
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Note: To open/close databases and .dsf files, select the File menu in Isis.
To create a new design click File > New Design. By default, design files are created in
the local working directory.
DSF file names are limited to three characters in length. General naming conventions for
different types of databases include:
.dhd – drillhole database
.cmp – composite database
.smp – samples database
.tek – geotech database
Tutorial 10-1
Open Isis and create a new .dsf named DHD.
Tutorial 10-2
Complete the following to continue design file creation:
1. Enter a description.
2. Select a Drilling Type database.
3. Select a Tangent Desurvey Style.
4. Ensure the data source is Isis.
Note: The Key Field is of special importance as it correlates data between all tables and .csv
files. In a drillhole database this is the collar name field.
Tutorial 10-3
Examine the data in the five .csv files provided (collar, assay, survey, geology,
and structure). Think about the tables and fields required in the design.
To create tables in the design file that correspond with each .csv file, click Table > Insert
or Table > Append which adds tables into the .dsf file. Table > Insert places a new
table to the left of the active table, whereas Table > Append places a new table to the
right.
Note: The first table in the .dsf must contain the Key Field.
Tutorial 10-4
Create five tables and name them collar, survey, assay, geo and struct, with
collar being the left most table.
Each table contains fields that correspond with columns of data in the .csv files. For
example, a collar table generally contains Hole ID, Easting, Northing, and Elevation fields,
which also exist as columns in the .csv file.
Certain fields contain critical information which allows Envisage to display numerical
information graphically. Synonyms are used to define these fields.
Choose appropriate Synonyms from a drop-down list in Table Properties for each table.
The field Synonyms drop-down list for each table is populated from the synonym set
chosen for a table.
Each field is associated to several columns which define data properties:
Name of the field.
Description of the field.
Tip: Integer values are stored as Text in an Isis database. Store a number with
no decimals as a Single precision variable to save space.
Tip: Not every field needs a Synonym. In a drillhole database, Synonyms must be
defined for collar and downhole survey information. Define as many synonyms as
possible, but do not force synonyms in fields where they do not belong.
Tutorial 10-5
Enter the information for the COLLAR table as shown below.
Tip: To reduce error, select from drop-down lists instead of entering values into fields.
Key Fields
A Key Field must be defined to tell the database which field ties data across all tables
together. To define a Key Field, right-click in the gray area to the left of the field name and
select Primary Key. Note that the Primary Key must be defined on the first, or left-most,
table.
Tutorial 10-6
Define the HOLEID field as the Primary Key.
After a Primary Key is defined, click File > Save to save the .dsf.
Tutorial 10-7
1. Use the .csv files to complete fields for the following tables: SURVEY,
ASSAY, GEO, AND STRUCT.
2. Save the .dsf and exit out of Isis.
Figure 10-5 CSV Load - Data Files and Database dialog box
Tip: Some Vulcan menu options require that a database contain a project prefix. To ensure
that the database can be used by all Vulcan menus, enter the project prefix as the first
part of a file name. Example: thordrillholes.
Tutorial 10-8
Click File > Import and complete the CSV Load - Data Files and Database dialog box.
Name the database thordrill.dhd.isis.
Field Connections connect database fields to columns in .csv files. This must be done
for each table before proceeding. The first Field Connections dialog box looks slightly
different than the others.
All subsequent dialog boxes require that an index field be chosen. An index field is
whichever field was defined as the Primary Key in the design, for example HOLEID.
Note: Datafile fields populate automatically if the column name in the CSV file matches the field
name in the design. If names do not match exactly, connections must be made manually
by selecting appropriate CSV column names from the drop down list.
Tutorial 10-9
Complete field connections for each table in the design.
A specification file saves the defined field connections for future use. To activate this
option, check Save the specifications and enter a Specification name.The specification
is saved in a file named csv_specs in the \csv_load_specs folder of the Vulcan
Resources area.
Click Finish to import data. Any errors in the data file, such as overlapping intervals,
generate to the Report window.
Any errors should always be investigated and corrected before using the database in
other parts of Vulcan.
Tutorial 10-10
Import the files and ensure there are no errors. If there are errors, fix the errors in the
.csv files and re-import the data.
Tip: Some Vulcan menu options require that a database contain a project prefix. To ensure
that the database can be used by all Vulcan menus, enter the project prefix as the first
part of a file name. Example: thordrillholes.
Use the Import Tables dialog box to make connections between tables and fields in the
database design, and the columns in the data files. Choose a data file for each table in the
design. If a table is not linked with an appropriate data file, the import process fails.
Columns in the data files must follow the sequence of the fields in the design file. If a
column is not found at the position expected by the design, then Isis imports incorrect
contents into database fields.
Click the Save icon to save import specifications. An Isis Import ASCII specification file
follows the convention <name>.iia. Use this file to quickly import data files using the
design, without re-creating connections at a later stage.
Save icon
To use an existing specification file, click the Folder icon and select the appropriate .iia
file from the displayed list of files.
A message shows the total number of objects (drillholes) in the new database.
Tutorial 10-11
1. Import a second database using Isis menu options.
2. Name the database thortables.dhd.isis.
5. On the Create New Data Source dialog box, select Driver do Microsoft Access
(*mdb). Click Finish.
6. On the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box, enter a Data Source Name.
The maximum length of the Data Source Name is eight characters.
7. Add a Description.
4. On the Create New Data Source dialog box, select Driver do Microsoft Access
(*mdb). Click Finish.
5. On the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box, enter a Data Source Name.
The maximum length of the Data Source Name is eight characters.
6. Add a Description.
7. Click Select and browse to the correct .mdb file.
Tutorial 10-12
Set up a ODBC link to the drillholes.mdb MS Access database.
4. Choose the Data source created in Windows. Enter a User name and Password
if these exist for the database. If the database is not password protected, leave
these blank.
5. Click Configure to link a table in the database Source to the design table.
6. Click the Source Information button in the Source column to link fields in the
design, to columns in the ODBC database.
Source
Information
7. After all fields in each table are connected, click File > Save to save the design.
To confirm the ODBC connection:
1. Click File > Open Database.
2. Select ODBC Link, then select the ODBC-linked design from the drop-down list.
Click OK.
AcQuire™
The acQuire interface in Vulcan creates a link to an acQuire database containing drillhole
or composite data. The link is saved as a file in the working directory with the convention
<project_prefix><link_name>.acq.isis. Once the link is in place, the interface
performs like acQuire, with dialog boxes to control which data displays.
A .dsf file is not necessary, but a data source in Windows is required.
Note: To set up a data source and configure the link between Vulcan and an acQuire database,
you need to have access to an acQuire database server.
5. Name the data source and give it a Description. The Server to connect to should
be the name of the computer where the database is stored. Click Next.
7. Select Change the default database to and select the desired database from the
drop-down list. Click Next.
8. Accept the defaults and click Finish.
9. The ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog box displays the settings for the
newly created link. To verify the connection click Test Data Source.
10. Verify that the ‘TESTS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY!’ and click OK.
AcQuire™ 105
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
5. Name the data source and give it a Description. The Server to connect to should
be the name of the computer where the database is stored. Click Next.
6. Check Connect to SQL Server to obtain default settings for the additional
configuration options. Click Next.
7. Select option Change the default database to and select the desired database
from the drop-down list. Click Next.
8. Accept the defaults and click Finish.
9. The ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog box displays the settings for the
newly created link. To verify the connection click Test Data Source.
Tutorial 10-13
If you have access to a server, set up a data source to the acQuire database provided
in the accompanying course data set.
After a data source is set up through Windows, access the source using Vulcan Isis. To
connect to an acQuire database in Vulcan Isis:
1. Open Isis.
2. Click File > AcQuire.
3. Select Setup a new acQuire database link, and enter a name for the link. Click
OK.
AcQuire™ 107
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
5. Select the data source from the ODBC Name list and click CONNECT.
6. If required, enter your the user name and password for the database.
The dialog box is the same as that displayed by acQuire.
The following tutorials show how to configure the acQuire database for use in Vulcan
using the most popular acQuire panel options.
Tutorial 10-15
1. Click the Assay tab and expand the Export list.
2. Select all the fields in the Best Assays directory.
3. Click OK to accept the settings.
Click OK to display a new dialog box where Vulcan abbreviations can be managed. By
default, Vulcan field names are shortened versions of an acQuire field name.The default
field name can be altered. Customised field names are limited to six characters. Duplicate
field names within a table are not allowed.
AcQuire™ 109
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Click OK to complete field configuration and continue to down hole survey definition.
Tutorial 10-16
Verify or change the Vulcan field names and click OK.
The down hole survey Style controls how holes are displayed in Envisage. The most
common style is Tangent.
Tutorial 10-17
Choose a survey style and click OK.
When the link to an acQuire database is complete, the Isis database functions like any
other Vulcan database.The name of the database is <LinkName>.acq.isis.
Tip: Click Isis and Envisage icons next to the Vulcan Start menu to toggle
between utilities.
3. Click File > Close or File > Quit Isis to close the database.
Tutorial 11-1
Open thordrill.dhd.isis. Ensure everything looks correct and that each table is
populated with data.
Vulcan Explorer
The User Database folder at the bottom of Vulcan Explorer’s folder tree classifies all
databases into two categories: Headered and ODBC. The actual database files are
shown as containers within the appropriate folder. Each database container contains two
groups of information:
The Objects sub-folder lists every drillhole record in the database.
