Getting Started With MP3 D

Getting Started
with MinePlan 3D
Contact Us
Technical Support Email - English Technical Support Email - Spanish

ts.planning.eng.min@hexagonmining.com ts.planning.esp.min@hexagonmining.com
Australia Tech Support Chile Tech Support

+61.7.4167.0076 +56.22.898.6072
Canada Tech Support Mexico Tech Support

+1.604.757.4394 +52.55.8421.0747
South Africa Tech Support Peru Tech Support

+27.87.550.4441 +51.1.700.9844
USA Tech Support Prominas: Brazil Tech Support

English: +1.520.729.4396 +55.31.3497.5092
Spanish: +1.520.448.4396 supporte@Prominas.com
To review or update your support cases, reference our knowledge base, check for known issues
and/or submit ideas, please log into the Hexagon Community at:
https://community.hexagonmining.com
Note: If you do not yet have access to the Community, please request access by clicking on
”request login”.
For training information and inquires please visit the training page at:
https://hexagonmining.com/services-and-support/training/courses
Getting Started with MinePlan 3D

Updated: March 29, 2022
©2009-2022 by Leica Geosystems AG. All rights reserved. No part of this document shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Leica Geosystems AG. All
terms mentioned in this document that are known to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies have been
appropriately identified. MinePlan® is a registered trademark of Leica Geosystems AG. This material is subject to the terms in the Hexagon
Mining Terms and Conditions (available at http://www.hexagonmining.com/).
Getting Started
with
MinePlan 3D
MinePlan: Exploration to Production
MinePlan software is a comprehensive mine planning platform offering integrated solutions for
exploration, modeling, design, scheduling and production. It uses raw data — from drillholes,
blastholes, underground samples and other sources — to derive 2D and 3D models essential to
mine design and planning. Below the ground or at the surface, from precious metals to base
metals, for coal, oil sands and industrial minerals, MinePlan software tackles geomodeling mining
applications to improve productivity at every stage of a mine’s life.
GEOMETRIES
Use digitized data to define geologic information in section or plan; define topography contours;
and define structural information, such as mine designs, important in the evaluation of an ore
body. Virtually every phase of a project, from drillholes to production scheduling, either uses or
derives geometric data. MinePlan software lets you create, manipulate, triangulate and view any
geometric data as 2D or 3D elements.
DRILLHOLES
Manage drillhole, blasthole and other
sample data in a Microsoft SQL Server
database. The data can be validated,
manipulated and reported; and it is
fully integrated with other MinePlan
products for coding, spearing, com-
positing, interpolation, statistics and
display. Some of the types of data
you can store are drillhole collar infor-
mation (location, length and more),
down-hole survey data (orientation),
assays, lithology, geology, geotechni-
cal data and quality parameters for
coal.
COMPOSITING
Calculate composites by several methods, including bench, fixed length, honoring geology and
economic factors. These composites are fully integrated with other MinePlan products for statistics
and geostatistics, interpolation and display.
©2022 Hexagon
3D BLOCK MODEL (3DBM) STRATIGRAPHIC MODEL
Used to model base metal deposits such as por- Used to model layered deposits, such as coal and
phyry copper, non-layered deposits, and most oil sands. Although they are normally oriented hor-
complex coal and oil sands projects. izontally, they can be oriented vertically for steeply
dipping ore bodies.
Vertical dimensions are typically a function of the Vertical dimensions are a function of the seam
mining bench height. (or other layered structures) and interburden thick-
nesses.
Contains grade items, geological codes and a to- Contains elevations and thickness of seams (or
pography percent among other qualities and mea- other layered structures), as well as grade items, ge-
surements. ological codes, a topography percent, and other
qualities and measurements.
MODELING
Build and manage 3D block, stratigraphic and surface models to define your deposit. Populate
your models through: geometries (polygons, solids or surfaces) coded into the model; calculations
on model items; text files loaded into the model; and interpolation through techniques such as in-
verse distance weighting, kriging or polygonal assignment. As you design and evaluate your mine
project, you can update your model, summarize resources and reserves, calculate and report
statistics, display in plots or view in 2D and 3D.
ECONOMIC PIT LIMITS & PIT OPTIMIZATION

Generate pit shells to reflect economic designs. Using floating cone or Lerchs-Grossmann tech-
niques, work on whole blocks from the 3D block model to find economic pit limits for economic
assumptions such as costs, net value, cutoff grades and pit wall slope. Economic material is usually
one grade or an equivalent grade item. You can view the results in 2D or 3D, use the results to
guide your phase design, plot your design in plan or section, calculate reserves and run simple
production scheduling on your reserves.
vi
PIT & UNDERGROUND DESIGN

Accurately design detailed open pit geometry, in- Support & Services
cluding ramps and pushbacks with variable wall
slopes, and display your pit designs in plan or section,
clipped against topography or in 3D. You can eval- Client service and satisfaction is our
uate reserves for pit designs based on a partial block first priority. Boasting a multilingual
basis and calculate production schedules from the re- group of geologists and engineers
serves. Create and manipulate underground design stationed worldwide, the MinePlan
through CAD functions and from survey information. team has years of hands-on, real-
world experience.
LONG TERM PLANNING GLOBAL SUPPORT
Generate schedules for long term planning based on
Providing global technical support
pushback designs, or phases, and reserves computed
during the day and with extended
by the mine-planning programs. The basic input pa-
hours on weekdays and weekends,
rameters for each production period include mill ca-
technical support is at your service.
pacity, mine capacity and cutoff grades.
The company’s offices in the United
States, Canada, Mexico, Peru,
SHORT TERM PLANNING Chile, Brazil, South Africa, Australia
and the United Kingdom all offer
Generate schedules for short term planning based on technical support via phone and
cuts or solids in interactive planning modules. A large email.
selection of parameters and flexible configurations let
you control daily, weekly or monthly production. TRAINING
Our software is always improving

in response to our clients’ needs.
It doesn’t take long to fall behind.
That’s why we’re committed to
helping you get the most from our
software. Take advantage of our in-
troductory and advanced courses
or create a customized curriculum
that best suits your needs.
SERVICES
MinePlan Services offers mine

planning studies, mineral resource
studies and project assistance to
help you get the most from your
mine and from MinePlan. From
scoping studies to final feasibility
studies, to MinePlan coach, de-
pend on our multilingual MinePlan
specialists.
vii
Contents
The MinePlan Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Geo Copper Data Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The MP3D Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The MP3D Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Model Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Geometry Objects & Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Grid Sets & the Edit Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Point Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Polyline Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Triangulating Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Surface Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
LGOs & Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Point Cloud Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Transforming Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
The Torque Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Backup/Restore Torque Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Drillhole Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Cutoff Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
3D Block Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Block Model Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Using DART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Plotting in MP3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Conclusion & Future Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
The MinePlan Project

MinePlan training courses typically cover several
programs that work together in the MinePlan sys- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
tem. Each program has a project folder (created
upon initialization) that stores its subfolders and Make a root folder to store your MinePlan
files. For example, MinePlan 3D (MP3D) stores its project data.
data in a folder called “_msresources.”
For this course, create a master folder called
“MinePlan Project,” or use a descriptive name, to house the project folders. MinePlan Project is
the project location you should specify when you initialize each program. Project folders do not
need to exist in one location, but keeping them together is a common set up for ease of sharing
and data organization.
Store project folders created

within different programs MinePlan
in a master folder Project
MP3D Torque Sigma

_msresources _mstresources Sigma Resources
Sigma_charts
The MinePlan Project | 1

©2022 Hexagon
NOTES:
2 | The MinePlan Project

Geo Copper Data Set

The Geo Copper Data Set comes from a multi-metallic porphyry deposit with copper as the main
ore of interest. Molybdenum and zinc data have also been collected. The mineralization type of
the deposit (oxide, primary sulfides and secondary sulfides) most strongly controls the distribution
of grade. Sulfide mineralization consists mainly of pyrite and chalcopyrite. The deposit occurs in
felsic to intermediate intrusive igneous rocks and associated breccias. Alteration zones outward
from the center — from a phyllic zone to a propylitic halo.
ALTERATION ZONES
Phyllic 1
Potassic 2
Propylitic 3
LITHOLOGY CODES
Diorite 1
Granodiorite 2
Quartz Feldspar 3
Intermediate Breccia 4
Late Breccia 5
Country Rock 6
MINERALOGY CODES
PROJECT BOUNDARY COORDINATES (in metric units)
Oxides 1
Min Max Cell Size Block
Primary Sulfides 2
Count
Secondary Sulfides 3
Easting: 3500 8500 (DX=25) 200
Outside(default code) 4
Northing: 4500 9500 (DY=25) 200
Elevation: 705 1965 (DZ=15) 84
Geologists have collected and logged information from 287 drillholes at the site over the course of
two drilling campaigns (one on the northwest side of the deposit and the other on the southeast).
Drillhole types include diamond, reverse circulation, hammer, and mixed hammer and diamond.
Samples were collected at various lengths — from 1-meter to 15-meter intervals. Element sample
analysis included total copper, acid soluble copper, molybdenum and zinc.
Geo Copper Data Set | 3

©2022 Hexagon
NOTES:
4 | Geo Copper Data Set

The MP3D Project

MinePlan 3D (MP3D) gives you the power to vi-
sualize and manipulate your data. Place your LEARNING OBJECTIVE
MP3D project folder on a secure drive with suffi-
cient space, and for which you have read/write Initialize a new MP3D project.
permission. Keeping the folder on a network drive
may slow MP3D’s performance.
To initialize an MP3D project, you must specify your project limits, the cell size and units of mea-
surement. Once the project has been initialized, the minimum and maximum project coordinates
cannot be changed within the MP3D session. You can work outside of your project limits as long
as you use the same order of magnitude, which will avoid precision problems. The cell size, which
sets an initial grid cell size for calculating volumes, can be changed after the project has been
initialized.
Organizing Your Project

MinePlan
Initializing a new MP3D project creates a folder called “_msre-
Project
sources” in your project directory. This folder stores MinePlan data
objects, default subfolders (settings, items and materials) and other
subfolders you create for organizational purposes. Folders and
objects within _msresources are visible and accessible in MP3D
through the Data Manager.
_msresources There are a number of data objects available, including drillhole

views, geometry objects, geometry view objects, grid sets, leg-
ends, materials, model views, plot layouts and title block objects.
MP3D saves these data objects in the project’s _msresources sub-
directory tree as MinePlan Resource files that have “.msr” as the
extension on the filename.
Subfolders
store objects
and settings
EXERCISE: Initialize an MP3D Project

See the overview of the data set for project limits, cell sizing and units of measurement.
MP3D Project Start MP3D (ms3d.exe) → Select your project from the Start In Folder → OK →
Click Yes to create _msresources → Enter project coordinates → OK
The MP3D Project | 5

©2022 Hexagon
NOTES
6 | The MP3D Project

The MP3D Interface

The MinePlan 3D (MP3D) interface helps you orga-
nize data using the Data Manager; find CAD func- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
tions and analytical tools through toolbars; and
view images in 3D and 2D through the xViewer. Navigate and customize the MP3D inter-
face for efficient and effective use during
The main MinePlan menu interface, the xViewer
project management.
and the object properties appear in three sepa-
rate windows. You can use docking, floating, auto-
hide and tabbed document options to arrange them. Likewise, all toolbars, including the Menu
Bar, can be moved, floated and hidden. In addition, you will often see the MinePlan Messages,
MinePlan Query and Popup Menu windows.
Other customization options include creating new toolbars, personalizing the existing toolbars and
Menu Bar, and creating new menus. You can also export customized toolbars and the Menu Bar
for others to use. The Reset button allows you to revert to the default toolbar.
Menu Bar
-
:

Function Toolbars
Viewer Toolbar
:
Message Window -
Status Bar -
The Project Settings dialog controls project limits, the setting of various parameters used when
MP3D performs volume calculations, and the setting of material properties for the project. Project
settings can be set to the limits of the project control file (PCF), which contains the data the sys-
tem draws from, upon project creation. It is important to note the coordinates when evaluating
changes to the model and PCF.
EXERCISE: Change Project Settings

Change the dip unit display in the Status Bar and explore other options to customize the MP3D interface.
Project Settings Desktop Menu → File → Project Settings → Status Bar tab → Change dip display
The MP3D Interface | 7

©2022 Hexagon
The MP3D Cursor

The Cursor Tool dialog lets you create or edit scalable cur-
sors, which can be used for estimating measurements as
you design. You can specify format, axis, rotation, pin-
point, name position (relative to the cursor center) and
color information. To activate any cursor, click in the
viewer and then type “c” to select from existing cursors.
By default, the orientation of the scalable cursor is in the
plane of the viewer. Each viewer window can have a dif-
ferent cursor type, and cursor set-
tings are persistent between sessions.
EXERCISE: Customize the MP3D Cursor

Create a cursor with a 100-meter radius and 25-meter tick intervals. Name it “100m.”
Cursor Tool Desktop Menu → Viewer → Cursor Tool → Click “+” button
The Data Manager

To open/close Data Manager: Window Toolbar → Data Manager icon
The Data Manager organizes your project using a Microsoft Win-
dows Explorer-like interface. It controls: the management, cre-
ation and deletion of folders and objects; opening and closing
of folders and objects; importing and exporting data; and dis-
playing data stored in MinePlan project files. You can also save
project maps, which store the open/closed state of data ob-
jects, so you can return to a particular view.
1. The Unset Edit Object button allows you to quickly take an
object out of edit mode. The Project Map Chooser lets you
switch project maps.
2. The Folder List displays folders in the current project.
3. The Folder Contents List displays the contents of the folder
highlighted in the Folder View window. Customize the col-
umn’s order, and/or turn it on or off.
OPEN IN EXPLORER
Right-click on any folder in the Data Manager and select Open in Explorer to open Windows Explorer at
that location.
8 | The MP3D Interface

MANAGING YOUR DATA

Creating folders makes finding your data easier. You can create folders within MP3D through the
Data Manager, through Microsoft Windows Explorer or via DOS commands. The top-level folder
In the Data Manager is called “_msresources”; it corresponds to the _msresources folder created
when you initialize an MP3D project.
Each data object type has an Object Proper-
ties dialog through which you can change dis- Assigning a number and name to your folders, for
play characteristics and an associated symbol example 01-Topography or 02-DH View, lets you
that is displayed in MP3D’s Data Manager for define a non-alphabetic order for your folders.
quick recognition.
Common Data Types: Geometry Objects, Drillhole Views, Grid Sets and Model Views
EXERCISE: Import and Export Topography Contours

