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Chapter 5 Mine Design

This chapter is intended to familiarize users with the Mine Design module offered by Opencontour. This module is used primarily to assist the user in populating their Mineplan layer and enabling manipulation of various Opencontour properties.

Video: Building a Cutter Layer

Video: Building a Filler Layer

Quick Access

5.1 Mine Design Module

The Mine Design module is used to track the progress of creating a mine plan within Opencontour, as well as enabling the user to manipulate or delete properties from their project. Additionally, legends can be built within this module to view in the Drawing Window. This module is divided into 5 distinct tabs:

  • Progress

  • Populate Properties

  • Delete

  • Spreadsheet

  • Legend

5.1.1 Progress

The Progress tab displays whether or not the Mineplan is ready to be built. There are three steps required for a completely built Mineplan:

  1. All cutters and fillers have been cut within the viewer window

  2. A model file has been loaded into the project (OMF, CSV, or JSON)

  3. A Mineplan has been built with either all blocks or model ore blocks only


Incomplete Progress Tab

Progress


5.1.2 Populate Properties

The Populate Properties tab at the top of this window is used to add a value to a new or existing property within the selected layer. Specify the property by typing it's name in the Property field and the value in the Property Value field.

Typically, the Mineplan layer characteristics are modified. However the Choose Layer dropdown will allow the user to select any of the project's layers.

To add a property to a layer:

  1. Select the layer from the Choose Layer dropdown option.


    Populate Properties Tab

    Pop Properties


  2. Enter the name of the property

  3. Enter a value or JavaScript expression to define and designate the property.

  4. Click Populate Property button. The user will be greeted with a notification similar to this:


    Populate Properties Notification

    Pop Properties Notif


  5. Click Save button to store the information entered.

5.1.3 Delete

The Delete tab enables the user to enter a Javascript expression to remove properties under a certain condition from the chosen layer.


Delete Tab

Delete


5.1.4 Spreadsheet

The data of a chosen layer can be viewed in the Spreadsheet tab. The information can be copied and pasted directly or can be exported as a CSV using the Export CSV button. Changes can also be made and saved in the displayed table.


Spreadsheet Tab

Spreadsheet


5.1.5 Legend

The Legend tab enables viewing a property in the Drawing Window shaded by color. Each legend file contains six property inputs, though multiple legend files can be imported and saved into a single project. Individual rows may not be imported into an existing legend, nor exported.


Legend Tab

Legend


A property can be written in multiple rows within a given file if the 5-color interval is not sufficient to fully display the contained information. In this case, the user should set the final value in the legend to below what the next value will be, similar to the example seen below for ag:


Multiple Property Rows - ag

Multiple ag


Model Layer with Legend - ag

Multiple ag2


A previously exported legend can be imported and can be deleted pressing the Delete button. The Legend is saved in the Config layer for the project; with a Group file save. This layer also contains any saved Charts and the inputs from the Grid tab.

Creating a Legend

To create a legend, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Mine Design button.
    • A previously saved legend may be imported using the Choose File button.
  2. Type in the property of interest to be shaded in the Property column, e.g. au. The property entry must match the property case and syntax as contained in the Mineplan or Model layer.
  3. In the Project Properties window, enter in the numerical bins and shading colors in the same row.
    • If more bins are required, re-type the property into the next row and continue building the legend out.
  4. Press the Save Legend button to save this to the Project.
    • To save the legend for use in another project, tick the Export checkbox. You will be prompted to save the Legend with the filename “legend.json”. The saved Legend will appear in the dropdown list of saved legends for the project.
  5. Close the Project Properties window. Back in the Drawing Window, check the Legend box in the View Settings (or press the keyboard hotkey, l). Ensure that the layer and property dropdowns are pointing to the desired information.
  6. Refresh the display by pressing the keyboard hotkeys, Q or W.
Legend Toggle Window

Once a legend(s) have been created within the Mine Design Module, the user may want to view the legend and it's key in the window without having to move back and forth between the Project Window and Legend tab. To do this, the user is able to toggle on a maneuverable legend window using the following steps:

  1. Properly configure a legend with the steps outlined in the last section.
  2. In the View Settings, check the Legend box to on and navigate to the desired layer and property.
  3. Check the Toggle Window box on.