The Design container lists every table and field in the database.
Notebook/Multiple Window
Views
There are two ways to display the database in Isis:
Notebooks
Multiple Windows
Notebooks
Notebook is the default view that displays databases as a single window with database
tables shown as tabs. Each tab is made up of rows and columns. The columns
correspond to the database fields, and the rows correspond to field data entries.
To view information for a specific record (drillhole) choose the drillhole name from the
drop-down list located in the top left corner. Alternately, enter a drillhole name and press
[Enter].
Tip: Drillhole names are case sensitive. Drillholes named AB1, ab1, Ab1 and aB1 are all
treated as unique drillholes. Avoid using spaces or special characters (such as %, $, |) in
drillhole names.
The contents of the rows and columns in each table’s tab vary as different drillholes are
selected. Select a table’s tab to view its contents
Right-click a row number in a table to open a context menu of edit options.
Right-click a column name in a table for sort options.
Tutorial 11-2
Open the database in a Multiple Windows view.
Initially, a database opens in a single window. This is an index table which lists the tables
contained within the database. The drop-down list box in the top left corner of the index
table lists all the database records (drillholes) for the database.
Double-click on a table name to display the table in a separate window. Windows may be
launched for each table. Windows can be resized or positioned with standard Microsoft
Windows® resizing and positioning techniques.
Tutorial 11-3
Select the view you prefer.
Legends
Legends are saved the scheme file (.scd). The file is stored in the current working
directory unless the corporate standards environment variable is enabled. The Scheme
file naming convention is <project_code>.scd or corpstd.scd.
Legend options are found under Analyse > Legend Edit. To build a legend, select
Analyse > Legend Edit > Legend Editor.
A list of schemes appears; DRILL and SCALE schemes apply to drillholes.
A DRILL scheme provides standard colours for drillhole traces. SCALE schemes make
display discs on intervals of interest to make them more obvious.
Legends 115
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Note: Entries in Legend Editor must match the database table and field names exactly. If
incorrect, the drillholes either load with incorrect colours or they do not load at all.
To create a legend, double-click [*] New Legend in the desired folder. Right-click the
untitled legend, choose Rename, and enter a new title.
Consider the following options when creating a DRILL legend:
Scheme Type: Type of data for the legend to show, either Alpha or Numeric.
Use Database: Choose an existing database to help fill out panel fields. Database
fields populate drop down lists to help avoid error.
Record (Table): Enter or choose the table where data of interest exists. For
example, to display gold values, choose ASSAY.
Field Name: Enter or choose the field where data of interest exists. For example,
AU.
To/From: Instructs how to draw intervals downhole. Most often, the value is TO
and FROM, respectively.
Unassigned: Enter a default value which exists in the selected field. The value is
ignored when colour ranges are built. This option is only available for Numeric
legends.
Data Range: When a database is specified, click Get Range to build ranges based
upon values in the Field Name. The Interval value defines the Colour Ranges bin
0 1 Green
1 2 Orange
Use Null values and non-logged intervals colour controls how a hole trace
displays when loaded into Envisage.
Build Colour Ranges: Populates Colour Ranges intervals automatically based
upon data and entries in Data range.
Colour Ranges: Select a colour for each interval. Alternately, right-click the Colour
column header and select Colour Range from the context menu.
Note: Data can be copied and pasted between columns and rows.
Right click an interval row number to insert or delete rows.
Tutorial 12-1
Create a drillhole legend to display the gold values in the database. Use intervals
shown in Figure 12-2.
Legends 117
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Alpha legends are case sensitive. TQ1, tq1, Tq1 and tQ1 are all unique entries.
Tutorial 12-2
Create a legend to display the different rock types shown.
Load Drillholes
To load drillholes:
1. Click Geology > Drilling > Open Database.
2. Click Geology > Drilling > Load Drillholes. The data can be loaded in a variety of
ways as shown in Figure 12-5.
Tip: If a legend name is not specified, several panels display which configure a temporary
legend. The legend is only available until the drillholes are removed, and cannot be saved
or reused. It is advisable to create an appropriate legend before loading drillholes via
Analyse > Legend Edit > Legend Editor. See “Legends” on page 115.
Note: Drillholes that display as all one colour or are not visible indicate a problem within the
legend database fields.
Tutorial 12-3
Load the drillholes using the gold legend created in Tutorial 12-1. Ensure that the
drillhole traces are curved and multi-coloured.
Label Drillholes
Geology > Drilling > Label On or Geology > Drilling > Multi Label
On labels loaded drillholes. Note that Label On only labels a single
field and the labels are displayed with a single colour. Multi Label On
can display several labels, and label properties can be controlled.
Geology > Drilling > Label On prompts for drillhole selection using
standard criteria. To load a single drillhole, choose Object and click
on the desired drillhole. To label all drillholes, select Layer and then
click on any drillhole. Confirm layer DIG$DRILL, as this is the
temporary layer drillholes are loaded into. When prompted, select
which field to label on the selected drillholes.
Geology > Drilling > Label Off removes drillhole labels.
Geology > Drilling > Multi Label On has robust label colour and
decimal place control. Tick marks can define intervals. Multiple label
types can display on the left and right of the trace.
Click Geology > Drilling > Multi Label Properties to change label
font properties.
Tutorial 12-4
Label the gold grade values on-screen using the Geology > Drilling > Label On.
Tutorial 12-5
1. Remove the labels created in Tutorial 12-4.
2. Use Geology > Drilling > Multi Label On to label the gold values on the left
and the copper values and lithology on the right.
3. Select a font style and size that works best with your data.
Tutorial 12-6
Create a scale legend associated with the Gold drill legend created in Tutorial 12-1
using disc widths in Figure 12-8.
Tutorial 12-7
Create a scale legend to easily identify the TQ1 lithological unit.
Tutorial 12-8
Load only the drillhole collar points and save these points to a layer named
DRILLHOLE_COLLARS.
Note: An Isis design file is used to import data into a Vulcan headered database and to establish
a database header. After the database is created, an Isis design file has no connection to
the newly-created headered database. Altering an Isis design source file used to create
the database does not affect the structure of an existing Vulcan headered database.
Note: An ODBC design file is used to access data which exists in an external database. Altering
an ODBC design file affects the structure of an ODBC-linked Vulcan database.
The following actions change the database structure: add or delete tables and/or fields,
rename tables and/or fields, change field character types, alter field lengths, change
decimal places, and change table and/or field synonyms.
Note: When a field name is changed, any legends associated with that field need to be modified
to reflect the change.
Caution: Corruption may occur if changes are not made carefully when altering database headers.
Make a backup copy of the database before altering its structure.
Only add fields to the bottom of a table.
Do not delete fields from a table.
Do not change the length of a Text or Integer field.
Do not change existing field order within a table.
Do not change field types (Text, Integer, Single, Double)
Tutorial 13-1
1. Open Isis. Click File > Open Design.
2. Select Headered template (.dsf) and choose odb.dsf design file. Click OK.
3. Click the GEO tab, rename the LITH name field to GEOL.
4. Change the length of the FROM and TO fields to 10.
5. Reduce the decimals on the width field to 2.
Tutorial 13-2
Modify the LITH field in the alpha legend so it can be used to display drillhole
information accessed with the odb.dsf design.
Tutorial 13-3
1. Click File > Open Design.
2. Select Header of Headered template (.isis) and choose
thordrill.dhd.isis. Click OK.
9. Open the database and note the changes to the GEO table.
Tip: Select Edit instead of View when opening a database via Vulcan Explorer context
menus.
To save changes, you must have write permissions to the database, and the folder
in which it resides.
Tutorial 13-4
Change the AU ASSAY value for the second sample interval of hole L11 to .5. Save
your changes.
Insert/Delete Objects
To insert a new hole/object into an open database, click Object > Insert from the Isis
menu. Enter necessary information into the tables.
Tip: If only a collar location is specified with no downhole information, the drillhole does not
display in Envisage.
To delete a drillhole from the database, navigate to the drillhole and click Object > Delete.
Tutorial 13-5
1. Insert a drillhole with the following properties into thordrill.dhd.isis:
HoleID: H99
Easting: 78260
Northing: 4650
Elevation: 180
Depth: 100
2. Save the changes to the database.
3. In Envisage, display the collar of only hole H99. Do not display any other
collars.
Text
Text is used to locate specific database entries. You can search for both numeric and
alphanumeric characters.
Tip: Click More to enable advanced searching options such as the ability to use wildcards and
control over case sensitivity.
If an entry that meets the parameters is located, that field is highlighted. Click Find Next
or [CTRL+G] to keep searching with the same parameters. Click Cancel to exit the option.
Equation
Equation is used to locate database entries which meet certain conditions or criteria.
Select the table upon which the condition is based from the Table drop-down list, then
enter a condition or conditions in the Condition field. Both numeric and alphanumeric
characters can be used in conditional searches. One or more conditions can be applied to
a search on a single nominated table.
Tip: Click More to enable expanded options such as display of located data and search
direction.
Field Calculations
Field calculations may be performed between existing fields on the same table in a
database. Examples include converting an imperial unit to a metric unit, or calculating
metal equivalent grades.
Click Utilities > Field Calculation. A field must exist in the database to which results can
be written. If the specified field already contains data, existing data is overwritten.