Create a folder titled “Topography” and import topography data (topo.dxf). Then export the topography
contours as a Survey Free Format File (ASCII).
Create Folders Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → New → Folder
Import Data Select and right-click destination folder → Import → Select import format
Export Data Data Manager → Select and right-click object → Export → Free Form Survey
dialog → Click “+” button and add x, y and z coordinates, and an object
name → OK → Choose destination → OK

©2022 Hexagon
The MinePlan xViewer

The xViewer gives a 3D or 2D perspective of
data content created in MP3D or imported into
MP3D. Each xViewer is an object with its own
properties. You can add a directional axis — a
compass — to get a sense of the direction in
which you are viewing your MinePlan project.
The compass is available in both 3D and 2D
modes, but not in fence grid set modes.
The default viewer, created when an MP3D
project is initialized, will be in 3D. Display and
editing within this viewer is by default done in
3D, so you should make use of edit grids and/or snap modes to properly enter new data into a
project. However, you can also use 2D mode, which makes it easier to do certain editing tasks. 2D
mode also allows you to step through the data in the viewer using a set of controlling planes, and
visualize drillhole and model data with unique 2D display attributes.
The xViewer enables you to display large point clouds, models, surfaces and other large data in
real time. It talks directly to your graphics card to maximize efficiency in display and rendering,
meaning exceptional large-data viewing speed and accuracy in 2D and 3D. Other highlights
include: Stream data in real time; quick and smooth rotating, panning and zooming; perform
other tasks while rendering data; display point cloud data.
NOTES:

ADJUSTING XVIEWER ORIENTATION
AZIMUTH AND DIP DISPLAY

Use Azimuth and dip fields on the xViewer Toolbar.
• Adjust orientation by typing desired values in field.
• Use arrow buttons for either field.
• A single-click changes the value set in xViewer Full Properties → Camera tab.
• Click-and-hold changes value in five-degree increments.
Use arrow keys on your computer keyboard.
• Left/right arrows adjust azimuth.
• Up/down arrows adjust dip.
• Values change in five-degree increments.
Use mouse chords. (Note: Menu fields update as view is adjusted.)
• Two-button mouse: hold both buttons. Three-button mouse: hold middle button to rotate
viewer.
• Left and right movements adjust azimuth.
• Up and down movements adjust dip. (Hold down right and left mouse buttons or just hold
down the scroll button.)
ZOOM LEVEL
Use one of the icons on the xViewer Toolbar.
• Zoom box—window with mouse.
• Zoom in—stepped.
• Zoom out—stepped.
Use mouse chords.
• Two-button mouse: Alt key + left- and right-click. Three-button mouse: left and middle but-
tons.
• Up and down mouse movement zooms in and out smoothly.
• Scroll button + left-click with up and down movement, or zoom with scroll button
From Project Settings, Zoom to Cursor Location option will allow you to zoom in and out with the
cursor’s location in the viewer.
Use keyboard hot keys.
• “l” key zooms in—stepped.
• “o” key zooms out—stepped.
PANNING DATA IN THE XVIEWER

Use mouse chords.
• Two-button mouse: Shift + left- and right-click. Mouse with scroll button: right click and scroll
button.
• Left and right movement pans left and right smoothly.
• Up and down movement pans up and down smoothly.
Use Shift + arrow keys from computer keyboard.
• Shift + right and left arrow keys pan right and left.
• Shift + up and down arrow keys pan up and down.

©2022 Hexagon
THE MINEPLAN POPUP MENU

The Popup Menu appears when you right-click in the xViewer window. It displays a two-part menu.
The top section is the Static Function List, which offers quick access to functions that you specify.
The lower section displays the Most Recently Used Function List. You can specify the number of
functions you want saved in the Viewer Popup Menu Setup dialog (see exercise). A toggle at the
top of the dialog deactivates the Viewer Popup Menu.
Quick Viewer Movement suppresses surface and label information in open objects during zoom,
pan or rotate functions. This mode allows you to rapidly change the view using mouse chords,
even with large data sets. When the mouse buttons are released, the suppressed information
displays again.
EXERCISE: Get Familiar with the MinePlan xViewer
xViewer Set Up xViewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → xViewer Properties dialog

Data Manager → Highlight and right-click a viewer → Properties → Viewer Prop-
erties dialog
Data Manager → Double-click an opened viewer → Viewer Properties dialog
Add a Compass xViewer Full Properties dialog → Compass tab → Select how you wish to dis-
play your north direction — Compass Rose, Compass Needle or Three Axes
→ Show Labels (choose a font color that is different than your viewer back-
ground color) → Define any further display options
Static Function List Desktop Menu → Viewer → Popup Menu Definition → Viewer Popup Menu
Setup dialog → Click Enable Popup Menu box in upper left corner → Ap-
ply
Multiple xViewers Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → New → Viewer
Quick Viewer Desktop Menu → Viewer → Quick Viewer Movement ON/OFF

Movement Mode
Vertical Exaggeration xViewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → xViewer Full Properties dialog → Camera Tab
→ Vertical exaggeration → on: 2.0
Camera Target xViewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → xViewer Full Properties dialog → Camera Tab
→ Reset Target Manually
xViewer → Keyboard hotkey “t” → Click on target in the viewer
Data Manager → Right-click on object → Target
xViewer Toolbar → Camera Target button → Click on target in viewer

MinePlan 3D Interface Highlights

The MP3D interface is the hub of all MinePlan activity. From viewing drillhole data and model data
to manipulating and importing geometries, it serves as the center point for all MinePlan activities
in any geology and engineering workflow. The following describes some of the functionality of the
MP3D interface that can be applied to many workflows and daily tasks.
MENU:
File - User preferences: These settings are saved at the user system level. This means the settings
can be different for another user login on the windows system.
Disable xViewer instanced drawing - Model views and other display elements are drawn with
hardware optimization. Some video card manufacturers drivers will produce video artifacts
when this optimization is enabled. Toggling this option ON will disable some hardware opti-
mizations to avoid the video artifacts at of a cost of slower display performance. Changes to
this setting will not take effect until the xViewer windows are closed and reopened.
Point Create to create 2D points - Toggle this option ON to create 2D points when using the
Point Create function. If the viewer (either an xViewer or a standard Viewer) is in a 2D mode,
or if plane snap is turned on, then the point created will be placed on the plane defined
by the viewer. 3D points are created when the plane is not clearly specified even when the
"Point Create to create 2D points" is toggled ON. To create a 3D point when you are working
in a 2D viewer, toggle this option OFF. Point Create will only create 2D points if this option is
toggled ON.
Target viewer to object contents on open - Toggle this option ON to automatically target ob-
jects when they are opened and the current viewer camera is not locked.
Use Viewer as default on startup (normally xViewer) - Toggle this option ON to cause MP3D
on startup to default to opening a standard Viewer, rather than an xViewer (default when
not toggled).
Allow polygon fill to be selected and snapped to - Toggle this option ON to select and snap
to a filled polygon. Toggle this option OFF to select and snap through a filled polygon (de-
fault).
Allow unselected copy and move - Toggle this option ON to allow point editing options (Point
| Move, Point | Move with Fixed Elevation, and Point | Adjust Elevation) to select points from
elements that are not currently in the selection buffer.
Auto start point editor with copy and move - Toggle this option ON to bring up the Point Editor
when you start Point Move, Element Move, or Element Copy functions. Toggling this option
OFF requires manual activation of the Point Editor.
File - Coordinate System Manager The purpose of this tool is to create, edit and delete coordinate
transformations that are used in data import and export. At the current time IDS files, GeoMoS files,
and any import or export that uses the Survey dialog supports coordinate transformations.
A single coordinate transformation will work for both import and export. The external coordinate
system will be the format being imported from or exported to. The project coordinate system
will be what is used in MP3D. The external coordinate system will be converted into the project
coordinate system when importing and vice versa when exporting.

©2022 Hexagon
Create Point Cloud – LAS/LAZ import When you select LAS or LAZ files, the Point Cloud creation
dialog will display Classification filtering and Color Options. "LAS" files are an industry-standard
binary format for storing airborne lidar data (a detection system that work on the principle of radar,
but uses light from a laser). The LAS dataset allows you to examine LAS files, in their native format,
quickly and easily, providing detailed statistics and area coverage of the lidar data contained in
the LAS files. LAZ files are compressed LAS files.
Viewer – Export Viewer to 3D PDF Export all visible elements in the active viewer to a "3D PDF" file
(a PDF that contains 3D geometry). See help doc for a complete list of elements that can be
exported and those that cannot.
GeoMoS
A GeoMoS file is data from prism sensors that is stored on a server. The displacement of a sensor
over 2 specified periods of time can be displayed. A GeoMoS Monitor itself is a program which
consolidates data from several different prism sensors and displays it in an understandable way.
MP3D can directly connect to a GeoMoS database and display data from prism sensors in the
viewer. The data will be shown as a vector with its size based on the distance between a prism
sensor’s start and end time location. The larger the vector, the greater the distance between
the start and end location. Data from the GeoMoS database is assumed to be in meters. For
imperial projects, the data is automatically converted into feet. Create a GeoMoS View from the
datamanger right click and new menu. Then connect to server and data.
IBIS Guardian CSV4D

IBIS Guardian uses radar data and output data in "CSV4D" format. In MP3D a view of this data can
be displayed. The workflow for this Data Object Type is different from Data Object Types because
the Guardian program can periodically output CSV4D files to a folder location, thus making it
easier to use in MP3D. MP3D can directly display IBIS Guardian files which have been exported in
the CSV4D file format. Copy the CSV4D file into the MP3D "_msresources" project subdirectory. The
object will appear in the Data Manager contents view folder once the Data Manager has been
refreshed.

Accessing Other MinePlan Programs

The MinePlan menu on the Desktop Menu lets you open other MinePlan programs while working
in MP3D. Accessible programs include: Compass, DataAnalyst, DART, Economic Planner, License
Manager, Plug-in Manager, Schedule Optimizer, Strategic Planner Tools and Torque.
MP3D ONLINE HELP
MP3D has online documentation that can be accessed through Help on the Desktop Menu or through
context-sensitive help inquiries. To access context-sensitive help, press F1 when the window for the
function is active, and the Help document for that window will open. Click on the topic about which
you wish to learn more and the related help topic will be displayed in your default web browser window.
Context-sensitive help is available for all areas of MP3D, menus, dialogs and icons.
To Access MP3D Online Help: Desktop Menu → Help or F1

©2022 Hexagon
The Model Manager

The Model Manager lets you create or edit project
control files (PCF), 3D block models (3DBM), grid- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
ded surface files (GSF) and gridded seam models
(GSM) from within MinePlan 3D (MP3D). It can be Create, edit and clone PCFs, gridded sur-
used to start a new project and add models, or to face files and 3D block model files.
manage an existing project with existing models.
To access Model Manager: MP3D Desktop Menu → Model → Model Manager or select icon from
the Model Toolbar
THE PROJECT CONTROL FILE (PCF)

The PCF is essential to working in MinePlan — it contains the data the system draws from to perform
its operations. The PCF appears as “****10.dat” in your project folder and includes:
• Project and company identification.
• A geometric description of the project — the coordinates entered into the PCF will be used
for the block model.
• The type of model (stratigraphic or 3D).
• The units (imperial or metric).
• A table of file names for the project (maximum of 125 files).
• Descriptors for each item stored in a MinePlan file.
16 | The Model Manager

EXERCISE: Create a New PCF

Create a new PCF file using the following parameters: PCF ID = GEO (for example), Folder = the project direc-
tory you are working in, Description = a general description of the project. Input the column, row and bench
limits from the project data set overview. Click to save the changes you have made to the PCF.
New PCF MP3D Desktop Menu → Model → Model Manager → Project → New PCF
Model Files
Model Manager lets you create model views for two types of model files — File 15 (3DBM or GSM)
and File 13 (GSF) — in the currently loaded project. You can also:
• Add and edit items to an existing model in a one-step process, without renaming or cloning
the model.
• Use the Clone function to copy an existing project file from the current working project or
from another project, which can be located in a different directory, to a file that you specify.
Item labels, minimum, maximum, precision and the data are all copied.
• Rename a MinePlan project file. The file will be renamed in the project directory as well as in
the PCF.
• Sub-block items within your model to enhance their resolution.
In the same way that you can create new model files,
you can modify existing model files. This comes in handy Fields in the model files cannot begin
when you have a model file already created and you with a number. You will see a warn-
need to add an item. In the Model Manager you can ing message if you choose this nam-
ing convention.
edit the files “on the fly.”
EXERCISE: Create and Edit a Model File

Create a new model file. Add required model items. Clone the model file and rename it. Then add an item
and delete an item.
New Model File Model Manager → Model → 3DBM—File 15 or GSF—File 13
Clone Model Manager → Model → Clone
Rename Model Manager → Model → Rename → Enter new name → OK
Add Model Item Choose the existing model file → Edit → Add → Add item
Delete Model Item Red X adjacent to the Add → Remove unwanted fields
The Model Manager | 17

©2022 Hexagon
Import/Export a Model Item List

In the same way that you can add and delete single fields or a group of added fields, you can
also import fields from an ASCII text file or from an existing model file. This is done under the same
menu with which you add a singular field. Choose the option to Import items from an ASCII file or
Import items from a model file. Choose the correct corresponding file, and your items will appear.
In reverse, if you have a model file and you want to share the items with others, you can export
the items to a text file. This functionality is found under the Model → Export item definitions menu.
EXERCISE: Import Model Items

Import the items from modelitems.txt into the new model file.
Import Items Choose your model file → Edit → Add → Import Items from an ASCII File → Open
modelitems.txt → Select the items you want to import → Import
NOTES
18 | The Model Manager