Toggle Window Checkbox

Toggle Window Checkbox


Legend Toggle Window - ag

Legend Toggle Window - ag

5.1.6 Geotech

The Geotech tab enables the user to edit their geotech features within a single, consolidated window instead of having to query each feature using the Properties (p) tool from the Toolbar.


Geotech Tab

Geotech Tab


There are several controls within this tab that allow the user to configure geotech features according to their specifications:

Name Description
Select Name Select each geotech feature currently available in the project by it's name property
Method Type Allows user to select between using the Fixed IRA/BFA or Rosette IRA/BFA configuration for their geotech feature
IRA/BFA Setting Indicates what geotech setting is assigned in the Project Settings (Settings, Geotech, Model/Domain, or Model IRA/BFA)

For more information on the Geotech layer and it's property information, please click here.

5.2 Tutorial Project Part 3: Building a Pit

This third part of the tutorial project will teach users the basics of drawing and cutting a pit within Opencontour. It will also offer useful tips for utilizing the built-in CAD functions.

5.2.1 Drawing a Pit

  • The next step is to populate the Cutter layer by creating an open pit
  • Begin by clicking the Add Layer icon, and selecting Add Cutter Layer
  • Click on the Cutter layer until it is highlighted orange, then select Add Polygon Features
  • Navigate to bottom or top of desired pit using Q and W keys and begin drawing the shape of the pit, with/without a ramp
  • Be mindful of these windows as they have several important pit-drawing features:


Viewer Window - Drawing Settings (1 of 2)

Drawing Setting1


Viewer Window - Drawing Settings (2 of 2)

Drawing Setting2


  • HELPFUL DRAWING TIPS:
  • From the Ramp dropdown menu:
    • Select 0 to build a pit with no ramps
    • Select 1 to build a pit with 1 ramp
    • Select 2 to build a pit with 2 ramps
  • Use Direction to indicate if the pit is be built Up or Down
  • #1 indicates if the first ramp will follow a Clockwise or Counterclockwise direction
    • This dropdown will be available if Ramp is set to 1 or 2
  • #2 indicates if the second ramp will follow a Clockwise or Counterclockwise direction
    • This dropdown will be available if Ramp is set to 2
  • The Dbl/triple feature gives the option to single, double, triple, or quadruple bench the pit
  • The Scaler feature sets a circular boundary around the cursor using a set distance chosen by the user. Use this feature to design the ramp width and mining distance around blocks

  • ViewWidth allows the user to see up/down a set elevation when in a particular viewer elevation

  • Now, draw the pit shape. It should look similar to the image displayed below:


Pit Drawing - clockwiseUp w/ Ramp

Pit Drawing


  • If the pit shape is unsatisfactory, use the Edit Features button to manipulate the vertices on the pit shape

5.2.2 Cutting a Pit

  • Once the user has drawn out the pit shape and have ensured it is moving in the correct orientation, press the Select icon, then Select the pit shape until it is highlighted lime green
  • Select the Copy Cutter Up Level icon, and the pit should move up/down a set elevation. The viewer should now look like this:


Pit Drawing - clockwiseUp w/ Ramp (Copy Cutter Level Up)

Pit Drawing Cutter Up


  • If the resulting pit looks unsatisfactory, go to the desired elevation and select the Remove Features button. Then, simply click on the pit shape, and it will be deleted.
  • Continue to Select and Copy Cutter Level Up the polygon until the pit has reached topography or the user is content
  • After the drawing has been completed, click the blue check mark on each completed Cutter layer, then select the Cut Contour with Cutter/Filler tool
  • Then, select the Schedule tab and click on the BaseResult layer. Then hit the A key to see the resulting pit merged with the existing topography:


Cut Pit Merged w/ Topography in BaseResult Layer

Cut Pit BaseResult


5.2.3 Building the Mineplan

  • The next step is to build the mine plan for the project
  • Click on the Mine Design module, and a window like this should pop up:


Mine Design Window

Mine Design Window


  • When the checkmarks beneath Cut Contour and Model Loaded are green, the mineplan is ready to be built
  • Click the dropdown menu that displays All Blocks or Model Ore Blocks Only to indicate whether or not to schedule ore blocks only
  • Click the Build Mineplan button. Wait a few moments, and a popup window displaying how many mineplan blocks were created will appear:


Mineplan Pop-Up Window

Mineplan Pop Up