Tip: Include extra blank fields in a table when your database is first created, in case you want
to perform a calculation later. If a database is already created, alter the database structure
to append additional fields as you need them. Refer to “Edit the Database Structure” on
page 123 for information.
The Field Calculation dialog box is divided into several sections. Each row populates one
field with values based on entered conditions and equations.
Which drillhole? Which table? Which restrictions? Which field for the result? Which calculation?
Multiple conditions can also be applied to several fields in the same table.
Field nominates the field where results of the calculation are stored.
Equation defines what is written into the Field if the calculation Condition evaluates
as true. Equations can be a constant value, character, or calculation. Calculations
can be an interaction between the values or characters in two existing separate
fields, or they can be the interaction between an existing field value, and a
constant. Equations can also incorporate alphanumeric characters.
Database Validation
Click Utilities > Validate to check an existing database for accuracy. The Validate option
creates a specification file of parameters which may be used to run a defined set of
validation checks on imported data. The specification file has an extension of.dbv and is
stored in the current working directory. A specification file name and database on which to
run the validation are required.
Note: By default, validation options use database synonyms to select fields on which to perform
checks. To specify alternate database fields, select Override database synonyms and
select the desired fields.
Collar Checks
Unique Collar Location checks for duplicate collars. Select 2D check only to
discount elevation values when locating duplicate collars
Collar on Surface compares collar locations to the position of a nominated
triangulation or grid surface.
Downhole Checks
Empty Table ensures that selected tables contain records.
Total Depth compares the Collar table depth against the logged depth of the
Assay and Geology tables. Select Override database synonyms to change
compared tables.
Overlapping Intervals reports occurrences where logged intervals within the
Assay and Geology tables overlap.
Increasing and Decreasing ensures that values in nominated fields increase or
decrease downhole.
Maximum Variation ensures consecutive intervals are similar within a defined
tolerance.
Unique Values searches for identical values within nominated fields.
Sequence compares downhole information to a defined sequence
Derived Value checks that the value in a nominated field is derived from another
field as specified.
Report
Use Report to designate the name and location of the error report and whether the format
of the report is CSV or Standard. Select View report in, then choose Excel to open the
error report in an Excel window.
Tutorial 13-6
Use the Utilities > Validate to ensure the integrity of thordrill.dhd.isis.
1. Name the specification Intro_Test.
2. Use the Unique Collar Location panel to specify a 3D check.
3. Check for Overlapping Intervals on the ASSAY table, select Compare To and
From fields.
4. Click Case Of to check all lithology in the database to ensure that all entries are
upper case. Enter the following lithology values: TQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4, TQ5, TQ6,
TQ7, TQ8, TQ9, TQ10, TQ11, TQ12, TQ13.
5. Click Report to generate a file named failed_tests in CSV format. Choose
to view the report in Excel.
6. Click Save to save the specification file and then Run to check the database.
7. Use the error report to handle discrepancies in the database.
Export Data
You can export all or part of a database to ASCII file(s). Isis allows for export to two ASCII
formats:
Database Listing format (.dbl).
Standard ASCII format (includes .csv).
Both options are accessed from the Utilities menu.
Tip: Export an Isis database in .dbl format to create a backup of the database quickly. Click
Utilities > Import > Database to import data into a database.
Choose to export All Tables, a single table, or choose the information to export with a
condition. Select Condition and click Define to enter desired condition(s).
Whole object: exports all the tables from the database when the condition is
satisfied. In Figure 13-16 all data (COLLAR, SURVEY, GEO, ASSAY and STRUCT)
would export for drillholes whose HOLEID starts with LK.
Matching records only exports records from the chosen table. In Figure 13-16
only COLLAR entries for drillholes whose HOLEID starts with LK would export.
The disk icon saves the conditions to a specification file. The naming convention of this
file is <name>.tbe.
Tutorial 13-7
1. Export the LK* holes to .csv files.
2. Open the thordrill_dhd_collar.csv file.
3. Ensure only LK holes exist.
3. Field connections made during an update are similar to when performing an import
with one exception. When updating a database, specify a Field on which to
match/sort this records. This unique field is used to determine which records
within an existing drillhole already exist and should be replaced. The TO or FROM
field generally works well.
Tutorial 13-8
1. Make a backup copy of thordrill.dhd.isis.
2. Open collar.csv.
3. Save the newly changed file with a new name: collar2.csv.
4. Change the name of the LK* drillholes to TK*.
5. Repeat the procedure for survey, assay, structure and geology CSV
files.
6. Update thordrill.dhd.isis with the new CSV files.
Tutorial 14-1
Complete the Database Record Definition dialog box for ASSAY, GEO and STRUCT.
Horizon Lists
If working with stratigraphic data, Geology > Drilling Utilities > Horizon List defines
depositional seams in descending order. Horizon lists are used for stratigraphic options
such as grid models or drilling sections. You can create a Horizon list manually or
automatically.
Note: The horizon list is stored in a .gdc_glob file. If this file does not already exist in
the working directory, you are prompted to create one. Click Yes when prompted,
and Vulcan automatically creates the .gdc_glob file.
2. Click Load Glob File to import horizons from an existing .gdc_glob file. As a
horizon list does not exist for this project, ignore this panel and click Horizon List
from the panel tree.
3. Enter horizons into Horizon List fields or click Build Horizon List to generate
fields automatically from the field defined in Geology > Drilling Utilities >
Database Record Definition.
Tip: Build Horizon List can help find erroneous entries in the database.
Tip: To create a legend with all Horizons, copy and paste the Horizons into an
appropriate dialog box in the Analyse > Legend Edit > Create menu.
To remove highlighted polygons, select Geology > Drilling Utilities > Clear Located.
Locate Holes
Envisage can graphically locate drillholes which meet a set of criteria such as specific
lithology or desired grade. To locate holes:
1. Select Geology > Drilling Utilities > Create/Modify Locate.
2. Choose a Spec file to store location parameter files (Locate id files). The spec file
is unique to a project and is named <prefix>.gute_spec.
Enter the name of the parameter in Locate id. Several different locate IDs can be
saved to the Spec file and run at a later date.
Tip: Values entered for Character variables are case-sensitive (e.g. a8 differs from A8).
5. Choose how the defined location conditions are applied to the database.
6. Select which Hole(s) the condition applies to. Use located applies the defined
conditions to holes already located in Envisage.
7. Choose a colour and size for the polygon which highlights all drillholes meeting the
defined location criteria.
Tutorial 14-2
Locate the holes where at least one gold value within the TQ1 lithology has a gold
value greater than 0.3.
Tutorial 14-3
Export located holes into a new database named thorhighgrade.
Tutorial 14-4
Create a selection file from located holes.
Mapfile Overview
Mapfiles are text files that represent drillhole data in a spatial X,Y, Z format, as opposed to
the relative depth from collar representation found in a drillhole database. They are similar
to a straight composite database as they record the top, bottom, and midpoint locations in
a single intercept as well as the quality values of that intercept. Mapfiles are used in
stratigraphic modelling.
Mapfiles consist of two parts; a header and a body. The header defines columns that exist
in the mapfile, while the body contains data broken into columns. Mapfiles can vary in size
and data composition. Use Geology > Drilling > Mapfile to load points in Envisage.
Triangulations are stored as individual files which may be copied, renamed and deleted
through Vulcan Explorer or Windows Explorer. Triangulations in Vulcan are saved with the
file extension .00t.
Tip: Avoid using spaces or special characters in triangulation names as this causes some
Vulcan options to fail.
Advantages of Triangulations
Vulcan triangulations are powerful display and analysis tools.
Diverse surface or solid shapes may be modelled with triangulations. Examples
include: topography, mine excavations, geological surfaces, ore bodies,
underground development, underground stopes, arbitrary attribute models, and
groundwater levels.
Volumes obtained from triangulations are more accurate than those obtained using
more traditional polygonal or end-area volumetric methods.
Cut-and-fill volumes can be easily calculated.
The 3D nature of triangulations coupled with Vulcan’s powerful graphical tools
enable high quality visualisation that can rapidly convey the concepts of a
geological model or engineering design.
Disadvantages of
Triangulations
The complex nature of some triangulations requires that considerable care be
taken during their construction. Processing time is directly proportional to the
number of data points considered.
Sometimes triangulation algorithms create shapes which do not match the shape
that experience and knowledge of the data would expect. Several techniques are
available to help create expected shapes.
Triangulation modelling methods may not be ideal for modelling sparse data, as
resulting large, flat triangles provide coarse resolution. Vulcan’s grid modelling
program estimates values in the gaps between the raw data points to provide a
smoother surface.
This is a common open dialog box used by Windows programs. Selections are
made from the list of files displayed on the left side of the dialog box, then moved
to the right side of the box with arrow buttons in the centre.
Model > Triangle Utility > Load by Location narrows down triangulation pick
lists. Choose a group of triangulations, then define the extents which restrict the
load.
Unload Triangulations
Right-click on a loaded triangulation and select Remove.
Right-click on a triangulation file name in Vulcan Explorer and select Remove.
Model > Triangle Utility > Remove prompts for selection of a loaded
triangulation.
Model > Triangle Utility > Remove by Name removes triangulations based upon
the triangulation’s name.
Model > Triangle Utility > Remove by Location removes triangulations based
upon geographic location.