Geometry Objects & Elements

Geometry objects are the main data storages
used in MinePlan 3D (MP3D). They perform two LEARNING OBJECTIVE
main functions:
Create, modify and select geometry ob-
1. They contain elements such as points, poly-
jects, which store digitized data.
lines, polygons, surfaces, solids and labels.
2. They control properties of unattributed ele-
ments that are contained within.
You can create new geometry objects manually in
the MP3D Data Manager or “on the fly” when in-
voking a CAD editing function. Once you create a
geometry object, you must place it in edit mode to
add elements such points, polylines and polygons.
You can tell an object is in edit mode when a pen-
cil image appears in front of the blue cube next to it.
Modify existing elements by placing them in selection mode. Edit display properties from an ob-
ject’s Object Properties dialog.
EXERCISE: Add Elements to a Geometry Object

Create a geometry object called “various_elements” in a new folder titled “Geometry,” and try to replicate
the image above. Stay in plan orientation (Viewer Toolbar → Camera To View Plan icon), and be sure to
hide the topography you imported earlier (click on the light bulb). Also, turn on the project bounding box
for reference (Desktop Menu → File → Project Settings → Display tab → Show Bounding Box). When you are
done, click the Save Selection icon on the Selection Toolbar.
Create a Data Manager → Right-click _msresources folder → New → Geometry Object

Geometry Object → Enter name
Edit Mode Data Manager → Select and right-click element name → Edit
Add Points Desktop Menu → Point → Create

Point Toolbar → Create Point icon
Add Polylines Desktop Menu → Polyline → Create → Polyline

Polyline Toolbar → Create Polyline
Add Polygons Desktop Menu → Polyline → Create → Polygon

Polyline Toolbar → Create Polygon icon
Add Labels Desktop Menu → Label → Create → Enter wording → Click viewer to place the
label → Double-click geometry object → Labels tab → Increase size
Label Toolbar → Create Label icon
Add Shapes Desktop Menu → Surface → Create → Insert Shape
Unset Edit Mode Data Manager → Unset Edit Object icon
Geometry Objects & Elements | 19

©2022 Hexagon
Selecting Data for Editing

To modify data or use it in a function, you must first
select it for editing (selection mode). A collection
of selected elements is called the selection set.
Selected or newly created elements appear red
in the viewer, indicating that they may be edited.
Selected data may also be moved or copied to
another object.
The Modify Selection function allows you to mod-
ify the current selection set; it places selected
data in the “pre-selection” state (appearing or-
ange in the viewer). Pre-selected data can be Don’t use red as your default color. If you
unselected. Right-clicking in the viewer resets the do, you won’t be able to tell when ele-
selection set. ments are in selection mode.
EXERCISE: Change Display Properties

Delete points from various_elements. When you select an element in the viewer, it turns orange (pre-selection
state). When you finish selecting elements, right-click to put your selection set in selection mode.
Select Elements Desktop Menu → Selection → Make New Selection

Desktop Menu → Selection → Make New Multi-Object Selection
Selection Toolbar → Make New Selection icon
Selection Toolbar → Make New Multi-Object Selection icon
Data Manager → Select and right-click a geometry object → Select → Choose
options
Modify Selection Desktop Menu → Selection → Modify Selection

Selection Toolbar → Modify Selection icon
Unselect Elements Shift + mouse click (for items in pre-selection state)

Desktop Menu → Selection → Cancel (undoes all edits)
Delete Points put point in Selection Mode → Desktop Menu → Point → Delete
Save Data Desktop Menu → Selection → Save Selection

Desktop Menu → Selection → Save Selection and Continue
Selection Toolbar → Save Selection Edits icon
Selection Toolbar → Save And Continue With Selection
EXERCISE: Modify Data

Modify display properties (fill color, patterns, etc.) to match the image above.
Adjust Properties Data Manager → Select and right-click object → Properties → Object Proper-
ties dialog
Data Manager → Double-click an object → Object Properties dialog
20 | Geometry Objects & Elements

FILTERING ELEMENTS
The Selection Filter allows you to filter elements 3D 2D SELECTION MODE LOGIC
based on data type, orientation, attributed name, Yes Yes Selects both 3D & 2D elements
attributed material, length, area and/or volume. Yes No Selects only 3D elements
You can save filter configurations for repeated use.
No Yes Selects only 2D elements
Selection filtering is an “AND” condition, so all filter
No No Selects nothing
conditions must be met.
EXERCISE: Filter Elements

Filter out polygons and select all other data in various_elements.
Selection Filter Desktop Menu → Selection → Configure Selection Filter → Toggle Activate Se-
lection Filter → Specify elements to include → OK → Data Manager → Right-
click object → Select → Using Filter or Make New Selection/Make New Multi-
Object Selection → Select objects in viewer
Selection Toolbar → Selection Filter icon
QUERYING AN ELEMENT
Use Element Query to determine the location of an element. View element information for point,
surface and label data in the Query window. View element information for polyline and polygon
data in the Object dialog. Use Query Selection to view information for the selected data in the
Message Window.
EXERCISE: Query an Element

Query elements from various_elements.
Query Element Desktop Menu → Query → Element → Click an element

Element Toolbar → Query Element icon
Browsing within a Geometry Object

The Object Contents Browser (OCB) has two main functions:
• Browsing the contents of geometry objects, which can be performed at any time during your
MinePlan session.
• Selecting geometry objects (or elements within geometry objects) for use in different CAD
functions.
EXERCISE: Browse within a Geometry Object

Use the OCB to browse various_elements.
OCB Data Manager → Select and right-click the object → Object Contents Browser
Geometry Objects & Elements | 21

©2022 Hexagon
NOTES
22 | Geometry Objects & Elements

Materials
MinePlan (MP3D) materials let you create a set of
attributes — such as color, visibility or specific val- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
ues to use when coding — that you can assign
to multiple data objects at once. All data object Create and edit materials to control at-
types have an associated material. For example, tributes of data objects.
you can create a material with unique patterns
and colors to represent polylines, solids and sur-
faces that occur in a specific geologic zone. A material can control more than one ele-
ment at a time. When a material is edited,
Materials define visual properties of geometry
the changes automatically affect all the ele-
data, define coding values for geometry data and
ments using that material.
control triangulation.
Creating & Applying Materials

MP3D comes with default materials, located in the Materials folder in the Data Manager. You can
create new materials automatically when you import data; create them manually; or update the
defaults. In addition, you can use an existing material’s properties as a basis for a new material’s
properties. When assigning a material to a geometry object, you are merely copying properties
from a material to the geometry object properties.
THE ELEMENT ATTRIBUTE FUNCTION

The Attribute Tool allows you to assign an attributed
name and attributed material type to an element,
or remove existing attributes from an element. When
an element has been attributed, the geometry ob-
ject in which it is stored no longer controls its proper-
ties; the attributed material has control.
Elements that can be attributed include points,
polylines, polygons, surfaces, solids and labels. Each
Original solid element can only have one attributed name and
material. Elements can be given an attributed
name without an attributed material, but elements
cannot be given an attributed material without an
attributed name. (An element without an attributed
name is considered an unattributed element.) Only
elements in geometry objects can be attributed us-
ing the Attribute Tool, though they do not need to
be in Selection Mode.
Solid with Color Black material type
Materials | 23
©2022 Hexagon
Remember that attributed material properties overwrite the properties of an individual element,
so changing settings in Object Properties will have no effect. Likewise, a material attributed to an
element takes precedence over a material assigned to an object. The attributes of an element
can be checked using Query → Element or can be displayed as a label in the Line Labels or Node
Labels tab pages in Object Properties.
CONTROL OF PROPERTIES
Highest Material Element Level
⇓ Object Properties
Lowest Material Object Level
Polymat 1 Polymat 2 Polymat 3

Fill green Black dashed line Yellow igneous pattern
EXERCISE: Use and Edit Materials

Create three materials for one of the polygons stored in various_elements. You can use the wildcard option
(e.g. Polymat $index) to create multiple materials at once. Open the three materials individually and edit
the properties; then open them simultaneously in the Material Editor and edit the properties. Change the
material of the geometry to ColorYellow in the Object Properties dialog, and then attribute the polygon with
the three materials you created.
Create Materials Data Manager → Highlight and right-click Materials folder → New → Material
Use Materials to Set Data Manager → Double-click geometry object name → Object Properties →
Display Properties General tab → Material Type → Choose material
Edit Material Properties Data Manager → Double-click material name → Object Properties → Materials
tab
Edit Multiple Materials Data Manager → Materials folder → Control + select multiple materials → Right-
click selected materials → Edit → MinePlan 3D Material Editor
Attribute Tool Desktop Menu → Element → Attribute Tool (or Element Tool Bar → Attribute Tool
icon) → Toggle on Attribute → Choose element name and material → Select
→ Select element from Viewer → Preview → Apply
Materials attributed to elements that are open in the MP3D viewer are listed under the Data Manager
Open View tab.
24 | Materials
Grid Sets & the Edit Grid

The grid set is one of the four fundamental data
types in any MinePlan 3D (MP3D) project. (The LEARNING OBJECTIVE
other three are the geometry object, the drill-
hole view and the model view.) The most impor- Use grid sets and the edit grid to control
tant function of the grid set is to limit the num- the number of planes visible in the viewer.
ber of planes displaying data in the viewer. The
three types of grid sets are parallel, unordered and
fence.
• Parallel grid sets are a sequence of related grids that differ by a set distance. The Parallel
From PCF option creates orthogonal planes based on the PCF extents in plan, E-W or N-S ori-
entation. The Parallel From Origin option creates a number of orthogonal or non-orthogonal
planes positioned relative to a base origin point; the number of grids, distance between
planes and the origin and orientation are all user-defined in the dialog. Following creation,
the global orientation of parallel grid set planes can be changed at any time.
• Unordered grid sets encompass an unrelated sequence of planes that may take any orien-
tation. Since they are unrelated they do not have to be parallel.
• Fence grid sets are vertical cross-sections, defined by a polyline, that bend and change
direction as the section line traverses the project area. They are viewed in 2D “Fence” mode
with the bends straightened out. One grid set is created for each polyline.
Grid sets let you: “step” through data using volume clipping or 2D mode;
“slice”through data to give strings or markers in a new orientation for inter-
pretation; and define the edit grid. It’s best to keep all grid sets in one folder.
When creating a new grid set, if you are not initializing from a PCF (for Parallel
From PCF grid sets) or have not selected polylines (for unordered grid sets),
the result will be an empty grid set. In this case, use the Grid Set Editor dialog
to add planes, modify the origin and other tasks.
The Naming section in the grid set creation dialog defines basic properties
such as Decimals and Size. Grid set creation honors wildcard options speci-
fied in the format field box.
Grid Set
THE EDIT GRID
In contrast, the edit grid does not exist as an actual data object; it is a single grid plane that is
either displayed or hidden. The edit grid constrains the entry of new data or the positioning of
existing data.
Grid sets are better used for a static set of planes, such as mining benches, which can be used for 2D
viewing and as reference in certain tools and functions in MP3D.
Edit grids are better used for quickly snapping data to the plane of the orientation at which the edit grid
is set.
Grid Sets & the Edit Grid | 25

©2022 Hexagon
You can also add the plane represented by the edit

grid to an existing parallel or unordered grid set. For
parallel grid sets though, the edit grid must have the
same exact orientation. The edit grid lets you: snap
points to a plane; define a triangulated surface; deter-
mine intersections with a 3D surface; control camera
view; limit visibility on either side of a plane; and define
Edit Grid
the plotting plane.
EXERCISE: Create Grid Sets and Define the Edit Grid

Create a new folder titled “Grid Sets” and create the three default parallel (NS, EW and Plan) grid sets based
on the PCF. The sectional grid sets will have 25-meter spacing, and the planar grid set will have 15-meter
spacing. Create one parallel grid set from a base origin point. Then define the edit grid.
Create an unordered grid set with no polylines selected. Leave default settings in the Naming field.
Parallel From PCF Grid Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → New → Grid Set →
Select type Parallel From PCF → Select orientation → Navigate to PCF → OK
Unordered Grid Set Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → New → Grid Set →
Select type Unordered → OK
Define the Edit Grid Desktop Menu → Edit Grid → Edit

Edit Grid Toolbar → Edit Grid Edit Tool icon
Grid Set Properties

A grid set’s properties are broken down into two categories: set-level and grid-level properties.
The set-level properties act as defaults for any newly added planes. The grid-level properties allow
further user control of the properties of each individual plane. Basic options such as name, color,
selectability, visibility, cell size and grid size are duplicated between categories, while orientation
and origin are not.
The category these latter two options exist in depends on the grid set type. Parallel grid sets,
because the planes are dependent, define orientation and origin in the set-level properties. Un-
ordered grid sets contain independent planes; therefore they define a plane’s orientation and
origin in the grid-level properties.
26 | Grid Sets & the Edit Grid

Add an Edit Grid to a Grid Set

To permanently store an edit grid, add it to an existing grid set. (Make sure it is active before
adding it.)
EXERCISE: Attach an Edit Grid to a Grid Set
Attach Edit Grid Data Manager → Double-click a grid set → Select editor button → Select “+”
to Grid Set drop down menu → Add Edit Grid → Save
Edit a Grid Set

You can edit an existing grid set for functions such as renaming planes, or moving and deleting
planes. You may manually type in exact edits or use the Edit button to dynamically adjust the grids
in the viewer.
To rename the planes, use the Rename toolbar button. Wildcards are also supported here, and
the name formatting options are the same as in the Create New dialog. Grids can easily be resized
along a grid’s major and minor axes. Display the major/minor axis of the grids to help determine
how to resize.
EXERCISE: Edit a Grid Set

Make a copy of the EW grid set and name it “EW Grid” (Grid Set Properties). In the new EW Grid grid set,
change the spacing to 100m and reduce the number of planes to start at North 5000.
Edit the unordered grid set created. Add three planes with the “+” sign. You can click on the + sign three
times or use the drop down menu to add multiple planes. Set the orientation of these grid planes in the
Grid-level Properties section (50, 90, 45; 0, 0, 0; 120, 60, 0) and rename them using the format $orient $az $dip
$normal. Enter 1 for Decimals.
Edit a Grid Set Data Manager → Highlight and right-click grid set → Properties → Editor →
Change Spacing → Save
Add Planes Data Manager → Double-click on grid set → Editor → Add new grids and edit
orientation
Resize a Grid Preview button on the toolbar → Toggle on Show Major/Minor Axis → Preview
(to see the grid outline in addition to its major/minor axes) → Pencil icon (for
Size and Resize properties) → Save
Rename Planes Data Manager → Double-click on grid set → Editor → Select planes → Rename
toolbar button → Enter new name format → OK
Grid Sets & the Edit Grid | 27

