Putting Roads and Benches in a Putting Roads and Benches in a PitPit

©2012 Dr. B. C. Paul©2012 Dr. B. C. PaulNote – These slides contain screen shots from the program MineSight which Note – These slides contain screen shots from the program MineSight which

was created by Mintec. Credit for the program is given to Mintec. Additionally was created by Mintec. Credit for the program is given to Mintec. Additionally these slides may be based in part on earlier work by the author and the these slides may be based in part on earlier work by the author and the

contents may be similar to portions of classes taught by Mintec in using their contents may be similar to portions of classes taught by Mintec in using their software.software.

The Pit Designs Produced by The Pit Designs Produced by Economic Planner are SmoothEconomic Planner are Smooth

They lack theBench structureAnd roads foundIn real open pits.

We can add theseFeatures to fit aPractical open pitMine.

Lets Start By Contouring What Lets Start By Contouring What We Have NowWe Have Now

I have prepared an open edit object toReceive data

Now I will activate the contour tool.

The Contour Tool Dialog OpensThe Contour Tool Dialog Opens

I will set it to contour elevation

Next I need to tell it what surfaceTo contour

I will pick the blue worm (whichAllows me to pick my surfaceFrom the viewer. The red dotHas me make my pick fromA file directory).

Click the Worm – Click the Click the Worm – Click the SurfaceSurface

Now We Click Preview to Check Now We Click Preview to Check it Outit Out

Looks Good

Turn Off Other Surfaces and Turn Off Other Surfaces and Admire My Contour SetAdmire My Contour Set

Of course now IHave to face theFact that it doesNot fit the roadAnd benchPattern of a realPractical openPit.

Lets Start with a Simple – Well Lets Start with a Simple – Well Behaved Pit.Behaved Pit.

I have my stage 1 pit surface in my pit optimization file.

I Also Have Topographic I Also Have Topographic Contours of My PitContours of My Pit

I Zoom in and Query My Pit Bottom I Zoom in and Query My Pit Bottom Contour to Get Its ElevationContour to Get Its Elevation

Pits With Toes, Crests, Berms and Roads Pits With Toes, Crests, Berms and Roads are Designed with the Pit Expansion Toolare Designed with the Pit Expansion Tool

Go to Tool andDrop down theMenu

Highlight and ClickPit Expansion Tool

The Routine Will Help You Set The Routine Will Help You Set Up A New Geometry ObjectUp A New Geometry Object

Pick your File

Title

And hit open

You Need a Line For the Bottom You Need a Line For the Bottom of Your Pitof Your Pit

Pick Digitize

Click Your BottomContour

Confirm it is the right line

Hit Add

You Can Also Truly Digitize the You Can Also Truly Digitize the Base String Base String (Sometimes you can draw a (Sometimes you can draw a more practical geometry for equipment)more practical geometry for equipment)

Set the radio button toDigitize (copying anExisting contour is alsoAn option but those contoursCreated by LG or FloatingCone usually do not considerPractical working spaces forYour equipment).

Type in the elevation of yourToe around the bottom ofYour pit

Click Add

Then begin to digitize yourBase string.

Now Drop to the Lower Box and Set Now Drop to the Lower Box and Set Your Pit Expansion ParametersYour Pit Expansion Parameters

Specify the startElevation to match theBottom of the pit

You can tell it to doA bunch of steps atOnce (I countedContours to know IWanted 19 benches)

Next Step Will Be to Set Next Step Will Be to Set Benching ParametersBenching Parameters

StartingElevation

Step Size

Berm Width

Face Slope

Pit Slope

Next I Click On the Required Tab Next I Click On the Required Tab to Tell it How to Bench Upto Tell it How to Bench Up

You can chooseWhich parameters toSpecify

I specified my 15 meterbench,A 72 degree slopeFrom the toe to crestAnd a 42 degreeOver-all working slope

(I could have specifiedBench width and letIt figure the pit slope)

Indicate I want the pit to expand upward and outward.