Tutorial 15-1
Load triangulations into Envisage, then remove them.
1. Open a design database.
2. In the Vulcan Explorer window, click the plus (+) symbol to expand the
Triangulations folder.
3. Double-click topo.00t. Use the rotation tools to view the triangulation in 3D.
4. Right-click the surface topography in Envisage and select Remove.
5. Select pit.00t and topo.00t in Vulcan Explorer.
6. Right-click on either file and choose Load.
7. Right-click on one of the triangulations Envisage and select Remove All.
Select the preferred colour method, then click the box below the chosen option to display
a colour palette.
Equalise range ensures the entire spectrum is used across the axis range.
Spectrum applies a rainbow Colour scheme to a range of values along the
specified axis.
Click Modify to use alternative axis colouring options.
Texture resource drapes a triangulation with an image, for example an image of an aerial
photograph or a satellite image. An example of the use of textures is in pit or face
mapping, where a digital image of the rock face can be draped onto a pit or stope design.
To apply an image to a triangulation, select Texture resource and pick the image
file from the drop-down list.
Note: Before loading an image, it must be registered to the triangulation with Image
Registration tools found in the Model > Image Registration menu.
Check Blend texture with triangulation colour to view both the draped image
and applied lighting.
Tutorial 15-2
Changing triangulation attributes:
1. Load the topo.00t surface triangulation.
2. Change the colour of the triangulation.
3. Draw a wireframe mesh over the solid-shaded triangulation.
4. Colour by the Z axis using a Spectrum scheme.
5. Change the translucency to 75%.
Tip: Load all data to triangulate, including limiting polygons, in Envisage before entering the
triangulation creation option.
Data Tab
The Data tab controls how data is projected and where it is located after creation.
Triangulate data in plan view creates horizontal and sub-horizontal surface
triangulations. For triangulations in other orientations, use Triangulate data
projected against a plane or Triangulate data projected against a sphere.
Check Use W tag in place of Z value if a triangulation representing W tag values
is desired.
Use Breaklines if data being digitised crosses in Plan view. Points will be
interpreted at crossing points in an attempt to respect all data. Breakline
tolerance stops formation of long, narrow triangles.
Boundary Tab
Boundary options define how to use polygons which limit triangulation extents.
Use boundary polygon as part of triangulation data includes data points from
the polygon when creating the surface.
Exclude boundary polygon from data uses the polygon to restrict data, but does
not use polygon points during triangulation construction.
Trending Tab
Trending options apply a geological trend to the surface upon creation. Trending uses a
best-fit mathematical model to estimate the surface shape between data points.
Apply polynomial trending applies a regional trend to the surface. Specify a
trend order which relates to the complexity of the surface to be modelled.
Order Surface
1 Plane surface
Check Return only trend model values as results to generate the trend surface
as the triangulation without including raw data.
Spurs Tab
The Generate spur strings on the Spurs tab generates lines which control flat ridge
crests and valleys when triangulating between contour lines of the same elevation.
Select or enter a Layer name to save strings to an existing or new layer.
Check Incorporate spurs in triangulation to use spur strings during surface
generation.
Tip: If the layer name is blank, spur strings are created as an underlay.
Note: Do not use the spur creation options if triangulating a pit design as crest/bench definition
may be lost.
Condition Tab
Note: Do not uses spaces or special characters in the triangulation name. Vulcan automatically
adds the file extension .00t to the name entered in the panel.
Tutorial 16-1
Two Polygons
Model > Triangle Surface > Two Polygons creates a surface triangulation between two
polygons which define internal and external boundaries. The boundary polygon is used as
part of the triangulation. An example of this is to triangulate between contour lines to
create contour rings.
Grid Mesh
Model > Triangle Surface > Grid Mesh creates a simple grid over an existing
triangulated surface. Extents are determined interactively.
Image Registration
Model > Image Registration options drape images onto triangulations.
Select Model > Image Registration > Create Or Open to access an existing .ireg file
or create a new file. An .ireg file stores registration specifications such as correlations
between image coordinates and real world coordinates or the path to a registered image.
Choose an .ireg file or enter a name for a new one, then choose an Image file name on
the Image Registration Properties dialog box. The following files are compatible with
image registration:
JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg)
tagged image file format (.tif or .tiff)
CompuServe GIF (.gif) files
ER Mapped ECW images (.ecw)
Use automatically generated triangulation creates an underlay which covers mapping
extents. This option works best if only two or three control points are used. To specify an
existing triangulation on which to overlay the image, select Use specified triangulation,
and choose the desired triangulation from the drop down list.
Tip: Choose bright, contrasting and unique colours for the points.
Specify an Image Width in real world units if one control point is used.
Click OK to open a new Image Registration window. Click Window > Tile Vertically to
see both windows simultaneously. This makes point correlation easier.
Click Model > Image Registration > Add Point to define points which associate points
on the image (image coordinates) to points on the existing triangulation (real world
coordinates). Vulcan prompts for an image coordinate, followed by a real world
coordinate. Right-click to exit the command.
Tip: The more points added to correlate the image with the triangulation, the more accurate
the registration is. Use Indicate mode to select image coordinates and Snap to Objects
mode to select real world coordinates. Note that each window has a unique set of
snapping tools.
If a point is in the wrong place, use Model > Image Registration > Move Point.
However, it is typically easier to use Model > Image Registration > Delete Point, and
then add points again. Model > Image Registration > Clear All Points deletes all added
points.
Tip: Click Model > Image Registration > Properties to alter properties of an existing image
registration.
After adding all points, click Model > Image Registration > Close to close the Image
Registration window and save an .ireg file.
To apply the.ireg to an existing triangulation, load the triangulation into Envisage. Right
click on the triangulation and choose Properties. Click Advanced, and check Texture
resource. Choose the .ireg file as the Texture name. Click OK to display the image on
the triangulation.
Tip: If the image is distorted, click Model > Image Registration > Create or Open to modify
the .ireg. Replace existing points, or add more points to clarify the image.
Tutorial 16-2
1. Load image_topo.00t.
2. Create an .ireg file to associate topoThor.jpg to image_topo.00t.
3. Display topoThor.jpg on image_topo.00t via the .ireg file created.
4. Remove the .ireg from image_topo.00t.
5. Apply topo.pexel to this triangulation instead of the .ireg file.
Create Solids
Use Model > Triangle Solid > Create to build continuous solid triangulations from design
strings representing a solid body, such as an ore body, dump, or stope. This option builds
triangulations between chosen polygons or lines.
Note: Closed polygons are not required; however the open portion is not triangulated.
Figure 17-3
Save Solid
Command Definition
Command Definition
Reverse Reverses the direction of the last selected string and then re-
triangulates between the last two strings.
Undo Removes the last section of the triangulation. Do not use any
other Undo shortcut options while creating a solid.
Ties Can select existing tie strings or interactively digitise tie lines
during triangulation construction.
Tutorial 17-1
Tutorial 17-2
10. Click Complete so the first complete polygon defining the top of a single pant
leg can be chosen.
Figure 17-7 Return to divided polygon and choose the remaining half
Tip: If something goes wrong when creating complex triangulations, do not right-click or
Cancel the operation. Instead, click Undo on the Triangulation Solid Create menu.
Tutorial 17-3
1. Load the WAREHOUSE layer.
2. Create a solid triangulation of the warehouse building and name it
warehouse.00t.
3. Use Snap to Object mode to place a BIG_TRUCK symbol in the warehouse.
4. Make the warehouse invisible so you can see the haul truck.
Tutorial 17-4
1. Load the POLY_1 layer.
2. Create a solid triangulation from these strings and name it tq1.00t.
3. Load the POLY_2 layer.
4. Create a solid triangulation from these strings and name it tq2.00t.
5. Load the POLY_3 layer.
6. Create a solid triangulation from these strings and name it
tq3_interpret.00t.
Figure 17-11 Open solid triangulation Figure 17-12 Closed solid triangulation
When prompted, select a loaded string which defines the end plate. Multiple polygons can
be selected to create multiple end plates, though each polygon must be selected
individually in Envisage.
Tutorial 17-5
Use Model > Triangle Solid > End Plate to close the Pant_Leg triangulation.
Tri Polygons
Model > Triangle Solid > Tri Polygons is similar to Model > Triangle Solid > End Plate,
except selection criteria are used to select multiple polygons. In addition, resulting end
plates will be appended into a single triangulation.
The Tri Polygons option is useful for imported design strings as other software packages
sometimes represent a solid as a group of connected polygons.
Note: No topological corrections are performed. If the polygons do not meet properly or have
trifurcation, then this is reflected in the resulting triangulation.
Tutorial 17-6
1. Load layer TRI_POLYS_TQ3.
2. Create a triangulation using Model > Triangle Solid > Tri Polygons.
3. Name the triangulation tq3.
Boolean
Model > Triangle Utility > Boolean splits two, loaded triangulations based upon
overlapping sections. The resulting pieces may be used to build a third
triangulation.
Note: The loaded triangulations must fully intersect as Boolean does not work well if
triangulations share points. If the triangulations touch, but do not intersect, Boolean may
not produce reliable results.
Tip: When the Boolean option does not perform as expected due to shared points or lack of
intersection, move one of the triangulations slightly. Click Model > Triangle Utility >
Translate to move a triangulation.
Boolean 169
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Selected triangulations, are split based upon intersection points. A bold line indicates
points of intersection.