©2022 Hexagon
3D Volume Clipping & 2D Viewing Mode

Volume clipping limits the display of data to a specific dis-
tance on either side of a given plane. In the figures shown,
the edit grid is intersecting the solid above. A grid set must
be attached to a viewer before you can use it to control
the amount of data you want to display. It does not, how-
ever, have to be open in the viewer.
Volume clipping defines a specific volume, or distance on
either side of the current plane of the viewer. You can set
unequal distances on either side of the current plane, and
the volume follows along as the current plane changes. 2D
viewing mode allows you to view 3D data that exists pre-
cisely on the current plane; surfaces appear as polylines or
Volume clipping limits the display of
polygons, and polylines appear as points (unless they are
data to a specific distance on either
planar). Also use 2D mode when editing 2D data.
side of a given plane, in this case the
edit grid intersecting the solid above.
Tri-viewer Setup
Used in conjunction with plane filtering, this 2D view splits the viewer into three parts: the “+” planes;
the “-” planes; and the current plane. The tri-viewer setup is particularly useful for interpreting data
on the current plane that is influenced by data on nearby planes (i.e. geology).
EXERCISE: Activate 3D Volume Clipping and Enter 2D Viewing Mode

Use 3D volume clipping and 2D mode to view data. Activate the tri-viewer setup.
Attach Grid Set Viewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → Viewer Properties → View Options tab
to Viewer Viewer Toolbar → Set A Grid Set To The Viewer
Volume Clipping Data Manager → Select and right-click viewer name → Properties → Clipping
Parameters tab
Viewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → Viewer Properties → Clipping tab
Toggle Volume Clipping Viewer Properties → View Options tab → Check Volume Clipping box
Viewer Toolbar → Viewer Volume Clipping icon
2D Viewing Mode Viewer Properties → View Options tab → Change To 2D Mode

Viewer Toolbar → Change Viewer To 2D Mode icon
Tri-viewer Setup Viewer Properties → View Options tab → Check Use Tri-viewer Setup →
Choose tri-viewer orientation
28 | Grid Sets & the Edit Grid

Point Data
You can import and edit points representing min-
ing features into MinePlan 3D (MP3D). Point data LEARNING OBJECTIVE
can be digitized freehand in 3D or 2D, or placed
by exact coordinate value. While digitizing or edit- Edit imported point data and create new
ing point data, you can snap to existing elements points.
in the viewer.
Importing Point Data

MP3D can import point data in a number of for-
mats as well as existing geometry objects from
other MinePlan projects. Import functions are al-
ways performed at the folder level in the Data
Manager.
If you can’t see your imported data, make sure you

have turned off volume clipping.
points.xyz
EXERCISE: Import and Edit Point Data

Import a 3D Points File (ASCII) called “points.xyz” into the Geometry folder and then edit the data. Note that
editing functions are not permanent until you have saved.
Import Point Data Data Manager → Highlight and right-click destination folder → Import → Select
format
Edit Point Data Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Point → Choose function → Right-
click to end function
Select data for editing → Point Toolbar → Choose function
Using the Point Editor

The Point Editor creates or moves points by exact coordinates or distances in a specific direction.
The Point Editor allows you to enter points with more precision and versatility than simply digitizing
with the mouse. The Point Editor also includes a Ramp Editor for designing ramp polylines.
EXERCISE: Modify Data Using Point Editor

Create two new points in the points.xyz file exactly 100 m. in elevation from each other.
Point Editor Open geometry object for editing → Desktop Menu → Utilities → Point Editor →
Select data creation function (i.e. Point → Create) → Click data in viewer →
Enter coordinates
Point Toolbar → Point Editor icon
Point Data | 29
©2022 Hexagon
SNAP MODES
Snap modes allow you to enter or position data, or your cursor, based on a specific plane or based
on the location of data that already exists. Input points snap to the closest objects in the viewer,
whether the objects are selected for editing or not.
The location of the edit point (when
the mouse is clicked or click-and-
dragged) appears in the viewer as
a cross-hair. If no snap mode is in ef-
fect, the cross-hair is always located
at the mouse pointer. You can test
the effect of the current snap mode
From left to right, as the point being digitized (yel-
when there is no active edit opera-
low) moves closer to an existing point (blue), the
tion by watching the edit point cross-
digitized point will “snap” to the existing point (or-
hair while clicking-and-dragging the
ange circle).
mouse in the viewer.
Snap modes are not limited to points. You can also apply them during tasks such as digitizing other
types of data, moving elements or making quick distance measurements.
EXERCISE: Practice Using Snap Modes

Activate snap modes from the Snap selection on the Desktop Menu or through keyboard shortcuts, and
practice digitizing points.
SNAP MODES
Snap Off: Snap modes inactive
Point Snap: Snaps to existing point data
Point Elevation Snap: Snaps to elevation only of existing point data
Line Snap: Snaps anywhere on an existing line segment
Face Snap: Snaps to an existing surface face
Polyline Snap:Snaps to and follows nodes of an existing polyline
Edit Grid Snap*: Snaps to grid cell intersections
Plane Snap*: Snaps to plane of edit grid
Plane Intersect*: Snaps to intersection of existing data and edit grid
Snap To Self: Allows snap to element while it is being created
Set Snap Offset: Sets snap offset distance for line or edit grid
Set Point Elevation Snap Radius: Sets radius of influence for point elevation snap mode
* Requires edit grid
30 | Point Data
Polyline Data
You can create and edit polyline data in Mine-
Plan 3D (MP3D) using the Polyline function, or im- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
port and edit external data. Polyline data is often
imported into MP3D through data files prepared in Import and edit polyline data, and work
other software in a number of formats, for example with the data in both 2D and 3D.
DXF and DWG files from AutoCAD.
You can also use Polyline functions to convert an
open polyline into a closed polyline (polygon) and
vice versa. As with points, the Point Editor (Desktop
Menu → Utilities → Point Editor) allows you to enter
points during polyline creation with more precision
and versatility than simply digitizing with a mouse.
polylines.xyz
EXERCISE: Import and Edit Polyline Data

Import a 3D Points File called “polylines.xyz” into the Geometry folder and edit it. Note that editing functions
are not permanent until you have saved your data.
Import Polyline Data Data Manager → Right-click destination folder → Import → Select format
Clip Polylines Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Clip Polylines, Points And
Labels Tool
Select data for editing → Polyline Toolbar → Clip Polylines icon
View Polyline Info Desktop Menu → Polyline → Size Parameters
Add Points Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Point → Add Point Toolbar →
Add Points icon
Close a Polyline Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Close
Split a Polyline Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Split
Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Split At Node
Thin Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Thin
Densify Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Densify
Smooth Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Smooth

Put data in selection mode → Polyline Toolbar → Smooth Polylines icon
Join Put data in selection mode → Desktop Menu → Polyline → Join
Polyline Data | 31
©2022 Hexagon
Comparing 2D Data & 3D Data

MP3D treats 2D data and 3D data in different ways. You can convert 3D data to 2D data and
vice versa. Elements to be converted do not need to be in edit mode, but can be. If the conver-
sion is done while the elements are in selection mode, the Undo button will undo the conversion;
otherwise Undo will have no effect.
2D DATA 3D DATA
• Defined by two coordinates (xy, yz or xz) • Defined by three coordinates (x,y and z)
• Plane location not readily modified • All coordinates easily modified
• MinePlan VBM data is 2D data • DXF, DWG and survey data is 3D data
• When queried, 2D data has plane value • When queried, 3D data has a plane value of none
• Can be separated by planes to simulate third
dimension
EXERCISE: Convert 2D and 3D Data

Convert one of the polylines in polylines.xyz to 2D using a calculated plane. Query the polyline to see the
plane number, and then convert it back to 3D.
Convert 3D Data Desktop Menu → Polyline → Convert 3D To 2D → Convert 3D Polyline To 2D

to 2D Data Polylines dialog → Click polylines in viewer → Right-click polylines → Apply
Convert 2D Data Desktop Menu → Polyline → Convert 2D To 3D → Click on polyline to convert

to 3D Data → Right-click to complete conversion
32 | Polyline Data
Triangulating Data
You can triangulate point, polyline and polygon
data to form a 3D surface consisting of triangle LEARNING OBJECTIVE
faces. Triangulation enables you to use the result-
ing object for tasks such as end-of-period surface Use points, polylines and polygons to tri-
updates, volume calculations and coding. Mine- angulate 3D surfaces that you can use for
Plan 3D (MP3D) allows triangulations in any orien- tasks such as coding and volume calcu-
tation. lations.
A material’s survey type, found on the Material tab
of the Object Properties dialog, controls how data will be interpreted for triangulation. For ex-
ample, a material with a “boundary” survey type only allows triangulation on one side of the
boundary. Survey types are only used by the triangulator for generating triangulated surfaces.
Survey Types & Boundaries

The survey type—point, breakline or boundary—controls the tri-
angulation of data. By default, MinePlan software treats all poly- TRIANGULATION CONTROLS
lines and polygons as breakline survey types, and all points as Boundary Survey Type
point survey types. Set the survey type through the Object Prop- The triangulator treats any
erties dialog (for unattributed data) or directly through a mate- polyline as a boundary. This
rial’s properties. means that triangulation can-
not generate an edge over
Two types of boundaries, 2D and 3D, can limit triangulation. 3D
any polyline, and triangula-
boundaries limit data and are included in triangulation, while tion can only occur on one
2D boundaries only limit what data is triangulated. These two side of the polyline.
rules are only in effect when using the triangulator “with Dialog”
Breakline Survey Type
function. Otherwise, every boundary polygon behaves like a 3D
The triangulator treats any
boundary.
polyline as a breakline. This
means that triangulation can-
not generate an edge over
any polyline. However, trian-
gulation can occur on both
sides of the line. If breakline
violations are found, the trian-
gulation functions will give you
the option to continue with
the triangulation.
Point Survey Type

The triangulator interprets any
polyline data as a set of
points. It does not recognize
any edges, even if the data is
organized in polylines.
Triangle faces on a sphere
Triangulating Data | 33
©2022 Hexagon
Triangulating Topography
A reliable topography surface is necessary throughout the modeling process; it is used for verify-
ing drilling locations, designing pits and resource reporting. Usually, the data that goes into the
topography takes the form of points or lines gath-
ered from survey instruments. MP3D’s triangulation When triangulating from a user-defined
engines can transform the data into surfaces. orientation, the edit grid must be parallel
to the data before triangulation.
⇒
TRIANGULATION IN PLAN
EXERCISE: Triangulate Surfaces

Import and use the topo_contours file to run multiple triangulations and get familiar with the available op-
tions. First, triangulate the data in plan. Then set the edit grid to a non-orthogonal orientation and triangulate
the topography again. Save a final surface of the triangulated topography in plan for later use. Name it
“topo_surface.”
Set Triangulation Data Manager → Double-click object or material to edit → Material Type →
Controls Material tab → Define survey type
Triangulate in Plan Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Triangulate Surface →
With Selection In Plan → Double-click object → Faces Only button
Select data for editing → Surface And Solids Toolbar → Triangulate Surface →
With Selection In Plan icon
Triangulate in a Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Triangulate Surface →
User-Defined With Selection And Edit Grid
Orientation Select data for editing → Surface And Solids Toolbar → Triangulate Surface →
With Selection And Edit Grid icon
Triangulating within a polygon can be handy for closing openings in a surface. For example, if a polygon
represents an opening in a surface, you can triangulate that polygon and merge it with the original
surface to fix the opening. Also, to prevent excess triangulation at the edges, use the Exterior Face By
Max Length option in the Options tab of the Triangulate Surface dialog.
34 | Triangulating Data
Using Materials to Control Triangulation

In the Material tab of the Object Properties dialog, the survey type for a material classifies how the
triangulator uses the geometry information when generating triangulated surfaces. Point, break-
line and boundary materials have their survey codes already set. All you have to do is use these
materials.
EXERCISE: Triangulate a Boundary Polygon

In plan view, create a polygon to be used as a boundary for triangulating the topography surface. Name
the object “boundary.” Triangulate topo_contours and save it in an object called “Topo_with_Boundary.”
Create Polygon Data Manager → Highlight and right-click folder → New Geometry Object →
Place in edit mode → Polyline → Create → Polygon → Digitize polygon →
Save
Set Material Data Manager → Highlight and right-click object → Properties → Set material
type to Boundary
Triangulate within Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Triangulate Surface →
a Boundary With Dialog → Select all polylines (topo_contours and your boundary poly-
gon) → Define boundary type and select where to return surface → Preview
→ Apply
Select data for editing → Surface And Solids Toolbar → Triangulate Surface →
With Dialog icon
Mistriangulations
It is always a good idea to check a surface for problems. If you closely examine a surface that has
just been triangulated or edited, you may find areas of mistriangulation. The Swap Faces function
allows you to correct certain mistriangulations that result when merging or intersecting surfaces.
For example, the triangulator might generate a flat spot at the nose of a contour instead of hon-
oring the surface trend. Swap Faces can also correct certain types of self-intersecting surfaces
resulting from triangulation operations.
EXERCISE: Correct Mistriangulations

Swap two faces in topo_surface. To use this function, click and drag on a triangle and an edge of the se-
lected triangle will be highlighted. The two triangles that share the edge will be swapped.
Swap Adjacent Faces Select data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Swap Faces → Click the
edge between the faces to swap
Triangulating Data | 35
©2022 Hexagon
NOTES
36 | Triangulating Data
Surface Data
Surfaces are essential to the MinePlan 3D (MP3D)
system. The Surface menu addresses the creation LEARNING OBJECTIVE
and editing of surface data as well as surface cal-
culations. These operations use polylines as their in- Create surfaces for use in creating to-
put and produce new surfaces as their output. The pographies, and conducting geologic in-
original polylines are unaffected. The new surfaces terpretation and modeling.
are placed in the current edit object in the Data
Manager. If there is no current edit object, you will
be prompted for one when you attempt the operation.
You can import external data, including surfaces, in a number of formats; you can also import
existing geometry objects from another MP3D project. Import functions always take place at the
folder level in the Data Manager.
EXERCISE: Import and Edit Surfaces