2330 starting elev

Next I Open the Roads TabNext I Open the Roads Tab

I Go to the Naming Field to Name I Go to the Naming Field to Name My RoadMy Road

It tells me my roadIs unset(surprise-surpriseI haven’t set it yetSo click Edit)

It Needs Me to Tell it Where to It Needs Me to Tell it Where to Start the RoadStart the Road

Click on the pointSymbol and thenPoint to the spotTo begin.

Enter the Road ParametersEnter the Road Parameters

Give it the startingLevel

The road width

The Grade (0.1 means10%)

And the directionCode 1= clockwise

The View Clicks Back to the Road The View Clicks Back to the Road Tab Only Now the Road is SetTab Only Now the Road is Set

Go Back to the Expansion Go Back to the Expansion Screen and Hit PreviewScreen and Hit Preview

Oh Wow Cool!Oh Wow Cool!

Back Out and I Can See My Back Out and I Can See My Road and the Toes and CrestsRoad and the Toes and Crests

I can also see my road width pushed my pit back a little more and cut theOver-all slope.

It Does However End at the Right It Does However End at the Right LevelLevel

I Have An Option to Fix That I Have An Option to Fix That Road IssueRoad Issue

I’ll tell it to dock the road with off of the bench width

Click Apply to Add that Click Apply to Add that Steepening EffectSteepening Effect

We Can See We Have Taken a Nice We Can See We Have Taken a Nice Chunk Out of Our Benches with the RoadChunk Out of Our Benches with the Road

It Gives Me A Chance to Name It Gives Me A Chance to Name And Save My Instruction SetAnd Save My Instruction Set

I Can Now Click Triangulate to Have it I Can Now Click Triangulate to Have it Create a Pit Surface From My Toes and Create a Pit Surface From My Toes and Crests and RoadCrests and Road

There is My Triangulated Pit With There is My Triangulated Pit With A Lot of Stuff On at the Same A Lot of Stuff On at the Same TimeTime

Here is One Item – My Toes and Here is One Item – My Toes and Crest ProfileCrest Profile

Here is My Triangulated SurfaceHere is My Triangulated Surface

Of Course What I Really Want is a Smooth Solid Surface

I Highlighted – Right Clicked and I Highlighted – Right Clicked and Picked PropertiesPicked Properties

Then I usedGlobal Color toChange My SurfaceColor

A Picked Faces OnlyTo get the facesWithout theTriangulation showing

If I Turn On My Pit2 Surface I Can See If I Turn On My Pit2 Surface I Can See My Benches Surface is Mostly A Little My Benches Surface is Mostly A Little Below the Lerch Grossman SurfaceBelow the Lerch Grossman Surface

I Can Adjust the Lerch Grossman I Can Adjust the Lerch Grossman Surface to be a Little See Surface to be a Little See ThroughThrough

On Object Properties Click the Surfaces Tab and Use the Arrow to increase theTransparency of the surface

Now I Can See My Design Pit Surface if Now I Can See My Design Pit Surface if Very Close to the Lerch Grossman Very Close to the Lerch Grossman SurfaceSurface

That Worked Slick - ButThat Worked Slick - But

• The pit was a simple cone shapeThe pit was a simple cone shape• It was a simple spiral roadIt was a simple spiral road• I wanted to road to make it to the I wanted to road to make it to the

surface but did not care where it came surface but did not care where it came out.out.

• Everything worked on the pit expansion Everything worked on the pit expansion tooltool

Common Bugaboo’sCommon Bugaboo’s – – I have no idea of I have no idea of my elevationmy elevation

Your base string goes onto the levelIndicated – not necessarily the level youAre trying to work on.

Are you trying to expand from the level of your base string?(if you are not you won’t like the result)

Issues and SolutionsIssues and Solutions

• The Bottom of My Pit is so small there is no The Bottom of My Pit is so small there is no way real equipment can work there.way real equipment can work there.

Then start your pit a few levels up and/or

Digitize a base string that provides enoughRoom and a workable geometry(no it won’t exactly follow your theoreticalPit but you said real equipment could notBuild that theoretical pit anyway).