Individual pieces are excluded to create various triangulations such as pit material or a pit
topography.
Boolean 171
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Shells
Use Model > Triangle Solid > Shells to quickly cut a solid into pieces. This leaves the
original triangulation intact, and creates new triangulations based on input parameters.
Tutorial 18-2
1. Load pit_material.00t.
2. Select Model > Triangle Solid > Shells.
3. Set options on the Naming tab to name shells PIT1_<elevation>.
4. Create bench solids that are 10 metres starting at an elevation of 0. To enable
this functionality, select Calculate fixed width shells on the Parameters tab.
Click OK, then Select by grid coordinate and enter an RL of 0.
Tutorial 18-3
1. Create a triangulation directory named benches.tri.
2. Move all of the pit bench triangulations to the new directory.
Tip: Model > Triangle Surface > Relimit by Polygon only works in Plan view.
Use Model > Triangle Utility > Relimit creates a new triangulation from an
existing triangulation surface or solid and a nominated polygon.
Model > Triangle Surface > Relimit by Solid relimits a surface triangulation
against a solid triangulation to create a new triangulation surface.
Solid triangulation
Surface triangulation
Tutorial 18-4
Relimit 173
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 18-5
Tutorial 19-1
1. Ensure the only triangulation loaded is topo.00t.
2. Click Model > Triangle Surface > Surface Area.
3. On the Triangle surface dialog select Square metres.
4. Click OK. The triangulation is automatically selected if it is the only one loaded.
Solid Volumes
Model > Triangle Solid > Volume calculates solid triangulation volumes, and can also
estimate tonnage using an average density value. If volumes are needed for multiple
triangulations, choose Select solids by name to choose triangulations from a Windows
browser instead of Envisage.
Tip: Right-click on a loaded triangulation choose Volume to quickly calculate the volume of a
single solid. If multiple triangulations are highlighted on-screen, the volume option is not
available in context menus
Tutorial 19-2
Determine the volume of tq1.00t.
Tutorial 19-3
Generate a .txt file which contains volumes for each bench of the pit triangulation
shelled earlier.
Surface Volumes
Model > Triangle Surface > Volume calculates the volume between two triangulated
surfaces using relative vertical positions of the two surfaces. Vulcan will prompt for the
original and new triangulation.
If triangulations overlap, cut and fill volumes are reported. Triangulation selection order is
vital, as cut and fill volumes are classified by triangulation picking order.
Results can be saved to a report file, but they will also display on-screen and in the
Envisage tab of the Report window. A report file extension may be specified. By default,
a.txt file is generated.
Model > Triangle Surface > Polygons Volumes calculates the volume between two
triangulated surfaces within a set of polygons.
Tutorial 19-4
1. Load topo.00t and pit.00t.
2. Click Model > Triangle Surface > Volume.
3. First select the topo triangulation, and then select the pit projection
triangulation.
4. The cut volume is the volume of the pit below the topo. The fill is the volume
above the topo and below the pit projection.
5. Click OK to exit the command.
Check Triangulations
Use Model > Triangle Solid > Check or Model > Triangle Utility > Check to validate
triangulations.
If a triangulation does not pass all validity tests, operations which use the triangulation
may not produce correct results. This is of particular concern when running reserves.
Triangulations which pass validation tests, but fail stability tests, still provide accurate
results. However, precision limitations in some algorithms may produce errors when
triangulations contain small triangles. New triangulations created from a triangulation
which fails stability are more likely to have errors.
Passing triangulation validity tests is required.
Test for Closure checks for openings, or holes in the triangulation. A triangulation
surface always fails closure along the edges of the surface. As long as this is the
only location of failure, it may still be used as a valid triangulation.
Test for Consistency fails if a single edge is shared between more than two
triangles. Failure may indicate internal walls.
Test for Self Intersection checks for crossing triangles.
Strings which indicate failure locations may be saved as an Underlay or Layer. To save a
string to a layer, enter the name of a new or existing layer.
Tip: Change string colour to contrast with the triangulation and apply a thick line style to make
strings stand out.
Triangulation stability can also be checked using the Check Triangulation Stability panel.
Nearly all triangulations that fail a validity check do so because of problems associated
with design data or triangulations used for creation. In most cases it is quicker and simpler
to correct raw data rather than the triangulation.
Tutorial 20-1
Check topo_contours.00t and Pant_Leg.oot to ensure they are valid.
Caution: Create a copy of a triangulation prior to manipulation as many tools do not offer an
opportunity to save the altered triangulation with a new name.
Close Solid
Model > Triangle Solid > Close Solid automatically closes all the holes in a loaded solid.
This is effective for simple closures, but if a triangulation has multiple open areas or
requires complex closure this may not work correctly.
Tutorial 20-2
Re-create the Pant_Leg solid triangulation without end plates. Use Model > Triangle
Solid > Close Solid to close the resulting triangulation.
Tip: Always provide a new name for an altered triangulation. This preserves the original in
case the changes provide undesirable results.
Split
Model > Triangle Solid > Split creates individual triangulations from disjointed parts of a
single triangulation. Parts of interest are chosen and a new triangulation is created. This
option can also be used to eliminate undesirable pieces.
Options available when choosing pieces are similar to the options within the Boolean
command.
An additional command, By Volume, allows for easy elimination of pieces which are less
than a specified volume.
Tutorial 20-3
Load the split_pit.00t on-screen. Remove the outlying pieces and save.
Cut
Model > Triangle Utility > Cut cuts a triangulation into two pieces by interactively
digitising a cut line. Small problem areas around edges can be removed to fix the
triangulation. This option can also be used to quickly cut large triangulations into smaller
pieces.
Tip: Exaggerate the ends of the cut line to ensure a clean cut. See Figure 20-4. Lines which, if
continued, would intersect the triangulation again can cause errors. See Figure 20-5.
Figure 20-4 Correct cut line Figure 20-5 Incorrect cut line
Tutorial 20-4
1. Load split_pit.00t.
2. Check the triangulation to locate an inconsistency along an edge.
3. Remove the inconsistency using Model > Triangle Utility > Cut.
Tip: When repairing a triangulation, first fix crossing triangles, then consistency issues, and
finally closure.
Tutorial 20-5
Load fix_1.00t and repair the problem area shown.
Apply Primitives
Click Model > Primitives > Create/Edit Primitives to define or apply a primitive shape.
There are several predefined primitives of common shapes that can be applied at a
defined size and alignment. The Alignment option determines where on the selected
object the primitive is located. For example, if the chosen object is a centreline and Top is
selected, then the centreline runs along the top of the primitive.
Tip: Ensure objects are correct and clean before creating a triangulation. Some examples of
things to check include: duplicate points, overlapping lines, and naming convention.
To apply a primitive to an object, click Select Objects and choose an object loaded in
Envisage.
Custom Primitives
The User Primitives of the Primitives dialog box can be used to design a new shape. The
red point on-screen is the alignment point. When applying a primitive to a line, this point is
aligned with the object selected.
Tip: If these tools are not sufficient, Map Object allows selection of an object loaded in
Envisage. Any of the standard CAD tools may be used to create a shape. The shape
should be drawn in Plan view.
Click Save or Save As to store the primitive for future use. Custom primitives are stored
in a Primitives specification file (<proj>.pgd) in the current working folder.
To apply a custom primitive, click Original Primitives in the navigation tree, select Use a
cross-sectional primitive, and choose a saved, custom Primitive from the drop-down
list. Rectangles or circles with custom dimensions can also be selected and sized.
Tutorial 21-2
1. Load the PRIMITIVE layer.
2. Import the primitive using Map Object.
3. Change the alignment of the primitive from centre to top.
4. Name the new primitive STOPE1.
Tools
The Primitives toolbar is a useful tool when working with primitives. Click Tools > Toolbar
Visibility and check Primitives.
Remove Primitive
Create/Edit Primitives Triangulate Primitive
Tools 187
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Tutorial 21-4
1. Create a triangulation directory named underground.tri.
2. Put the cross cut, stope, drift and ramp triangulations into the folder.
Note: Grid model surface representations respect 3D data, and are usually not planar.
Grids can be mathematically manipulated to derive new grids. For example grids can be
added and subtracted, or a constant value can be added to a grid.
Grids can not represent structures where more than one Z value exists for a particular X
and Y location. Examples of structures that can not be modelled by grids include reverse
faults and recumbent folds.
To remove a grid, right-click on the grid and select Remove or click Model > Grid Mesh.
Surfaces > Remove By Name. Alternatively, click Remove Underlay on the
Standard toolbar.
Tutorial 22-1
A grid named thorgrid.tpg was created from the design layer CONTOURS.
Load the CONTOURS layer.
Double-click thorgrid.tpg to load it into Envisage.
Use the rotation tools to see how the grid conforms to the CONTOURS layer.
Create Grids
The two primary methods for creating grids in Vulcan are found under Model > Grid
Mesh Surfaces and the Grid Calc menu.
Use the modelling methods under Grid Mesh Surfaces to create simple grids from
loaded design data. Grid Calc has the added ability to create and manipulate grids using
sophisticated modelling algorithms, making it a powerful tool.
The grid extents must be divisible by the grid cell size. Grids which exceed 300,000 cells
can be difficult to view.