Create a “Surfaces” folder and copy in topo_surface. Import the “pitshell.shl,” “surface.shl” “sphere.shl” and
“cube.shl” files. Explore several of the surface editing functions. Activate the transparent faces and smooth
shading display options (Object Properties → Surfaces tab).
Import Surface Data Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → Import
Display Surface Data Data Manager → Double-click surface name → Object Properties dialog →
Surfaces section
Add Points Turn on Face Snap → Turn off selectability of surface_deform_point → Select
surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Point → Add → Turn on se-
lectability of surface_deform_point → Add a surface point directly below the
surface_deform_point
Deform Surface Turn on point snap → Select surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Sur-
face → Deform → Set Radius of Influence to at least 250 → Select newly
added surface point → Drag surface point to surface_deform_point
Simplify and Reduce select surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Simplify → Dec-
Surface imate → Maximum Average /offset From Co-planar → Set between 1 and 5
to remove co-planar faces → Preview
Swap Faces Turn on Face Snap → Select surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Sur-
face → Swap Faces → Select face near surface_deform_point with sharp
angle to smooth out surface transition
Delete Faces Select surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Delete Face →
delete some small interior faces
Verify and Repair Select surface data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Verify → Re-select
Surfaces data → Verify and Repair → Closes the holes made during Delete Faces
Contour Surface Desktop Menu → Surface → Contour Tool → Toggle on Surface Attribute
(choose Elevation) → Select surface → Enter start and end elevation man-
ually or by selecting Find Limits, and define an increment of 15 meters →
Output tab → Place At Contour Level
Surface Data | 37
©2022 Hexagon
EXERCISE: Merge and Explode Surfaces and Solid Elements

Close the previous files and open the cube.shl and sphere.shl files. This exercise will demonstrate how to tie
separate elements into one and the reverse. These are tools for element organization and reporting, and do
not actually intersect and join the geometries like the upcoming intersection exercises do.
Quick Viewer Desktop Menu → Viewer → Quick Viewer Movement

Movement
Vertical Edit Grid Desktop Menu → Edit Grid → Snap Vertical to 2 Points → Put data in Plan view
→ Click 2 points that will create a section through both elements → Set the
Edit Grid to the Viewer
Volume Clipping Viewer Toolbar → Viewer Properties → View Options → Check on Volume Clip-
ping → Clipping → Set Volume clipping range to see a volumetric slice
through the cube and sphere
Merge Surfaces Select both surface data elements for editing using Multi-Object Selection →
Desktop Menu → Surface → Merge → Create new Object → Save Selection
Explode Surface Select new merged Object data for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface →
Explode → Save Selection → Keep as Open Edit Object
Merge Selected Select both new elements for editing → Desktop Menu → Surface → Merge
Selected → Send to Open Edit Object → Save Selection → Unset Edit Object
(note that this tool actually moves the elements it merges and does not copy
— the original data is always changed)
Intersection
MP3D’s intersecting tools let you unite two groups of objects into a single object.
Group A + Group B = Union of A+B

INTERSECTING SOLIDS
Intersect closed surfaces to
unite two groups of solids.
The Intersect Solids Tool asks
you to select a primary solid
(Group A) and a secondary
solid (Group B). The two but-
tons within each group give
you the option to select solids Using Quick Viewer Movement (Desktop Menu → Viewer → Quick
by clicking in the viewer or Viewer Movement) allows you to see a preview of the intersection
through the Object Contents more clearly, as will turning off object visibility.
Browser.
EXERCISE: Intersect Two Solids

Try the various options of the Intersect Solids Tool using the sphere and cube.
Intersect Solids Desktop Menu → Surface → Intersect Solids Tool

Surface and Solids Tool Bar → Intersect Solids icon
38 | Surface Data
INTERSECTING SURFACES
The Intersect Surfaces Tool has a
comprehensive set of options for
+ generating new surfaces from
the intersection of two existing
surfaces. Like the Intersect Solids
⇓ Tool, it requires you to select
a primary surface group and a
secondary surface group.
The intersection of
two surfaces, using the cut solid
or merged surface as the result.
EXERCISE: Intersect Two Surfaces

Create a pit solid from pitshell.shl and topo_surface (use Get Results: Solids and Operation: Cut Solid ). In the
Options tab, save and name the result “clipped_pit_solid.”
Intersect Surfaces Desktop Menu → Surface → Intersect Surfaces Tool → Get Results → Solids →
Cut Solid
Surface and Solids Toolbar → Intersect Surfaces icon
Boolean From Viewer Menu

The Boolean From Viewer Menu will allow you to quickly create solids using the difference, inter-
section and union functions as an alternative to the Intersect Solids Tool in MP3D. The Difference
function subtracts one or multiple solids from another or other multiple solids. The Intersection func-
tion finds the intersection between the objects selected during this operation. The Union function
combines selected objects into one object.
EXERCISE: Create Surfaces with the options in the Boolean From Viewer Menu
Update the topography surface using pitshell.shl and name the result “updated_topography.”
Intersect Surfaces Surfaces Menu → Boolean From Viewer → Intersection → Select input surfaces
→ Right-click
Surface Data | 39
©2022 Hexagon
Calculating Volume
MP3D offers two separate volume calculation methodologies — the integration method and the
analytical method. Each technique has its best use, chiefly determined by the type of data used.
INTEGRATION METHOD
• Volume calculation tool, MinePlan Reserve,
MinePlan Interactive Planner, pitres.dat, gsm-
res.dat, cmpres.dat, partial calculations
• Uses the product of the project block size and the
subcell count from project settings
• Generates vectors for each resulting subcell
• Detects start and stop of surfaces
• Sums the individual subcell volumes
• Tolerates small openings and self-intersections
• Can be used to calculate volume between surfaces
• Can be used with contained solids
• Solids and surfaces can be selected from the viewer or the OCB
ANALYTICAL METHOD
• Volume calculation tool, query, surface size parameters, check and condition surface
• 100% accurate 3D matrix determinant calculation
• Sum of the volume under the faces with positive Z normal minus the sum of the volume of the
faces with negative Z normal
• Intolerant of either openings or self-intersections
• Only for use on solids
• Analytical volume also reported on the query of solid
- =
Some surface calculations may take longer than others due to the surface size and complexity. There-
fore, it is recommended that you use limiting polygons when possible.
40 | Surface Data
EXERCISE: Calculate Volume

Calculate volume between pitshell.shl and topo_surface. You can compare the results to the clipped_pit_solid
volume using both methods.
Between Pit & Topo Desktop Menu → Surface → Calculate Volume Tool → Between Surfaces
Surfaces
Volume of a Solid Desktop Menu → Surface → Calculate Volume Tool → In A Solid
NOTES
Surface Data | 41
©2022 Hexagon
LGOs & Surfaces

A Large Gridded Object (LGO) is a gridded surface
file that can contain up to 2 billion nodes in each LEARNING OBJECTIVE
direction. You can specify an LGO’s origin, grid
spacing, number of grids, rotation and dip upon Manage large surfaces with a Large Grid-
creation. LGOs are useful for managing large sur- ded Object (LGO).
faces, storing the tops and bottoms of solids (i.e.
seams and veins), and tracking mine progress with
multiple surfaces stored.
Use an LGO to store and manipulate large surfaces.
You can test memory consumption with Max Memory Usage per Surface and adjust it “on the fly”
using several different options before any surfaces are displayed. Surfaces can be displayed as
either polylines or surfaces; the range can be adjusted in the X and Y directions to limit the display
area. As the surface is gridded, the display is thinned to only show every n-th point in the X and Y
directions independently. When using an LGO surface with MinePlan 3D (MP3D) CAD tools or for
coding, toggle on the option Use 3D Display Limits/Thinning For MP3D CAD Tools if you do not want
the entire LGO area used.
LGOs can store multiple surfaces to one file. Surfaces can be imported from an ASCII file, another
LGO file with a view or an existing surface element. When importing from ASCII, it is important to
know the file’s point spacing and to use the proper import method.
42 | LGOs & Surfaces

Adding a Surface to an LGO

Before storing surfaces in an LGO, you must first create the LGO file, which will be saved in your
project directory with an *.lgo extension. To interact with the LGO file, you must create an LGO
View. The LGO View is the visual representation of the LGO file in MP3D.
The LGO file grows in size as new data
is stored but does not automatically Use the Show Surface and Hide Surface buttons (double-
shrink when surfaces are deleted. To click LGO View → LGO View Properties → Surfaces tab →
decrease the size of an LGO file, use Properties tab) to control viewing of your LGO.
the Compact LGO button:
LGO View Properties → Surfaces → Properties tab → Compact LGO File button
EXERCISE: Create an LGO and Add Topo Surface

Create a new LGO based on the project bounds with 25m grid cells. Name the file “geo.lgo” and save it in
the project folder. After setting the LGO view, grid in and display the topography surface.
Create LGO File Desktop Menu → File → Create LGO → Set orientation, size and location of
LGO grid → Apply → Save
LGO View Data Manager → Right-click destination folder → New LGO View → Name the
LGO View → OK → Select *.lgo file → Open → Data Manager → Double-click
LGO View → LGO View Properties → Display tab → Set Max Memory Usage
per Surface to halve your total RAM → Display In 3D Views option → Set X
and Y sample range → Surfaces tab → Select surface → Click Show Surface
icon → Apply
Add Topo Surface Double-click LGO View → LGO View Properties → Import tab → From Geometry
tab → Select topo surface from viewer → Import (Grid)
LGOs & Surfaces | 43

©2022 Hexagon
Point Cloud Data

Import and display hundreds of millions of points
at once, limited only by the capacity of your op- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
erating system. Using the xViewer, which is able
to load and display data simultaneously, you can Create point cloud files from text files.
display point data quickly and smoothly alongside Make Point Cloud Views and learn how to
your other MinePlan data. triangulate the data with LGOs and Point
Cloud Mesher.
Point clouds in MinePlan 3D (MP3D) store and dis-
play individual points. These points can have indi-
vidual colors through RGB (Red Green Blue) values or an intensity attribution to display as a grey
scale. A great advantage to the way we are storing and displaying point clouds is the ability to
see the details when needed; zooming into an area will keep refining the area until you get to the
individual points.
Stock pile point cloud showing both RGB display on the left and Intensity on the right.
Manipulate your point cloud data with DART. The text files that are used for point clouds are usually large,
and sometimes they need to be manipulated or scanned for minimums and maximums. DART is an ideal
tool for opening these files to find this information or reformat and add calculations such as coordinate
shifts.
44 | Point Cloud Data

Creating a Point Cloud file

The Create Point Cloud dialog allows you to choose the text file that contains your point cloud
data and configure how you want to read it into a new HPC file. You can choose source and
destination files, and map the columns in your text file for X Y Z coordinates and for either RGB or
Intensity (within a configurable lower and upper range). You can configure the delimiter in your
text file (comma or space), skip number of header lines, and configure your units and resolution.
Resolution in the point cloud world is essentially the size of the square that represents where the
point is stored. The smaller the resolution is, the smaller the size of the square that represents that
point.
EXERCISE: Create a Point Cloud with RGB Values and Intensity

Use either StockRGBI.csv or UGScanRGBI.csv as source files to create a new point cloud file (HPC). These files
have the following columns separated by commas: X Y Z Red Green Blue Intensity (from 0 to 255). Play with
different resolutions such as 1m or 0.01m and see the difference in the result. Note that if you are importing
several times in this dialog, you want to make sure to change the destination file name.
Try different resolutions. Try RGB and then try intensity.
Point Cloud File → Create Point Cloud → Set Source, Destination and all options
Displaying Point Clouds

Once your point cloud data has been loaded into an HPC file, you can then create a Point Cloud
View from the Data Manager (right-click → New). This simply represents your point cloud as squares
in your xViewer, colored either by intensity or by RGB.
EXERCISE: Create Point Cloud Views

Make a new Point Cloud View using the HPC files created in the previous exercise. Once you’ve created the
view, you can see the information about the HPC by double-clicking on the Point Cloud View in the Data
Manager.
xViewer File → Project Settings → Enable xViewer → Close and re-open project → Right-
click in Data Manager → New → xViewer
Point Cloud View Right-click in Data Manager → New → Point Cloud View → Try making a view
for each HPC made
Making Surfaces from Point Clouds

If you would like to turn this point cloud into a surface or solid, you can take advantage of our new
Point Cloud Mesher. This tool quickly creates a surface from your Point Cloud. Alternatively, you
can load your point cloud into an LGO.
Point Cloud Data | 45

©2022 Hexagon
EXERCISE: Create a Surface Using the Point Cloud Mesher

The Point Cloud Mesher has a direct way of choosing points from an HPC. Once you have selected your HPC
you can Calculate and Save a surface. By default, Noise reduction will be on and the Minimum Average Dis-
tance will be populated. This is recommended as it cuts down drastically on the time to calculate a surface.
Point Cloud Mesher Surface → Create → From Point Cloud Mesher → Select point cloud (third icon)
→ Calculate Surface → Calculate button → Try different options such as dif-
ferent noise reduction parameters → Save → Select Geometry Object
EXERCISE: Create a surface from Point Clouds using an LGO

You can directly import points from your HPC into an LGO using the Import → From Point Cloud tab of an
LGO View. Use the stock HPC files for this exercise. Create an LGO with origin at E:5950 N:6960 and DX:1 DY:1
NX:1100 NY:500.
LGO Create LGO → File → Create LGO → Set dimensions of LGO Grid → Apply →
Save
LGO View Right-click in Data Manager → New → LGO View
Import from Point Cloud Import → From Point Cloud → Set Method and Distance → Import → Display
46 | Point Cloud Data