Issues and SolutionsIssues and Solutions

• I want my road to I want my road to come out at a come out at a specific point on the specific point on the surfacesurface• Set your base string Set your base string

at the level you want at the level you want to come out.to come out.

Making a Road Come Out at a Making a Road Come Out at a Specific PointSpecific Point

“Expand” your pit downwardAnd inward – instead of fromThe bottom up.

Making a Road Come Out At a Making a Road Come Out At a Specific PointSpecific Point

Edit your road to start at your chosen elevation

And then pick the starting point where you wantThe road to come out.

(Then of course you click the exit point inThe viewer)

Dealing With Irregular Pit Dealing With Irregular Pit GeometriesGeometries• Don’t try to expand your pit all the way up (or Don’t try to expand your pit all the way up (or

down) at once.down) at once.

Note that you can set how manyBenches to do at one time.

(You can even expand one benchAt a time)

You can use the Query tool to see theElevation of things in the viewer.

You can also preview anything youDraw before you commit to it.

Dealing with Irregular Pit Geometry- This Dealing with Irregular Pit Geometry- This Pit has Multiple Bottoms – One at 2072 Pit has Multiple Bottoms – One at 2072 and the Other at 2090and the Other at 2090

Dealing With Irregular Pit Dealing With Irregular Pit GeometriesGeometries

I don’t think I canGet equipment inThat little hole at2072

Dealing With Irregular Geometries Dealing With Irregular Geometries –– Mutiple Pit Bottoms Mutiple Pit Bottoms

Click the radio button to digitizeThe base string.

Then click the add button

Then digitize the base string.Pay attention that you selectA geometry that is practical toDig out and work. Some typesOf cuts may have a tendencyTo be unstable from a rockMechanics stand point. Try toAdd practicality while youDigitize.

Note that I dropped the smallPit at 2070 because thereJust was no room to workEquipment.

First enter the elevation of theBase string.

I will similarly digitize the base string for the second bottom

Dealing with Irregular Geometries Dealing with Irregular Geometries –– Multiple Pit Bottoms Multiple Pit Bottoms

Even if I have Base Strings at Multiple levels

It will only expand structures up thatStart at or below the start level

Dealing With Irregular Geometries – Dealing With Irregular Geometries – Multiple Pit Bottoms and Base StringsMultiple Pit Bottoms and Base Strings

Click the roads tab.

Select Add(your first road name appears –You can change it if you want.

It is initially undefined.

Click the edit button to defineThings like road start point,Slope, and direction.

Set Road Starting Point for the Set Road Starting Point for the First Base StringFirst Base String

Click the point icon to let theComputer know you want toDefine the starting point forThe road.

Then point to and click theStarting point for the road andRight click to complete yourselection

A green dot appears and theCoordinates show in theBox.

Enter your starting elevation

Your road width

Your grade

And 1 or 0 to indicate whetherThe road should advanceClockwise or counter clockwiseFinally click ok to initialize your plan for the road

Since I’m Working Off Two Base Strings I Since I’m Working Off Two Base Strings I Initialize a road for my other Pit tooInitialize a road for my other Pit too

Click add to add aSecond road just likeI did the first.

I Complete the Process and Now I Complete the Process and Now Have Two Road Starting PointsHave Two Road Starting Points

Note the old completedRoad point is showingYellow instead of green

I Click Preview and My Pit Expands Up One I Click Preview and My Pit Expands Up One Bench and I Can See Where My Road is GoingBench and I Can See Where My Road is Going

I Can Preview and Move Up I Can Preview and Move Up AgainAgain

As Expansion Continues Up the As Expansion Continues Up the Base Strings will MergeBase Strings will Merge

At this point I notice my first dissatisfaction because I wanted the road to meet when the pits did which did notHappen.

Oh – So I’m Having a Road Oh – So I’m Having a Road Come Out at the Wrong PlaceCome Out at the Wrong Place• Maybe one of the pits I’ll have to Maybe one of the pits I’ll have to

expand down so my roads merge.expand down so my roads merge.