Tutorial 22-2
1. Load the CONTOURS layer.
2. Click Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Create Simple.
3. On the Model Create dialog box, set the X and Y Mesh Size to 25.
4. Choose to Generate mesh from point Z elevations.
5. Enter topo.tp as the surface name. The grid resulting from this exercise has
the name thortopo.tpg where thor is the project prefix and ‘g’ is the grid
suffix.
6. Accept all panel defaults.
8. Regularise grid area to grid size ensures that the maximum and minimum
coordinates of the grid are multiples of the mesh size. Click OK.
9. When prompted define model extents.
10. Select By Layer and choose the CONTOURS layer.
11. Click Cancel on the Select By menu.
12. Confirm to create the Model.
13. Name the triangulation thortopo.00t. Click OK.
Interpolated Grids
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Vulcan Grid Model creates grids with interpolation and
smoothing algorithms. This option uses mapfiles to create grids. If a mapfile does not
already exist, it must be created from a design or geological database.
The parameters of the grid (such as size and modelling method) are stored in a
specification file. The grids created from this specification have the standard grid file
name format.
Tip: If more than one triangulation is loaded, select the desired triangulation to display
the Grid parameters dialog box.
3. Enter an X Mesh Size and Y Mesh Size and a Grid model name. Click OK.
4. When prompted, define the model extents. A grid of the triangulation is created.
Grid Masking
Each grid occupies the full rectangular area defined in the grid creation process, but the
whole grid may not be visible. In addition to each node having a Z value, it also has a
mask value, which can be set to 1 or 0. If it is set to 0, the node is invisible. If it is set to 1
the node is visible. This is useful if the grid is not valid over the entire defined extents. This
would be true if data was not available for the whole area, or there is uncertainty about
what happens geologically beyond some extent.
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Mask sets mask values based upon existing polygons.
Use Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Unmask to reset all mask values to 1.
Tutorial 22-3
1. Open a design database and load thortopo.tpg. See Tutorial 22-2.
2. Click Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Contour.
3. Under Grid mesh model to be contoured, select TOPO.TP.
4. Select Normal then click OK.
5. Choose appropriate From, To and Interval values. Suggested values are 0.0,
600, and 25. Click OK.
6. Click Cancel when the Contour dialog box reappears.
7. Rotate to see how the contour lines conform to the grid.
8. Click File > Underlays > Remove to remove the contour strings.
9. Click Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Contour to save the design strings as a
layer. In addition to the previously selected options check Save design strings
and enter a layer name.
Colour
By default, grids are displayed with one colour. This can make it difficult to distinguish
trends in the grid model unless the model is rotated. Click Model > Grid Mesh Surface >
Drape to control grid colour based on Z values.
For further control of grid colours, click Analyse > Legend Edit > Create to specify colour
intervals on a CONTOUR legend.
Edit Nodes
Grid node values are generated through mathematical interpolation and extrapolation. If
desired values are not produced, it may be necessary to alter grid node values. Grid
nodes can be edited using one of the following options:
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Node Edit modifies individual nodes.
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Set Value alters multiple nodes inside or outside
a given polygon.
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Patch option can copy values from an existing
grid into a second grid. To use this option the grids must have the same cell size
and extent.
Tutorial 22-5
1. Right-click on thortopo.tpg and select Load.
2. Click Design > Create > Layer and name the new layer NODE_POLY.
3. Click Design > Create > Polygon to draw a polygon around a portion of the
grid.
6. Select Relative to node and Enter grid mesh value of 50. Clear Clip grid
mesh to current window and click OK.
7. Click Save. Each of the nodes inside the polygon have shifted 50 units.
Note: If the mapfile or database is used for grade estimation, generate files from quality grids.
Export Grids
Grids can be exported into other formats including triangulations, points and .dxf.
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > To Object converts grid mesh data that is
bounded by a polygon to points.
Model > Grid Mesh Surfaces > Triangulate creates a triangulation from a loaded
grid model. Only visible nodes are exported to the triangulation.
File > Export > Export DXF exports grids to a DXF file.
File > Export > Export Grid exports grids to an ESRI ASCII grid file. This menu
option can be used to export numerous grids simultaneously.
Note: ESRI 10.0 or later must be installed on the machine to export ESRI grids.
Tutorial 22-6
1. Right-click on thortopo.tpg and select Load.
2. Click Design > Create > Layer and create a layer named EXPORT_POLY.
3. Draw a polygon inside the grid extents using Design > Create > Polygon.
Note: Grid Calc operates as a separate entity from other Envisage modules. It uses a memory
buffer to store and manipulate data. Grid Calc menu options must be used to control data
within the memory buffer.
5. Fill in the coordinates for the grid extents as shown. The grid extents must be
divisible by the grid cell size. Click OK.
6. Click Grid Calc > Edit Modelling Defaults > Save Grid Specifications.
Load Data
As Grid Calc operates within its own buffer, data must be loaded into the buffer using
options in Grid Calc > Data or Grid Calc > Grids. Design data, triangulations, mapfiles,
and grids can all be loaded into Grid Calc.
Tutorial 22-8
1. Open thorgrids.dgd.isis.
2. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Load/Calculate Grid.
3. Select topo.tp from the drop-down list. Click OK.
The grid has been loaded in Grid Calc, but it must be displayed before it becomes
visible.
Tutorial 22-9
1. Click Grid Calc > Display > Static Display Grid.
2. Z Mapping options allow grids to be displayed using a combination of
exaggeration and offset. Display Z= 1 x Grid Value + 0 yields a display of real
world Z values. Display Z= 1 x Grid Value + 100 yields a grid display offset in
the Z direction by 100 units.
Model Data
Use Grid Calc > Model > Grid Model to model data loaded into Grid Calc’s buffer.
Numerous modelling methods can be used, including triangulation, inverse distance, and
kriging. Custom modelling methods may also be defined and applied.
Click Grid Calc > Grids > Save Grid to save new models.
If grids are created through Grid Calc, existence polygons used to mask grid nodes are
automatically created.
Click OK.
7. Click Grid Calc > Model > Grid Model.
8. Select Triangulation and click OK.
9. Leave all tabs set at the default values and click OK.
10. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Save Grid. Name the grid file contours.tp. Click
OK.
Grid Arithmetic
Grid Calc > Grids > Load/Calculate Grid can also be used to perform grid arithmetic.
Simple (+,-,*,/) or complex functions may be performed.
Tutorial 22-11
1. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Close All Grids to remove any loaded grids from the
Grid Calc buffer.
2. Click Grid Calc > Data > Clear Data to remove any loaded data from the Grid
Calc Buffer.
3. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Load/Calculate Grid.
4. Select a contours.tp from the drop down list, and enter -150 after the grid
name. Click OK.
This creates a new grid where all the nodes in thorcontours.tpg have been
shifted in the negative direction by 150 units.
5. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Save Grid and name the new grid contlow.tp.
Contour
Click Grid Calc > Contour and Limit Generation > Contour to contour grid models. The
contour lines generated using this menu are closed and can be to mask grids or define
reserve limits.
Tutorial 22-12
1. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Close All Grids to remove any loaded grids from the
Grid Calc buffer.
2. Click Grid Calc > Data > Clear Data to remove any loaded data from the Grid
Calc Buffer.
3. Open thorgrids.dgd.isis.
4. Click Grid Calc > Grids > Load/Calculate Grid and select contours.tp from
the drop down list. Click OK.
5. Click Grid Calc > Contour and Limit Generation > Contour.
6. On the Levels tab, select Range Selection. Enter From 0.0, To 700.0 and
an Interval of 25.0.
7. On the Save tab, check Save to database. Select grids as the Database
name, and enter CONTOUR as the Layer.
8. On the Advanced tab, select Less than. Click OK.
9. Several layers containing contours are generated in thorgrids.dgd.isis.
.TRI Folders
Vulcan recognises .00t files as triangulations and places them into the
Triangulations folder in Vulcan Explorer. Over time, the list of triangulations in the
folder can become quite large. Place .00t files into folders named with a .tri extension
to organise files.
Vulcan explorer recognizes subfolders inside .tri folders without a .tri extension. To
create the .tri folder, right-click the Triangulations folder in Vulcan Explorer and
select Create Directory.
Tutorial 23-1
Move all PIT1_<elevation>.00t files into a .tri folder named bench.tri.
Remote Directories
Remote directories are typically used to display data in Vulcan Explorer which is in a
location other than the working directory. However, the option may be used to access data
contained in subfolders in the current working directory.
1. Click Tools > Preferences > Workbench > Vulcan Explorer.
2. In the Remote Directory column, left-click in the blank cell. Click the ellipsis button
to browse to the desired data.
3. Enter a Display Name, to label the remote directory folder in Vulcan Explorer. If a
display name is not entered, Vulcan applies the full file path name as the folder
name in Vulcan Explorer.
4. The various check boxes determine which Vulcan files are listed in Vulcan
Explorer. Multiple remote directories can be added in subsequent rows. When
finished adding the required directories, click OK.
The location of remote directory folders in Vulcan Explorer corresponds to the type of data
chosen for display in Tools > Preferences. Files an be loaded directly from Vulcan
Explorer into Envisage.
Note: If colour schemes in the .scd file differ from the schemes in the remote directory,
drillholes and block model blocks may display differently, or not at all.
Caution: Load screen files or lava scripts which call for data using a file path which differs from that
specified by the remote directory may malfunction.