NOTES
Point Cloud Data | 47

©2022 Hexagon
Transforming Elements
Two functions available in the MinePlan 3D (MP3D)
Element menu — Element Rotate and Transform El- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
ements — provide the means to easily manipulate
large amounts of data, facilitating more advanced Perform rotation, translation and scaling
CAD functions. Rotate Element lets you rotate se- on selected elements.
lected elements (points, polylines, polygons, solids,
surfaces and labels) about a combination of rota-
tion angles. Transform Elements lets you transform
large amounts of data between coordinate sys-
tems. It is used to transform (move, rotate, scale)
selected geometry elements.
Element Rotate
Element Rotate
The Element Rotate function is an MP3D plug-in that allows selected elements to be rotated about
specified angles using a single axis or multiple axes. The tool has two main uses: rotation about a
single axis; or three rotations of azimuth, dip and plunge.
You can enter the rotation angles manually in the Rotation Angles section or specify them dynam-
ically by moving the object along the rotation axis in the viewer. For single axis rotations, the axis
can be set to the normal of an edit grid. The rotation origin can be set to the center of the object,
selected dynamically in the viewer or manually entered in the Origin Position section.
If the geometry to be rotated is 2D, the option Rotate 2D Elements In 3D allows the geometry to
be rotated off its original plane. The new plane attributed is calculated from the rotation angles.
EXERCISE: Rotate a Polygon

Using the cube.shl object, rotate the geometry about a single axis and then around three rotations.
Rotate Element Select geometry → Desktop Menu → Element → Rotate

Element Toolbar → Rotate Element icon
TIPS & TRICKS
Element Rotate: Use snap functions when selecting origin positions and rotation axes. The object must
be selected before the tool can be opened.
Transform Element: All transformations are applied relative to the origin at (0, 0, 0), and the object must
be selected before the tool can be opened.
48 | Transforming Elements
Transform Elements
Basic transformations using Transform Elements include translations, rotations and scaling. Transla-
tions and scaling are applied relative to axes E, N and Z. Rotations are applied around a specified
point and one axis.
More advanced functions, including Helmert, Matrix, From Points and Calculation transformations,
are also supported. Helmert transformations are comprised of three rotations around each axis, a
scale and a translation. From Points deduces the “best-fit” transformation from a set of specified
comparable points between the source and target coordinate system. Calculation allows the
transformation to be performed as an arbitrary formula with variables of E, N and Z.
Transform Elements
You can apply multiple transformations in one instance, with the order of changes specified from
first to last in the Transformations List. You can also store the Transformations List with the transfor-
mation order and parameters saved as an XML file for future use.
EXERCISE: Transform a Polygon

Using the cube.shl object, perform a translation and scale transformation.
Transform Element Select geometry → Desktop Menu → Element → Transform
Save Transformation List Transform Elements dialog → Save → Save the XML file
Transforming Elements | 49
©2022 Hexagon
The Torque Database

MinePlan Torque manages drillhole and blasthole
data in an SQL database. It provides a platform for LEARNING OBJECTIVE
running procedures and calculations on your data
as well as creating composites. Starting Torque Set up a Torque database for managing
opens the Data Source dialog, where you can ei- drillhole and blasthole data.
ther create a new project or connect to an existing
project. Windows or SQL handles the authentica-
tion, depending on the server configuration.
The project folder contains subfolders that help you organize the input and output files that Torque
uses and generates. The drillhole database itself is stored in a location based on the SQL settings.
When reopening Torque from a recent session, notice that the existing server and project display
in the Data Source dialog. You can also connect to a different existing project. Filters allow you to
connect to an existing project without loading all the data from that project. Sample sites, sample
attributes, fields and measurements can be filtered using the Selection and Filtering dialog. You
can also save the filter definitions for future use.
EXERCISE: Open a Torque Project

Initialize a new project called “GeoMST” located in your project folder.
Initialize a Project Start Torque → Data Source dialog → Enter server, project name and folder
location → New Project dialog → OK → Create Directory
Open an Existing Project Start Torque → Data Source dialog → Select server, project and folder from
dropdown menu
Project Menu → Connect → Data Source dialog → Select server, project and
folder from dropdown menu
50 | The Torque Database

This database can be also be created on a LocalDB. A LocalDB is essentially an SQL database
option available with every MinePlan installation after version 13.0 with Torque version 5.5. It has
a 10GB per database limit (SQL Express) and does not require the user to install a separate SQL
installation.
To Utilize a LocalDB, you can use the ’Use LocalDB projects’ checkbox:
NOTES
The Torque Database | 51

©2022 Hexagon
Backup/Restore Torque Database

Backing up the MinePlan Torque database is simple
and important. It is an easy way to share data with LEARNING OBJECTIVE
colleagues or restore your data to a previous state,
if necessary. Protect and share your Torque project by
backing up and restoring the database.
EXERCISE: Backup Database

Back up a Torque database.
Backup a File Torque Menu → Project → Backup
Define Options Choose the project to backup, then click ’Browse’. Type a name for your
backup and click ’OK’.
52 | Backup/Restore Torque Database

EXERCISE: Restore Database

Restore a Torque database.
Restore a Backup File Torque Menu → Project → Restore → Torque Data Source dialog
Define Options Click ’Browse’ and choose the *.bak file to restore. Give the database a new
name if desired, then click ’OK.’
Backup/Restore Torque Database | 53

©2022 Hexagon
NOTES
54 | Backup/Restore Torque Database

Drillhole Views
Viewing drillholes in MinePlan 3D (MP3D) is a pow-
erful tool for visual analysis. The data object, called LEARNING OBJECTIVE
a drillhole view, depicts your drillhole data in 3D
or 2D. Drillhole views must be linked with a data Display drillholes in 3D and 2D for analysis.
source, such as a MinePlan project file (the appro-
priate PCF, assay and survey file), MinePlan Torque
or acQuire. You can view multiple drillhole views at
once. The drillholes seen while in section are the
ones within the current projection volume.
All saved filters for Torque drillhole views are avail-

able for use. You can rename, delete or load filters
by highlighting the individual filter in Filter Manager
dialog.
Drillhole View in MP3D
EXERCISE: Create and Query Drillhole Views

Create a folder called “DH Views.” If you do not already have a section grid set, import EW Grid.msr. Create
drillhole views from Torque, experimenting with different options. Save a final drillhole view for each coverage
and the bench composite.
Create a Drillhole View Data Manager → Select and right-click destination folder → New → DH View
From Torque → MinePlan Torque → Name drillhole view → OK → Select your Torque
database → Torque-Selection and Filtering Wizard
View in 3D Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
→ Barrels tab → Show barrels in 3D → Enter Barrel width → Select pattern and
size items → Apply
View in 2D Attach the section grid set → Select desired plane → Put Viewer in 2D mode
Query Drillhole Data Desktop Menu → Query → Query Element

Function Tool Bar → Element Toolbar → Query Element
Selecting drillholes in the drillhole view list of the Drillhole View Properties window (Selection Tab) will
highlight those drillholes in the viewer
Drillhole Views | 55
©2022 Hexagon
Editing Drillhole Data in MP3D

Editing drillhole data is interactive in MP3D, but note that you are directly editing the values in
your Torque database. As such, it is a good idea to first create a backup of your database.
Drillhole properties, including strings, can be edited manually by right-clicking on a drillhole view
and selecting Edit.
EXERCISE: Edit Drillhole Data in MP3D
Edit Interval Data Data Manager → Select and right-click drillhole view → Edit → Click desired
drillhole interval in Browse: Drillhole View dialog or in Viewer → Edit → Edit
Drillhole → Apply
Drillhole Paintbrush Tool

The Drillhole Paintbrush Tool allows you to modify or add an integer code to an attribute in the
Torque Drillhole database by painting over the on-screen intercepts with the mouse cursor. The
Drillhole Paintbrush tool works in 3D and 2D. In the example below, a new attribute called PAINT
was created to store the painted codes while the original logging was stored in an attribute called
LITH. It is convenient to have two drillhole views open for the same dataset; one view set to show
the original LITH codes; the other showing the PAINT codes.
Setup of the Drillhole Paintbrush Tool.
This is a User Beware action and it is highly recommended that users add a new attribute to their Torque
dataset specifically for this purpose, to retain the original observations.
56 | Drillhole Views
Exercise: Set up the Drillhole Paintbrush Tool and paint with it

Create a new sample attribute in Torque, refresh the drillhole view and open the Drillhole Paintbrush Tool and
set it up to write back to Torque (Composites are not allowed).
Create Sample Attribute Open Torque → Project Setup → Select Sample Attribute from the dropdown →
Add sample attribute → Save to database → Reload → Refresh the Drillhole
View in MP3D to include the new attribute
Paintbrush Tool Geo Tools → Drillhole Paintbrush Tool → Select Drillhole view → Choose item →
Choose Code value → Paint → Commit to database
Displaying Survey & Interval Labels

Activate drillhole survey and interval labels using Drill-
hole View Properties. Survey labels include the drillhole
ID, Total Depth, Offsection Distance and values for ad-
ditional survey file items. You can display interval la-
bels for any assay or composite item, styled by a color
or cutoffs. Labels work in both 2D and 3D.
Make sure the color of your labels is different than the

background color of the Viewer.
2D Node-style Label (left) and

2D Single-line Label
EXERCISE: Create Drillhole Labels

Activate survey and interval labels for viewing in 2D.
Display Survey Labels Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
→ Survey tab → Labels area → Show Text in 3D or Show Text in 2D → Select
label layout → Enter labels (Item: DHID) → Apply
Display Interval Labels Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
→ Interval tab → Show Labels in 3D or Show Labels in 2D → Select label layout
→ click “+” to add labels → Apply
BARRELS
Barrels can be used to display assays in MinePlan 3D (MP3D) instead of
polylines. Size, color and pattern can be set by individual cutoff items.
Adjust the properties of barrels from the Barrels tab in Drillhole View Prop-
erties.
©2022 Hexagon
Creating Points from Drillholes

Point Geometry Objects can be created through Drillhole View Properties to mark drillhole/blasthole
collars; top and bottom sample item occurrences; and the start of intervals, sample item se-
quences and contacts between particular data values. The points can then be used for Fence
Grid Sets, Implicit Modeler and other MinePlan tools and functions.
Drillhole view showing collars (left) and collar points generated from a drillhole view.
EXERCISE: Generate Marker Points from a Drillhole View

Create new point geometry objects from drillhole sample site and sample data. Use the Selection tab to
display the drillholes needed to create points.
Collar Points Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
→ Points tab → Options area → Select Collar → Preview → Attribute points
with DH ID → Apply → Open geometry file to save points → Viewer displays
drillhole collar points → Double-click new points geometry object name →
Geometry Properties → Node Labels tab → Element Name → Viewer dis-
plays drillhole ID collar point labels
Top and Bottom Most Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
Occurrence Points → Points tab → Options area → Select Top Most Occurrence → Use edit
grid to specify direction to determine top and bottom → Parameters area
→ Specify Item → specify Min value → Option to Filter intervals → Preview
→ Apply → Options area → Select Bottom Most Occurrence → Apply →
Save points to same points geometry object → Viewer displays first and last
occurrence points of selected item values for each drillhole
Contact Between Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view name → Drillhole View Properties
Values Points → Points tab → Options area → Select Contact Between Values → Parame-
ters area → Specify Item → Specify Value → Specify Contact with value →
Option to Filter intervals → Preview → Apply → Open geometry file to save
points → Viewer displays contact points between item values such as lithol-
ogy or mineralogy codes
58 | Drillhole Views
Contouring Grade Items from Drillholes

Contouring grade items at spe-
cific elevations can be advanta-
geous for evaluating grade dis-
tribution. Contour grade values
from drillhole intervals using the
Contour Tool.
Copper grade contours colored using materials.
EXERCISE: Contouring Grade Items

Contour the total copper grade item for a single elevation (1425 m intervals of copper from 0% to 5% at 0.1%
intervals). Attribute the contours with names and materials (using the $value wildcard), and use these mate-
rials to create a nice color display as shown in the image.
Contour Tool Desktop Menu → Polyline → Contour Tool → Select parameters → Naming tab
→ Select and enter parameters → Apply
Polyline Toolbar → Contour Tool → Select parameters → Naming tab → Select
and enter parameters → Apply
©2022 Hexagon
Cutoff Items
A cutoff item is a special type of data object in
MinePlan 3D (MP3D) that assigns a color to an in- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
terval or block based on a range of values. It con-
trols the display properties of grade or code value Map cutoff items to a drillhole or model
items in drillhole views and model views. block to display properties coded by
color.
The properties of each value in a cutoff table are
stored to the cutoff item, which is itself stored in the
Items folder in the Data Manager. The cutoff items
must be mapped to a desired item using the Drill-
hole View Properties or Model View Properties di-
alogs.
Cutoff items can be numeric, alphanumeric or
date type. Only cutoff items matching the format
of the DH item will be listed for selection when map-
ping. For example only numeric cutoff items will be
available for a DH item that has a numeric value.
Once a cutoff item has been created, its intervals
and display properties can be edited via the Cut-
off Line Colors dialog, and the cutoff color scheme
can be saved as a cutoff color palette.
Drillholes mapped with a cutoff item to

reflect copper grade
EXERCISE: Use Cutoff Items

Adjust the mineralogy attribute to have thicker lines for primary sulfide and change the color scheme.
Create Cutoff Items Data Manager → Right-click Items folder → New → Cutoff item → New Cutoff
Item dialog → Enter name for cutoff item → OK → Cutoff Type dialog →
Choose cutoff type (Numeric, Alpha or Date) → OK
Edit Cutoff Items Data Manager → Items → Double-click the cutoff item → Cutoff Line Colors
dialog → Intervals → Enter parameters → OK → Highlight one or more cutoff
value → Properties → Object Properties → Set desired properties → OK
60 | Cutoff Items
COLOR PALETTES
Existing cutoff color schemes can be saved
to a color palette. You can use an auto-
generated name, specify a new name or
overwrite an existing color palette from the
pull-down list.
EXERCISE: Create a Color Palette
Save Palette Cutoff Line Colors dialog → Save as Palette → Specify new palette name →
Prompt Before Overwriting Existing Palette → Edit Palette After Saving → Save
→ Color Range Editor dialog → Set up your desired color palette → OK
MAPPING
For drillhole views, cutoff items can be mapped to hole items (DHID, off-section distance, etc.)
and interval items (grade, rock code, etc.). This can be useful when you require an item to be set
up different ways for different tasks. For example, you might want to use a specific scheme when
viewing an item in MP3D and another scheme for plotting.
EXERCISE: Map Cutoff Items