This Raises the Issue of What If I This Raises the Issue of What If I Want to do Something Unusual With Want to do Something Unusual With the Roadthe Road

Like – Maybe I want the road toSwitchback

Note I have the ability to specifyDirection changes in a road atDifferent elevations

What is this SB Business?What is this SB Business?

With no Switch Back Radius youWill get a V shaped turnSB parameters let you put in a smooth bend, control the grade through the switchbackAnd control the length of the road over which the grade control appliesSB Length Multiplier  x  (road width + SB Radius)  = SB Length

What If I Want to Split a Road to What If I Want to Split a Road to go in different directions?go in different directions?

Do a Zero Expansion

Then start a new road right atThe edge of the road you wishTo split off from.

What Happens If the Pit Has Huge What Happens If the Pit Has Huge Push Backs at Higher Levels?Push Backs at Higher Levels?

Consider Digitizing Another Base Consider Digitizing Another Base String at a Higher LevelString at a Higher Level

Set the elevation forThe higher stringElevation

Click Add and digitizeAs before.

The Smaller Pit is Engulfed in the The Smaller Pit is Engulfed in the Expansion of the LargerExpansion of the Larger

You Can Also Work With Large You Can Also Work With Large Pushbacks by Editing StringsPushbacks by Editing Strings

I set my steps to 2,Previewed to makeSure I was happy,And then applied.

Now I am going toHit the Edit StringButton.

It Asks Me To Confirm That I Want to It Asks Me To Confirm That I Want to Work at the Toe of the 2558 BenchWork at the Toe of the 2558 Bench

It will pick theLevel for the nextExpansion upAs the default

That’s a goodChoice for me soI will say OK

The Toe Line of the Next Bench The Toe Line of the Next Bench Turns Red and I Have Access to the Turns Red and I Have Access to the MenusMenus

Go to The Polyline MenuGo to The Polyline MenuWhile there are manyTools and options forEditing polylines, oneThat produces aSmooth modificationWithout breaking thePolyline is

Substring

Smooth

(If you break theContinuous polylineAnd don’t put it backTogether the pitExpansion tool will notRecognize it for theNext expansion)

Working the Substring SmoothWorking the Substring Smooth

Substring smooth allows you to stretch out existing parts of the polyline to cover the push back – lets look atHow.

Pick You the Ends of the Line Pick You the Ends of the Line You Will StretchYou Will Stretch

Note that theSubstring smoothDialog is open andThe substringSmooth function isActive

Note it is calling forMe to pick myEndpoints

I pick the endpointsI want to stretchBetween.

I Click on the Polyline Between I Click on the Polyline Between My Two Marked Stretch PointsMy Two Marked Stretch Points

Yellow arrow appear

I can move andStretch these arrowsTo shape the lineI am stretchingIn-between.

I Pull and Stretch With The Arrows to I Pull and Stretch With The Arrows to Stretch My Polyline out to the Stretch My Polyline out to the PushbackPushback

Note that I can seeWhere the line isStretching to by theDotted yellow line.

When I have thingsWhere I want themI right click my mouse.

I Continue My WorkI Continue My WorkNote that it is unlikelyThat I can fully shapeMy toe to the desiredPush back in justOne step.

Eventually I Get My Toe Line Eventually I Get My Toe Line Stretched Out to Follow the Push Stretched Out to Follow the Push BackBack

I click save toSave myMasterpiece

The Completed Modified Toe The Completed Modified Toe Line Turns BlueLine Turns Blue

Another Way to Adjust Strings for Another Way to Adjust Strings for Push-BacksPush-Backs

I’m going to “EditMy Base String” toHandle this pushOut of a bench.

Another thing I didWas to createAnother horizontalGridset with gridsEvery 15 meters toMatch the benches.I then attached thatTo the viewer so myViewing would beEasier.