When a folder has been set up as a remote directory, it should appear in Vulcan Explorer
under each folder which contains the file types selected. Files may be used as if they
existed in the current working directory.
Network Structure
If more than one person is working in the same data area, it is useful to create a master
and a working directory. The master is the final data set whereas draft data is stored in a
working directory.
All design database files found within the specified data area are listed. An
arrow will be used to indicate the currently open design database.
b. Left-click on the required design database and click OK.
c. All loaded layers are displayed. Left-click on the required layer and select
OK.
You use the Pattern field, the Apply Pattern button, and wildcards (*
multi-character and ? single character) to highlight the layers that begin or
end with certain characters.
If you wanted to highlight all layers that begin with ‘S’, then type ‘S*’ into the
pattern field and click the Apply Pattern button. Once selected, all
matching layers are highlighted.
After the desired layer has been chosen, you may be required to confirm
that you wish to overwrite its contents.
Specify Filenames
Enter a Plot filename and optional Specification filename.
Plot All Wizard plot files have a .vpgz file extension.
Check Create or Load specification file to save the plotting specifications.
Specifications allow for easy reproduction of existing plots.
Plot All Wizard specification files have a .pasf file extension.
Caution: The panel remembers the most recent plot filename entered during the current Vulcan
session. To avoid accidentally overwriting an existing plot file, change the file name each
time a plot is generated. No warning is given before overwriting a file.
Note: If an existing specification file is chosen, the Specification File panel appears.
Select Edit specifications to change the existing specifications before using them
to create a plot.
Select Run to quickly regenerate any plot using the saved specifications.
Use Default Template: Uses a dynamic template which will work for any paper
size in either landscape or portrait. If the default template does not meet the
required plotting needs, a drafting sheet should be used.
Use Drafting Sheet: Picks a drafting sheet from a drafting sheet database
(drafting.dgd.isis) located in the Resources folder. Vulcan provides
several drafting sheets, but customised drafting sheets may be created through
options in File > Drafting Sheets.
The Plot Render Method controls how different data types appear in the resulting
plot.
Render plot elements by a pre-defined type sequence generates design
data on the plot according to a hard-coded sequence.
Render plot elements in their CAD sequence generates design data on
the plot in the order in which it was loaded into Envisage.
Check Render non-CAD data to draw underlays, such as triangulations,
before CAD data in the plot. This results in CAD data plotting on top of
underlays.
Note: If Render non-CAD data is chosen, underlays will not show up on plots
altered with File > Plot Edit.
Render as WYSIWYG plot generates a What You See Is What You Get
plot, which is a screen capture of loaded data. Data elevations and
positions in space are honoured.
Tip: If WYSIWYG plotting causes Vulcan to crash, click Tools > Preferences >
Envisage > Video Capture and check Use software rendering for single
frame and WYSIWYG capturing to change how the graphics card and
drivers are used.
Note: Image resolution should be between 100 and 300. Resolutions greater
than 300 create large plot files without any improvement in plot
appearance.
Drillholes are rendered as CAD data unless a triangulation is plotted.
Drillhole traces will plot under triangulations at intersection locations.
Default Template
Choose the required Sheet Size from the drop down list. If the required sheet size
is not available, a Custom size may be specified.
The printer selection automatically populates margin values. It is not advisable to
change the margin values.
Select Landscape or Portrait to control plot orientation.
Drafting Sheet
Plotting with a drafting sheet eliminates the need to define plot attributes via plotting
panels or as design data loaded in Envisage layers. Plot aspects such as borders, data
location and scale bar location are hard-coded into the drafting sheet. Custom logos and
text can also be included.
Select Use Drafting Sheet and choose an appropriate Drafting sheet from the drop
down list.
Title Blocks
There are two ways to access the Title Block panel:
Use Default Temple was selected and the Title block and border option was
enabled.
The selected Drafting sheet has a title block and fields defined.
Plot Grids
Plot Grid (XYZ) Annotation: Annotates plot edge with X, Y or Z values at defined
spacing. Grid lines can be plotted as complete lines or as crosses at grid line
intersections.
Draw Dynamic Grid: Plots the grid displayed in Envisage.
Plot Scale
Tip: Plotter units set upon install can be changed in Tools >
Preferences > Envisage > Miscellaneous under Plot All Scale
Factor Input Style.
Note: The extent rectangle represents the selected template or drafting sheet’s data
area. Resizing the rectangle will not alter the page size, but rather the scale of the
plot. The scale is displayed in the lower left corner of the extents rectangle.
Tutorial 24-1
Create a simple plot using File > Plot > Plot All Wizard.
1. Load the CONTOURS layer and tq1.00t.
2. Reset the view to Plan view.
3. Click File > Plot > Plot All Wizard.
4. Name the plot plot1.
5. Create a specification file named plot1spec. Click Next.
6. Select Use Default Template and select Title block and border, North point
and Bar scale.
7. Select Render as WYSIWYG plot. Leave resolution at 300 and select Use
alternative colour set for the plot. Click Next.
8. Accept all the defaults for page and printer selection. If you wish you may select
an alternative printer.
9. Fill in a Title for the plot in the Title Block panel. Click Next.
10. Choose to plot a 50 x 50 grid. Select Draw Grid with crosses. Click Next.
11. Select Allow dynamic scale adjustment. Indicate an origin, and adjust the
plot extents to contain desired data.
12. Click Finish.
The Plot Utility Application toolbar includes options to print a plot, setup the printer,
examine plot file properties, and change viewing modes.
The plotter can also be changed via File > Page Setup.
Use the Page Drag Mode icon on the Plot Utility Application toolbar to drag the white,
page size preview box. If the plot file is too large for the page size, the printer, page size,
and orientation of the paper will need to be changed. Ensure there is ample room for
margins as well.
Click the Print Vulcan Plotfile printer icon or File > Print to send the plot to the printer. If
the plot was larger than the paper in the plot utility, check Fit to Page on the Print dialog
box. This will scale the plot to the page size selected.
Note: Fit to Page will change the plot scale. This means that any scale bar displayed on the plot
is no longer accurate.
Tutorial 24-2
1. Load the BOUNDARY layer, warehouse.00t, and topo_contours.00t.
2. Create an 11”X17” plot showing the data.
3. Name the plot Facilities1.vpgz.
Screen Dumps
Left-click the Screen Dump icon on the Graphics toolbar to access Screen Dump options.
Screen Dump only represents data displayed in Envisage’s Primary Window. Data can be
saved to the following outputs:
.png – Portable Network Graphics is a bit mapped image format.
.jpg – Commonly used standard method to compress photographic images.
.bmp – Bit mapped graphics format used by Microsoft Windows®. BMP files are
usually not compressed, so they are much larger than corresponding compressed
image files.
.rgb – Image has three channels: red, green and blue. RGB files are used in
computer display and image scanners.
.ireg – Vulcan image registration file – both an image (.jpg) and ireg file are
captured. These can then be image textured onto a triangulation.
Select the drop-down list to name the screen dump and define an output format.
Images can also be saved in different resolutions as indicated in the drop-down list box.
Resolutions at Screen and higher are preferred where the screen captures are
used for printing at large scales, such as posters.
1024 x 768 is the resolution of many projectors.
Smaller resolutions are suitable for use in reports.
When using numerical resolutions, a blue box appears showing the extent at the
resolution chosen.
Tip: To remove the blue extents box from Envisage, set the resolution back to Screen.
To save a screen dump to a file in the current working directory, click Save. Use Copy To
Clipboard to copy screen dump contents to the Windows clipboard.
Screen dumps can be pasted into other software, such as Microsoft ® Word.
Tutorial 25-1
1. Load topo_contours.00t and drillholes with gold grade (Geology > Drilling
> Load Drillholes).
2. Rotate the view so both the drillholes and topography are visible.
3. Use Screen Dump to create an image with 320 x 280 resolution named
drill.jpg.
4. View drill.jpg in Windows.
Remember to reset the resolution back Screen.
Note: The speed at which the objects move during the recording process is not the playback
speed. Playback is much faster.
1. On the Screen Dump toolbar, save the image as an AVI format. A new AVI file
name can also be entered manually.
2. Choose the desired video resolution.
3. Click the Save Screen Dump icon to begin saving a file.
4. Click the Enable recording AVI icon to start recording.
Enable recording AVI will capture one frame each time the view changes.
Click the [D] key to add single frames to the file.
Deselect the Enable recording AVI icon to pause recording.
5. Deselect Enable recording AVI and then the Save Screen Dump icon to stop
recording and save the final file. The file will be closed, which is necessary before
viewing the file externally.
Tutorial 25-2
1. Load topo_contours.00t and drillholes with gold grade (Geology > Drilling
> Load Drillholes).
2. Left-click the Screen Dump icon and open the Screen Dump toolbar.
3. Create a new audio video file named drill.avi.
4. Set the screen resolution and click Save Screen Dump.
5. Click the Enable recording AVI icon.
6. Select a rotate mode and free rotate the data.
7. Load tq1.00t.
8. Zoom in on the tq1 ore body while in free rotate mode.
9. Deselect the Enable recording AVI and the Save Screen Dump icon to stop
recording.
NGRAIN
NGRAIN is an interactive 3D viewer that can be embedded in electronic documents such
as Microsoft® Word and PowerPoint. Design data, triangulations, grids, and block models
can be exported to the NGRAIN format. Anyone can download a free NGRAIN viewer.