Create a new cutoff item called “Cu Plot,” and use a different color range than you did for total copper. Map
the total copper attribute to the Cu Plot item.
Map to Drillholes Data Manager → Double-click drillhole view → Drillhole View Properties → Se-
lection tab → Interval Item-Cutoff Table Mapping button → Map cutoff item
to appropriate drillhole items in Set Item-Cutoff Table Mapping dialog → OK
Cutoff Items | 61
©2022 Hexagon
3D Block Models
The 3D block model (3DBM) is the basis for resource
evaluation and mine design. It commonly repre- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
sents large, disseminated deposits such as base
metals and uranium. Geologists often use the Understand the concept behind a 3D
3DBM to interpolate composite samples and store block model.
geologic codes.
The 3DBM is a three-dimensional grid of blocks that all have the same dimensions. Block height
usually conforms to the proposed bench height in an open pit operation. The lateral block dimen-
sions are often dependent on the deposit, spacing and resolution needs. In general, these lateral
dimensions must adequately represent the grade distribution. Storing a topography is critical in a
3DBM for showing a grade item and the percent of material below the surface.
The File 15 model view displays the 3DBM but can also be used to code and run calculations.
An Example of a 3D Block Model
EXERCISE: Create Block Model Views

Create File 15 model views in MP3D in the “Model Views” folder. Use your PCF and your File 15 (3DBM) to
create your model view.
MP3D Model View Highlight and right-click destination folder → New → Model View → Name the
Model View → OK → Browse to PCF → Select sub-block model file
62 | 3D Block Models
NOTES:
3D Block Models | 63
©2022 Hexagon
Block Model Views

Attaching a model view to a MinePlan 3D (MP3D)
project allows you to visualize model data as sur- LEARNING OBJECTIVE
face/slab, contours, filled polygons, blocks, or
block grade shells. Create model views to see se- Attach a model stored in a project file to
lected items from a model, different spatial regions MP3D for viewing.
of a model and, in the case of 3D block mod-
els, grade shells from which you can create a ge-
ometry object. You can restrict what region of Create views for each item as it is loaded; for
the model to view, and specify primary and sec- example, the first view will be TOPO because
ondary display items. The Model View Editor lets topography will be coded first. That way, you
you change display properties, create grade shells can return to the model view and see your
and code the model. coding setup still intact.
Creating a model view also allows you to interact

with the model file. You can code a model directly from an MP3D solid or polygon. Each grid in a
model file typically contains several items of information (i.e. different geology surface elevations).
Before you can store any surfaces, you must initialize the model.
Two model files may be used to create a model view: File 15—3D block model (3DBM) or gridded
seam model (GSM); and File 14—GSM summary file (GSM projects only).
Model Display Styles

The Model View Editor controls display options, which differ for 3D and 2D modes. Displaying the
model in 2D is a good way to explore model cross sections of data.
The Display tab allows independent control of the
model display extents for 3D and 2D viewing. You can
use it to show 3D display limits and boundary lines. It
also has an optional Immediate Refresh check box,
which will refresh the limits as you change them with-
out having to click Apply. Note that displaying your
entire model view at once will slow performance.
3D Mode
Displaying item labels for blocks is only possible in 2D
mode. You can choose from existing items in the
File 15 and display five labels at once. Each label can
be offset horizontally and vertically. The default label
color is white; however, you can choose to set the la-
bel color based on the item’s cutoff value.
2D Mode
It can be more convenient to view polygons (or blocks) while they are unfilled (highlight the desired
buttons → Properties → Surfaces tab → choose to show lines and not show faces).
64 | Block Model Views

EXERCISE: Change Display and Query

Experiment with the various 3D and 2D options.
Display Type and Style Double-click model view → Display tab → Activate display type and option →
Apply → Cutoffs button → Select the cells for the cutoff values for which you
would like to show polygons unfilled → Properties button → Surfaces tab →
Check and uncheck Show Faces and Show Lines options → OK
Display Range Double-click model view → Range tab → Slide the limit bars to the desired mini-
mum and maximum; each end of the limit bars gives the number/coordinate
value → Apply
Display in 2D Mode Viewer Tool Bar → Set a Grid Set to the Viewer → Browse to a grid set → Choose
a plane or section → Put Viewer in 2D mode
Display Labels in 2D Double-click model view → Labels tab → Select the item whose label you want
Mode displayed and any accompanying parameters for that row → Apply
QUERYING A SUB-BLOCKED MODEL

Sub-blocking comes with a modified query window capable of displaying both parent and sub-
block information. Item values appear in the sub-block section of the query window; the SB column
indicates if the values are from a sub-block or parent block,allowing the user to easily distinguish
the different types of data. Three different display options also let you customize how the sub-
blocks are visualized in the viewer.
Displaying Sub-blocked Zones (left) and Individual Sub-blocks (right) Using Query.
EXERCISE: Querying a sub-blocked model
Query Sub-block Model Desktop Menu → Query → Query Element → Select 3DBM block
View Sub-blocks by Query Window → View → Display Sub-blocks As → Zone → Query window →
Zone Sub-blocks section → Use arrows to toggle through zones or select in viewer
Display Block Statistics Display sub-block zones → Query window → View → Show Sub-block Stats op-
tion
View Sub-blocks Query Window → View → Display Sub-blocks As → Zone → Query window →
Individually Sub-blocks section → Use sub-level, sub-row, sub-column arrows or click in
viewer to view individual sub-blocks
Block Model Views | 65

©2022 Hexagon
3D VIEW DISPLAY TYPES
Standard View Displays the portion of the model requested on the Range tab of the
Model View Editor, with the requested view style applied.
Level/Bench Plans Displays the model as horizontal sections. Filled polygons are the only view
style that can be used with this 3D display type.
EW Sections Displays the model as vertical East-West sections. Filled polygons are the
only view style that can be used with this 3D display type.
NS Sections Displays the model as vertical North-South sections. Filled polygons are the
only view style that can be used with this 3D display type.
3D AND 2D VIEWING STYLES
Contours Displays contours of the selected model item on the spatial extent of
the defined model region. This is the fastest and least memory intensive
method of viewing the model. Smooth Contours displays contours with a
gradual change in the contour colors on the spatial extent of the defined
model region.
Filled Polygons Displays individual model blocks as polygons.
3D Blocks Displays the model as individual blocks. Blocks are displayed at 90% of their
size. WARNING: Viewing a large region as 3D blocks is a memory intensive
operation. It is not recommended on machines with limited RAM.
Surface/Slab Available for more efficient display of the model. In both cases, a “mesh”
is used instead of a triangulated “shell.” A mesh is just a grid, and is more
efficiently displayed in MinePlan than a shell. Slab rendering, the style
used with a 3D block model, displays only the bounding of two rows, two
columns and two benches of the model; the interior blocks are not dis-
played. Surface rendering, the style used with gridded model files, displays
a mesh that connects all of the midpoints of the grid.
SUB-BLOCK DISPLAY STYLES
Block Grade Shell Displays grade shells following block outlines defined by the cutoff table of
the primary display item.
Filled block contours This is the 2D equivalent to the "Block Grade Shell" in 3D styles.

LIMITING BLOCKS
Using the Options tab of the Model View Editor, you can limit the blocks viewed based on a range
of values in an item. Item Limiting and Item Filtering are two different ways to limit blocks. Item Lim-
iting lets you enter the range of values while Item Filtering lets you type in your own filter expression.
Block size is set to be shown at 90% scale in all three dimensions (x, y and z). In the Options tab,
you can set block size and opt to Scale by Block Percent or Scale by Percent Item.
EXERCISE: Limit Blocks Based on Item Value

Limit the view to show only blocks above a cutoff of 0.3% copper (CUI). Reduce block size by the Ore% item.
Item Limiting Option Double-click model view → Options tab → Limit By box → Select item → Set
range of values → Apply
Item Filtering Option Double-click model view → Options tab → Filter By box → Enter filter expressions
→ Apply
Control Block Size by Double-click model view → Options tab → Scale by Block Percent → Enter x, y
Block Percent and z percents → Apply
Scale by Percent Item Double-click model view → Options tab → Scale by Percent Item → Choose
the item to scale by (usually a TOPO% or ORE% item) → Apply
Grade Shells
A grade shell is a solid representation of a code or real
value retrieved directly from the 3DBM. It is intended
to provide an indication of where the blocks with cer-
tain geologic codes or grade values are located in the
model.
Grade shells can be created for a grade item be-
tween a minimum and maximum value, and can be
further limited by a secondary item, such as a TOPO%
or geologic code. A grade shell is created primarily for
visualization purposes, and not for volume or reserves
calculations.
Grade shell with a

cutoff value of 0.3% copper
EXERCISE: Create a Grade Shell of Mineralized Zones

Create a grade shell with a cutoff value of 0.3% copper (CUI). Save the shell as a geometry object in the
Model Views folder.
Grade Shell Highlight the _msresources folder → Create or select a folder for the grade shell
→ Create a model view (for any display item) and open its properties →
Grade Shell tab → Select the desired grade shell item → Enter a minimum
and optional maximum → Turn on block outlines → Make Shell → Save

©2022 Hexagon
Exposed Ore Display

The Exposed Ore Display in MP3D allows you to project
the color cutoffs of the desired model item onto a sur-
face geometry element in the Viewer.
Pit shell with exposed ore.
EXERCISE: Display Exposed Ore

Show the CUI grade on the pit shell surface. You will need to create a new geometry set with this surface and
have the pit shell open in the Viewer.
Exposed Ore Open a surface geometry element (set to show surfaces as Faces Only) →
Open and double-click a model view → Display tab → Select the desired
display item → Geometry tab → Select surface element → Exposed Ore but-
ton

NOTES

©2022 Hexagon
Using DART
MinePlan Data ASCII Reformatting Tool (DART) is
a stand-alone program that reformats ASCII files. LEARNING OBJECTIVE
One purpose is for reblocking model files (text or
File 15). Other functions include analysis and refor- Translate data fields, and calculate and
matting text files. The program dialog contains six store them to a new data field.
tab pages that should be filled out in sequence,
from left to right. When executed, DART opens on
the Load Options tab page on which you specify the name and path to the input and output files.
You can type the path and filenames into the input fields, or you can use the Browse button to
locate the files.
⇒
Use DART to change block sizes, while properly handling grades, densities, codes and other block
model items. It can also convert an irregular/sub blocked model to regularized sizes.
Input and Output Options

The Input and Output Options tabs deal with formatting and are used for all operations performed
in DART. Set the Input Options tab to properly bring in your starting ASCII data format and name
each field. In the Output Options tab, you can choose a new output format and the fields that
you desire to dump. When conducting calculations on the model (i.e. reblocking), you can go
directly from model to model or from text file to model.
TYPES OF TRANSLATIONS
Add Constant: Adds or subtracts (if negative to the field by the value entered).
Multiply Factor: Multiplies the field by the value entered.
Clamp Value: Clamps the values in the selected field to the specified range. Values greater
than the specified maximum value are changed to the maximum value, and
values less than the minimum value are changed to the minimum value.
Replace: Replaces a particular value in a field with another value.
Range: Uses only the data where the selected item’s values are within (Range) or outside
(Omit) the minimum and maximum values specified.
Remove Quotes: Removes “ ” (double quotes) or ‘ ’ (single quotes) from the data field.
Substitute List: Substitutes different values for multiple values in a field.
70 | Using DART
Translating Data Fields

The Data Translation Options tab allows you to manipulate your data. Field Name consists of all
the columns that you choose for output. Two help icons are located near each of the Translations
and Substitution List panels. Be aware that the translations entered will be order-dependent.
EXERCISE: Translate Data Fields

Use the assay input file (assay.csv) and perform some simple translations (i.e. add a constant or clamp value).
Translate Data DART → Data Translation Options tab → Field Name → Add
Calculating and Storing to a New Data Field

In the Calculation Options dialog, you can create and use formulaic expressions with data fields
from the input file as well as create new data fields for use in the expressions. You can also change
project and model coordinates for rotated models.
For rotated models, click on the Rotate X Y to set the parameters to rotate the data on the XY
plane without a 3D component, or click on Rotate 3D to set the parameters to rotate the data
in all three directions. On either of these dialogs, the rotation parameters from an existing PCF
can be imported. In the Calculation Options tab, the formulaic expression is where formulas are
created and tested prior to being added to the Calculated Fields section. A New Field can be
given a default value, and any of the input data fields can be used in the expression. The formula
is defined in the Expression field and is equal to the field name entered in New Field. A value can
be entered in the Test Data section and then the expression can be tested. If the formula passes
the test, then save it to the Calculated Fields section for DART to use in the conversion process.
EXERCISE: Calculate a New Data Field

Calculate the recoverable grade using total copper and a recovery of 80% (CUREC=total copper * 0.8) from
the assay file.
New Data Field DART → Enter name of new field to calculate, default value expression while
appending from the available field → Test → Save
Reblocking
The Reblocking dialog is used to reblock data from another 3DBM (possibly sub-blocked) with
different dimensions and/or block sizes. Various model block parameters are entered on this page.
Reblocking does not work with GSM models, and is disabled when output destination is to a sub-
blocked file. The input dimensions are automatically determined by looking at the first six source
data inputs while the output model limits are read from the destinations model’s PCF. To recode
the items for each block there are four different calculation that can be done.
EXERCISE: Reblock Model

Calculate the CUI for the destination model.
Reblock DART → Reblocking tab → Add item weight by tonnage(grade), add Density
type, add Density field item → Output tab
Using DART | 71
©2022 Hexagon
Plotting in MP3D
A plot is an informative display of 3D or 2D data
from the MinePlan Viewer. Plotting is used for many LEARNING OBJECTIVE
purposes in mine design, such as viewing mining ar-
eas or blast patterns in a plan view and displaying Plot data from MinePlan 3D for various
cross-sections of geologic data. types of output.
You can output a plot to printed pages, plot files
(i.e. HPGL2, PDF), image files (i.e. jpeg) and DXF. Plotting to plot files lets multiple users share the
data without having to open MP3D to send the plot to a printer. Image files let you review your
plot without printing; and plotting to DXF allows you to open the plot in AutoCAD.
THE CENTRAL PLOTTING FOLDER