It Ask Me What I Want to Edit on It Ask Me What I Want to Edit on What LevelWhat Level

They had a prettyGood idea I wouldWant to edit theCurrent level andMove to the toe forThe next benchGoing up becauseThat is the default

Click Ok

The Pit Expansion Menu Shuts Down but The Pit Expansion Menu Shuts Down but the Point and Polyline Menus are Availablethe Point and Polyline Menus are Available

I’m going to usePoint

Move

To move points onThe toe of the nextBench out to whereThey need to be.

I Drag Out the Points to Fit the I Drag Out the Points to Fit the pushed out benchpushed out bench

To finish myEffort I

1- Right Click MyMouse (to tell it I’mThrough movingPoints)

2- I click on theWeird save iconTo save the work

Whenever theProgram staresAt you and won’tLet you do anythingTry right click save

My Base String is Now MovedMy Base String is Now Moved

I set it to expandUp 1 level(because I knowThere is anotherPush out one benchUp)

Human interestNote that the programKeeps track ofMy base stringExpansion historyAnd shows me whereMy other base stringsAre located.

Select My Shifted Base String for Select My Shifted Base String for the Expansionthe Expansion

I clicked copy

Then I clickedAdd

Then I clicked onThe base stringI will use for theExpansion.

Yes it turned aPretty yellow toShow what wasPicked.

I Click Preview, Check it Out, and I Click Preview, Check it Out, and then Click Apply When I Like It.then Click Apply When I Like It.

I Jump Up One Bench Level to I Jump Up One Bench Level to See Where the Extra Push-out is.See Where the Extra Push-out is.

Note I have resetThe viewer 2D toThe next benchLevel up

Note the programNow has 2 baseStrings in theHistory.

I Use the Edit Strings – Point – Move I Use the Edit Strings – Point – Move Trick and Move My Toe Out to The Trick and Move My Toe Out to The BenchBench

I Now Copy My Modified Base I Now Copy My Modified Base String and Expand Up 6 BenchesString and Expand Up 6 Benches

Yup It Looks Like I’m Getting a Good Yup It Looks Like I’m Getting a Good Fit On My Way Up This TimeFit On My Way Up This Time

Now I Have to Push My Base String Now I Have to Push My Base String Out Again to Get a Bench That Pushes Out Again to Get a Bench That Pushes outout

Remember I set my2D viewer plane toThe bench level IWas working on

I picked edit string

Then I used the pointMenu

I used the pointFunction to movePoints on the baseString out to benchTrace from myMSOPIT

I Thought Expanding up 15 Benches I Thought Expanding up 15 Benches Would Get Me Above the SurfaceWould Get Me Above the Surface

It didn’tI could haveAvoided the problemBy doing a queryBefore I started soI would have knownHow high theSurface was justLike I new howMany benches toExpand up betweenPush outs.

I Go to the Top of My Pit and I Go to the Top of My Pit and Pick the Highest Toe to Do One Pick the Highest Toe to Do One More ExpansionMore Expansion

Oh Ya – This is WorkingOh Ya – This is Working

The Problem of Roads Suddenly The Problem of Roads Suddenly Terminating During ExpansionTerminating During Expansion

Rule #1 – A Road Cannot Rule #1 – A Road Cannot Ascend Faster or Slower than the Ascend Faster or Slower than the ground underneath it.ground underneath it.

No actually roads cannot hover in the air

No actually roads cannotJust drive into the side ofA mountain without a tunnel or slot

In this case I tried to hover the road in the In this case I tried to hover the road in the air. I can just restart the road on the other air. I can just restart the road on the other side of the flat areaside of the flat area

I will restart on theNext bench.

Since this is a largeWorking bench areaI will start on the otherSide

This time I will makeIt go counter-clockwise

Click Ok

Rule #2 – If the Ground Turns Rule #2 – If the Ground Turns Faster than the road can – it is Faster than the road can – it is not an option to have the road not an option to have the road hover in the air.hover in the air.

You can see in this case the roadCould not turn on that pointy spikeOf rock.

(In this case I think a pointy nose ofRock is a slope stability hazard – I’mGoing to do some line smoothing).

Another alternative would be to startThe road at a different point.

Another alternative would be to useA narrower road that could turnSharper.