NGRAIN provides the opportunity to view and rotate 3D data in space without having a
Vulcan licence or Vulcan software.
3. Select the File Type and individual files to export. Click OK.
Note: To export a selection of blocks in a block model, use standard block model conditions.
NGRAIN 223
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Developer tab
Controls
group
Legacy
Tools
More Controls
Each person who views a document with an NGRAIN insert needs to download and install
the NGRAIN viewer.
Tutorial 25-3
Export topo.00t to an NGRAIN file and insert the file into a Word document.
5. Enter the name of the VRML file which stores exported data. Select Compressed
or ASCII (uncompressed). Click OK.
VRML 225
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
Index 227
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
primary key, 94 E F
recovery, 29
edit favourites, 26
repair, 30
database existing values, 125 feature, 16, 79
report, 131
database structure, 123 field
restore, 31
Editing Tools, 63 calculations, 128
update, 134
end plate, 167 connections, 96
validation, 129
Ensure triangulation is not striped, edit, 125
Vulcan Explorer, 112
149 file
Database Record Definition, 137
environment variable, 3, 4 scheme, 27, 115
default template, 213
ENVIS_RESO, 4 window, 39
delete crossing triangles, 180
HOME, 4 file extension
design
TEMP, 4 plot all wizard file, 211
database, 15
TMP, 4 plot all wizard specification, 211
new, 92
ENVIS_RESO, 4 Fill triangles with pattern, 149
Design menu, 63
ESRI Filter, 67
Design toolbar, 45
export, 86 Fit Layer, 39
dialog box
import, 86 FLEXnet, 8
see Panel
Exercise, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, 23, floating licence, 7
Digitise toolbar, 47, 49
Digitise Tools, 49
30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 42, Floating windows
43, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 53, see also window, 18
directory, iv
see also folder
54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 64, folder, iv
HOME, 4
66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78, .TRI, 205
79, 81, 82, 85, 88, 89, 92, see also directory
multiple user, 206
TEMP, 4
93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, corporate standards, 6
TMP, 4
102, 107, 109, 110, 111, master, 207
113, 114, 117, 118, 119, saving data, 207
Display, 43
display data, 200
120, 121, 122, 124, 126, font
Display simple contours, 149
131, 134, 135, 137, 141, fixed, 54
142, 148, 151, 164, 166, scaled, 54
Distance Along Line, 88
Distance Between Points, 87
167, 168, 171, 172, 173, True Type, 54
Docked windows
174, 175, 176, 178, 179, vector, 54
180, 181, 185, 186, 187, fonts, 54
see also window, 18
Downhole Checks, 130
191, 194, 195, 196, 198, Free snap mode, 47
drafting sheet, 213
199, 200, 201, 202, 205, Full, 89
216, 218, 220, 221, 224
Drag, 75
see also Tutorial
Drape, 194 G
exercise, 157, 160, 166, 172, 188
Draw as wireframe, 148
export, 83 Get Point, 49
Draw wireframe mesh over
ASCII, 85, 133 grade
surface, 149
AutoCAD, 84 changing, 66
drillhole, 139
data, 132 graphics cards, 2
check, 139
database, 132 Graphics toolbar, 219
extract to CSV or database, 141
ESRI, 86 grid
label, 120
grid, 197 colour, 194
load, 118
NGRAIN, 222, 223 contour, 194
locate, 140
shape file, 86 create Mapfile, 197
set visibility, 141
tables, 133 creating, 191
drilling
VRML, 225 export, 197
Database Record Definition,
extents, 14 file extensions, 190
137
Horizon Lists, 138 from object data, 191
dynamic arrays, 11 from triangulations, 192
interpolated, 192
load, 190
228 Index
masking, 193 L Free snap, 47
mesh surfaces, 189 Indicate, 47
label
node editing, 195 Snap to Grid, 48
colour, 57
plot, 214 Snap to Objects, 48
drillhole, 120
quality, 189 Snap to Points, 48
object, 60
remove, 190 Move Slicing Plane, 43
point, 58
specification, 198 Moving Data, 74
Label On, 120
structure, 189 Multi Label On, 120
Last located invisible, 141
Grid Calc, 198
layer, 15
arithmetic, 202
Layer Edit menu, 63 N
contour, 202
legend, 115
display data, 200 navigation pane, iv
contour, 194
load data, 199 Nearly, 178
drill, 116
macros, 203 network structure, 206
new, 116
model, 200 NGRAIN, 222
scale, 121
preferences, 200 export block models, 223
scheme, 115
Grid Calculator Utility, 198 export design data,
Legend Editor, 116
grid mesh, 158 triangulations, grids, 222
licence
group, 16, 78 insert, 223
borrow, 8
guidelines view, 223
floating, 7
repair, 181 No Clipping, 42, 43
node-locked, 7
Node Edit, 195
licencing, 7
nodelocked, 7
H List, 89
nominate, iv
LM Tools, 8
Help, 32
load
Hidden windows
data, 33 O
see window
drillhole, 118
Highlight Intersections, 43 object, 15
grid, 190
HOME Object Edit menu, 64
triangulation, 147
directory, 4 Object Label, 60
lock
Horizon List, 138 Object Label to Text, 61
database, 29
green, 29 ODBC
orange, 29 create database, 99
I red, 30 design file, 123
image registration, 158, 160 link in DSF, 102
import, 83 link to Microsoft Access, 99
ASCII, 84 M option, iv
AutoCAD, 84 options, iv
macro
data using Envisage, 95 Ortho Rotation, 36
Grid Calc, 203
data using Isis, 98 Ortho Sphere Rotation, 36
main menu, 18
ESRI, 86 Overview Window, 37
map object, 185
shape file, 86 Own windows
Mapfile
Indicate, 47 see also window, 18
create from grid, 197
Individual Field Checks, 131
overview, 142
insert
MAPTEK_BORROW, 8 P
NGRAIN, 223
memory settings, 11
VRML, 225 Pack & Go, 8
menu, iv
installation, 5 pan, 35
Analyse, 57
context, custom, 27 Pane, iv
Design, 45, 63 Panel, iv
K Layer Edit, 63 see also Subpanel
key field, 93, 94 Object Edit, 64 see also Tab
Key In Point Data, 49 Point Edit, 69 Parallel to given line in 3D, 51
Point Insert, 71 Parallel to given line on screen, 51
Polygon Edit, 72 Perpendicular to given line on
Select By, 58 screen, 51
Start, 21 Perspective View, 37
mode
Index 229
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
230 Index
Test for Self Intersection, 177 surface, 153 View Ports, 37
text, 54 translucent, 151 Virtual Sphere Rotation, 36
2D, 54 types, 145 visibility, 39
3D, 55 triangulation directory, 172 primitives, 187
texture trifurcation, 167 vlaunchpref, 10
blend, 151 troubleshoot volume, 175
resource, 151, 160 closure, 178 cut and fill, 176
tick, iv crossing triangles, 180 solid, 175
Title Block edge problems, 180 surface, 176
Plot All Wizard, 214 repair, 178, 181 VRML, 225
TMP satellite solids, 179 export data, 225
directory, 4 Tutorial, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, 23, insert, 225
Toggle Sliced View, 41, 43 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 42, view, 225
toolbar 43, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 53, Vulcan Explorer, 112
Analyse, 87 54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 64, VULCAN_CORPORATE, 6
child, 23 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78,
custom, 25 79, 81, 82, 85, 88, 89, 92,
Design, 45 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, W
Digitise, 47, 49 102, 107, 109, 110, 111, window, 18
Graphics, 34, 219 113, 114, 117, 118, 119, overview, 37
menu, 21 120, 121, 122, 124, 126, Primary, 19
moving, 23 131, 134, 135, 137, 141, Report, 20
parent, 22 142, 148, 151, 164, 166, Vulcan Explorer, 19
Plot Utility Application, 218 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, window files, 39
PRIMARY:Visibility, 40 174, 175, 176, 178, 179,
printer controls, 217 180, 181, 185, 186, 187,
Screen Dump, 219 191, 194, 195, 196, 198, Z
Slice, 43 199, 200, 201, 202, 205, zoom, 34
visibility, 22 216, 218, 220, 221, 224 Zoom Data Extents, 35
window, 21 see also Exercise Zoom To Toolbar, 35
Track Section of Existing Line, 53 tutorial, 157, 160, 166, 172, 188 Z-Up Rotation, 36
Translate, 74 two polygons, 158
tree navigation, iv
tree pane, iv
trending tab, 155 U
tri polygons, 167 uncheck, iv
triangulation update
advantages, 146 database, 134
boolean, 169 Use Default Template, 212
check, 177 Use Drafting Sheet, 212
close, 178 Use load time shading, 149
colour, 149
create, 153, 157, 166, 169,
172, 173 V
solid, 161 Validate, 129
create from polygons, 164 variables
cut, 180 environment, 3
disadvantages, 146 Vertical Exaggeration, 39
end plate, 167 video, 221
load, 147 requirements, 1
manipulate view
boolean, 169 NGRAIN, 223
polygons, 167 other, 39
relimit, 173 perspective, 37
remove, 148 section, 40
shading, 148 VRML, 225
solid see solid
split, 179
split solid, 164
Index 231
Introduction to Vulcan | Maptek Vulcan 8.1
232 Index