A plot layout is an object that consists of one or more Viewers. A plot layout can also contain a
title block, scale bar, North arrow and one or more legends.
To prepare for the plot layout, create a folder or save a Project Map that will contain all the
data you want to plot, including geometry objects, drillhole views, model views and Viewers. Title
blocks, legends and the plot layout objects should be saved to a Plotting folder in the Data Man-
ager as they are created. To ensure consistency, you should also create a Viewer that will be used
solely for plotting.
You can preview how the plot layout will look using the Preview at the bottom of the Plot Layout Ed-
itor. If you would like to be able to zoom in to check details and line thickness before sending data
to the plotter, you can plot to an image file and open the file as a picture. Plotting to an image
file and then sending the results to the plotter can also help to reduce memory consumption.
If you include the page size in the name of the plot layout, you will be able to use this plot layout
as a template for later plotting to this page size. The same concept also works well for legend and
title block naming.
72 | Plotting in MP3D
The Plot Layout Editor

Three primary factors affect plotting: page size, plotting extents (i.e. boundary) and page scale.
The Plot Layout Editor, which is accessible once you create a plot layout, gives you control over
these three factors for scaled plotting. You can set two of the factors; the third is computed from
the other two. Access the Plot Layout Editor the same way you access the Object Properties
dialog.
THE PAGE TAB

The Page tab is where the primary factors affecting plotting, (see plot layout editor section), are
controlled. This tab is broken down into four areas: Paper, Scale, Area and Boundary.
Paper: Select your preferred plot size and orientation. From the Page Size drop down, you can
select the custom option that will allow you to set custom page settings.
Boundary: This section defines the boundary of the plot. You can choose from screen capture, grid
set or user defined. By default, everything within the yellow bounding box will be fit to a maximum
size centered within the Viewer Area. The elements being plotted will be scaled to fit accordingly
as well.
The user defined boundary option allows you to manually specify the boundary for the plot to use.
You can orient the boundary in plan, EW, NS and 45 degrees vertical orientation. You can choose
a mode to create the boundary: using a start point, end point and height; or using a single origin
point, width, height and azimuth. There are also numerous choices for which corner or point of the
boundary you may use as the basis for the starting, ending or origin points.
Scale: Here you select your area’s (i.e. Viewer) scale type. You can choose from screen capture
or a user defined scale. Screen capture will scale the elements within the boundary to a size that
corresponds to the selected boundary type.
The other two options, Control area’s scale and Control area’s scale, uniform scale, allow you to
force any additional areas to use the control area’s scale, or in the latter case, a uniform scale
based on the control area if it is itself not uniform.
User defined scale: This scale option allows manual input of the scale sizes. It also allows quick
adjustments to reset the scale with the grid set or user defined boundary, reset with the screen
capture boundary, or to quickly round up the scale size the nearest reasonable whole increment.
Check the Vertical Scale box to allow the Plot Layout Editor to set a vertical scale separate from the
horizontal scale. The vertical scale may also be set to match the vertical exaggeration of the Viewer.
Area: The first two options deal with how additional areas are controlled. You can force the sec-
ondary area(s) to center on the same point as the control area and/or populate the grid sets in
the boundary section of additional area(s) with the grids attached to the control area.
The clip to boundary option is used to force data outside of the boundary to not be displayed.
This is only applicable if the plot area is larger than the boundary centered inside of it. You may
resize the area to fit the boundary size exactly.
Plotting in MP3D | 73
©2022 Hexagon
THE LAYOUT MODE TAB

From this tab, you can either control all three factors (Paper Size, Control Area Scale, Control Area
Size) or allow a third factor to be computed from the other two.
THE AREA TAB

In this tab you can add or remove various plot items to the plot layout. Plot items include additional
viewers, title blocks, legends, scale bars, and a north arrow. There are various connection choices
for how to specifically manage a plot items orientation on the plot layout as well as whether to
arrange by cm/in or %.
THE OUTPUT TAB

This tab is where you select your desired output type for the plot (file, images, or printer). You may
also apply a text size or line width factor as well as choose to plot lights, hidden surfaces or in all
black.
THE PROJECT TAB

This is where you can quickly save or load a project map corresponding specific plot setup.
THE INFO TAB

From this tab you may edit the name of the plot layout object or add user notes.
Common Plots
Plot layouts are designed to be customizable. They can serve as a quick record of what is being
displayed in the Viewer or Viewers in 2D or 3D, or they can be set up for a detailed series of
sections including title blocks, legends, logos and scales. Plot layouts are transferable between
projects and can be used for more than one type of plot. In the following exercises we see a few
examples of how this tool can be set up and used.
EXERCISE: Create a Quick Plot Using Screen Capture

Create a plot layout in a new folder called Plotting, and then create a quick plot image to see how the plot
relates to the Viewer display. (The image in the Viewer will be displayed at the same aspect in the plot.)
Change the display in the Viewer and repeat the process. Print options: There are several formats to export
the plot. We are using Preview, which is a good way to check your plot before you export.
Plot Layout right-click Plotting folder → New → Plot Layout → Name the plot layout → Right-
click plot layout object → Properties → Plot Layout Editor
Quick Plot Plot Layout Editor → Page tab → Select paper size → Set scale and boundary
to screen capture → Center element in boundary → Apply → Preview
EXERCISE: Create a Quick Plot Using User Defined Boundaries

Create a plot layout that reduces the outside empty in the screen capture boundary. See how focusing in
a more narrow boundary increases the detail of the image by reducing the necessary scale size. There are
several ways to create the necessary boundary. We are using the first mode (defining starting and ending
top points with a height.)
User Defined Plot Plot Layout Editor → Page tab → Select paper size → Set scale to Screen Cap-
ture → Set boundary to User Defined → Create boundary around element in
Viewer → Apply → Preview
EXERCISE: Create an Independent Dual Area Plot

Create a plot-dependent dual area plot layout that will display a cross-sectional view in the control Viewer
and a plan view in the additional Viewer. The control Viewer should show drillhole data (by strip with DHID la-
bels), model blocks and topography data in section, while topography contours and collar points are shown
in plan view in the additional Viewer. We will ensure that the additional Viewer uses the control area’s target
so it is centered above the current sectional plot, and that it has the same grid set attached so that we can
enable volume clipping.
Dependent Dual Plot Plot Layout Editor → Page tab → Select paper size → Set control area scale
to Screen Capture → Set control area boundary to Grid Set → Area Tab
→ Add additional Viewer → Page tab → Set additional viewer scale to Use
Control Area’s Scale → Enable Use Control Area’s Target and Use Control
Area’s Grids → Apply → Preview
Title Blocks
Title blocks are one type of text data object in
MinePlan; other text data includes labels such If you prefer a different information layout, click
as drillhole labels and user labels, which are a field to edit the defaults. If you would like
used as annotation. The Title Block Editor dia- different formats for the project, the list in the
right-hand window provides the variables for
log consists of two main tabs—the Title tab and
the most commonly used data formats.
the Info tab. The Title tab is where the actual
creation of the title block occurs.
Click the Resize All or Parts of the Title Block button to use a uniform font size, row height and/or
column width in your title block. Then enter a value to either adjust the settings by a factor or set
them to a fixed value.
EXERCISE: Create a Title Block

Create a custom default title block design by creating a title block object named default_titleblock.msr. If
default_titleblock.msr is in the root of _msresources, it serves as the template for new title block objects. You
may create it outside of the Plot Layout Editor or, if one does not already exist, from within.
Title Block Plot Layout Editor → Area tab → Add new title block area → Name title block
→ Enter a project name and/or edit token substitutions → Use Add, Remove
or arrow buttons to adjust columns and/or rows → Specify row height, font
size, font alignment and column width → Preview
©2022 Hexagon
Tokens
The Token Tool, which is accessible at any time
at the bottom of the Plot Layout Editor or from This tool can also be accessed through the Utili-
within the Title Block or Legend objects, allows ties Menu, the Legend Tool Properties dialog, or
you to add variables to title blocks and legend for quick access, from the Plot Layout Editor.
objects. You can create text strings and asso-
ciate them with a ‘token’ or variable that can be used in the MinePlan title block or legend object.
All Tokens must begin with a “?”.
EXERCISE: Create a Token
Tokens Title Block Editor → Token Tool button → In the Token column add type ’?Test’
→ in the text column type ’User ID’ → Apply → Return to the Title Block Editor
and input the Token in the Title Block → Preview
Legends
A legend is a type of MinePlan data object; as with other data objects, it is created from the
Data Manager. If one does not already exist, it may be created from within Plot Layout Editor. The
Properties dialog for the legend object can be accessed by double-clicking on the legend name
in the Data Manager, or by right-clicking and selecting Properties.
EXERCISE: Create a Legend
Legends Plot Layout Editor → Area tab → Add New Legend Area
NOTES
LEGEND TABS
The Common tab and the Info tab always stay the same. However, the middle tab displayed is
dependent upon which legend type you have chosen. The Common tab allows you to define the type
of data the legend will display (company logo, cutoff table, drillhole view, model view, geometry or
materials). The Info tab provides information about the title block; type, location, size and creation and
modification dates are listed. The lower text field provides an area for user notes.
Note that the minimum legend size is displayed in plotter units along the base of the legend object
properties dialog.
Company Specify an image file, which will then be available as an area that can be inserted
into a plot layout.
Cutoff Specify an item from the Items folder and select the desired display option.
Drillhole Choose a drillhole view. Properties for a 2D viewer displayed include the primary dis-
play item, any items used for labels and any items used for strip/histogram displays,
along with minimum and maximum values where applicable. Properties for a 3D view
displayed include only the primary display and interval label items.
Model Choose a model view. Properties for a 2D view displayed include the primary display
and labeling items. Properties for a 3D view displayed include only the primary display
item.
Geometry Define a geometry object as a legend object. This provides the flexibility to create
custom legends such as map explanation, or other applications where simply adding
a text or geometry object will clarify your plot. To use this option, the data in the
geometry object needs to be in plan.
Materials Choose the materials to display. Blank materials are ignored. A material can be spec-
ified multiple times. Under Style, choose the display style: name, point, polyline, poly-
gon, name display or surface. Under Comments, add the notation that will appear
in the legend next to the material. The comments will be displayed using the body
font properties from the Common tab. If no comment is added, and you would like
the material name displayed, toggle ON the option “Blank comments display material
name.” Use the Select column to select lines to be reordered using the arrow buttons
on the left. Right-click in the table to select/unselect all or delete selected materi-
als. Also on the right-click menu is a refresh option. Use this to refresh the material
list if materials have been added or deleted since the Legend Properties dialog was
opened..
©2022 Hexagon
Conclusion & Future Training

We hope you will be able to use the tools covered during this MinePlan software training course to
improve productivity at your mine. As you apply the concepts you have learned, please phone or
email us with questions. Our contact information is listed on the inside cover of this book and on
our website, http://www.hexagonmining.com/. The website also gives you access to our down-
load/upload page, the latest updates to our software, news, seminar papers and newsletter arti-
cles about our software.
Future Training
Whether it takes a few hours or a few days, training with Hexagon’s newest tools can pay instant
dividends. Designed to fit your schedule, our mix-and-match formats support your learning needs
no matter what your expertise with MinePlan software.
Spend some time using our software in day-to-day applications. When you are comfortable
working with MinePlan software, contact us at training.mp.tus.min@hexagonmining.com or visit
the training page at https://hexagonmining.com/services-and-support/training/courses to set up
your next training.

Updated: March 29, 2022
©2009-2022 by Leica Geosystems AG. All rights reserved. No part of this document shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Leica Geosystems AG. All
terms mentioned in this document that are known to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies have been
appropriately identified. MinePlan® is a registered trademark of Leica Geosystems AG. This material is subject to the terms in the Hexagon
Mining Terms and Conditions (available at http://www.hexagonmining.com/).
78 | Conclusion & Future Training

Conclusion & Future Training | 79

Getting Started With MP3 D

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Getting Started With MP3 D

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Getting Started

Technical Support Email - English Technical Support Email - Spanish

Australia Tech Support Chile Tech Support

Canada Tech Support Mexico Tech Support

South Africa Tech Support Peru Tech Support

USA Tech Support Prominas: Brazil Tech Support

Getting Started with MinePlan 3D

3D BLOCK MODEL (3DBM) STRATIGRAPHIC MODEL

ECONOMIC PIT LIMITS & PIT OPTIMIZATION

PIT & UNDERGROUND DESIGN

Our software is always improving

MinePlan Services offers mine

The MinePlan Project

Store project folders created

MP3D Torque Sigma

The MinePlan Project | 1

2 | The MinePlan Project

Geo Copper Data Set

Geo Copper Data Set | 3

4 | Geo Copper Data Set

The MP3D Project

Organizing Your Project

_msresources There are a number of data objects available, including drillhole

EXERCISE: Initialize an MP3D Project

The MP3D Project | 5

6 | The MP3D Project

The MP3D Interface

EXERCISE: Change Project Settings

The MP3D Interface | 7

The MP3D Cursor

EXERCISE: Customize the MP3D Cursor

The Data Manager

8 | The MP3D Interface

MANAGING YOUR DATA

EXERCISE: Import and Export Topography Contours

The MP3D Interface | 9

The MinePlan xViewer

10 | The MP3D Interface

ADJUSTING XVIEWER ORIENTATION

AZIMUTH AND DIP DISPLAY

PANNING DATA IN THE XVIEWER

The MP3D Interface | 11

THE MINEPLAN POPUP MENU

EXERCISE: Get Familiar with the MinePlan xViewer

xViewer Set Up xViewer Toolbar → Viewer icon → xViewer Properties dialog

Quick Viewer Desktop Menu → Viewer → Quick Viewer Movement ON/OFF

12 | The MP3D Interface

MinePlan 3D Interface Highlights

The MP3D Interface | 13

IBIS Guardian CSV4D

14 | The MP3D Interface

Accessing Other MinePlan Programs

MP3D ONLINE HELP

To Access MP3D Online Help: Desktop Menu → Help or F1

The MP3D Interface | 15

The Model Manager

THE PROJECT CONTROL FILE (PCF)

16 | The Model Manager

EXERCISE: Create a New PCF

EXERCISE: Create and Edit a Model File

New Model File Model Manager → Model → 3DBM—File 15 or GSF—File 13

Clone Model Manager → Model → Clone

Rename Model Manager → Model → Rename → Enter new name → OK