Quarry Design Using GEOPAK Site
In this example, a furnished .tin file represents the existing ground of a material source. The objective is to remove approximately 100,000 cubic meters of rock material within the permitted boundary. Using Geopak SITE (2004 Edition) this can be done very quickly with immediate results. Adjustments can be made instantaneously as noted below.
Below is the existing quarry BEFORE the Site design and AFTER it's completion:
NOTE: To download the .tin file and follow along with this documentation, click here.
| BEFORE | AFTER |
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Create a New SITE Project
Create/Open a 2D design file and invoke Geopak SITE, using the pulldowns:
Applications > Geopak Site > Site Modeler > Site Modeling as shown below:
This brings up the Site Project Wizard, as shown below. Select Create New Project and click Next >.
By default, the Project Wizard creates a .gsf file (Geopak Site File) with the same name as the current design file, click Next > as shown below:
When Next > is pressed, the Project Wizard dialog changes and prompts to Create a New Model. The Active Site Object Control dialog also appears as shown below.
Before creating a new model, check/set the Site Preferences - Tolerances by pressing the Set Project Preferences button. The Site Preferences - Tolerances dialog is shown below, adjust as necessary:
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Create a New SITE Model
Select Create a New Model, and type in a Model Name, as shown below, press Next >:
When Next > is pressed the Project Wizard dialog changes again and presents an option to Open Object Import Wizard, as shown below. This is where the .tin file may be imported. For this example, select that option and press OK:
Import the TIN File
When OK is pressed, the Import Data Wizard dialog appears. There may be optional file types to select from. In this example, only file the .tin is given. Select TIN File, Browse to the location of the .tin file, select it, press OK. Press Next > on the Import Data Wizard dialog as shown below:
Create the BASE Object
When Next > is pressed the Project Wizard dialog changes again. Select the Object Type. In our case we are creating an object that represents the existing ground, so I'll select Existing Ground. Enter the New Object Name. I'll name it Exist Ground 1. Press Next >, as shown below.
When Next > is pressed the Project Wizard dialog changes once again. The dialog asks if you want to use this object as the Base Object and for what Model. In our case I do want to use it as the Base Object and we only have one Model. Press OK, as shown below:
The Active Site Object Control dialog (shown below) is now completed and we are ready to begin our design.
Before we get started, let's take a look at how the visualized triangles and/or contours are controlled.
To display the triangles and/or contours of the Model and/or Object, you must first turn the display on for the Model and/or Object:
- To access the display controls for the Model, select Modeler > Model > Edit > Display Model.
- To access the display controls for the Object, select Modeler > Object > Edit > Display.
Regardless of how these dialogs are set up, nothing will be displayed without toggling ON Display View on the Active Site Object Control dialog. All 3 dialogs are shown below:
I'll turn on the contours for the Model and attach a reference file that illustrates a couple of things:
In the drawing below, the red element surrounding the quarry represents the limits of a permit for excavation. All excavation must be contained within the red boundary. The light blue element represents an area that has been modified (excavated) since the survey was taken:
Before we attempt to remove the 100,000 cubic meters of rock material, we need to adjust the Model to reflect the extra material that was removed (light blue area) after the survey was completed. We will use SITE to modify the Model where the light blue area has been drawn, and create a new .tin file that represents this material being removed. Once that is done, we can get on with the task of removing the 100,000 cubic meters of rock.
The information that we have about the light blue area is that the left edge of the area has not been disturbed since the survey was completed. In other words, the elevation at the left edge of the area is still good. It was excavated mostly flat, but sloped upward from left to right at a +1% slope with near vertical side slopes as shown below:
First thing we need to do is determine what the elevation is at the left edge of the light blue area. We will determine this using the Height/Slope tool. Select Modeler > Analysis > Height from the pulldowns.
I'll select the Model Quarry Surface, toggle the Mode to Elevation and press the Start button. As I move around the left edge of the area I can see that the elevation is roughly 2486.6 as shown below:
We will need to create a couple of construction elements and create a base (plane) for this previously excavated area. Using MicroStation Place Line, I'll draw an element at the left of the light blue area and then copy it to the other side as shown below in yellow:
Create a temporary surface (Object)
Next we will need to create a new (temporary) Object that will use these yellow lines and eventually represent the +1% surface.
Select Modeler > Object > New. Select Existing Ground as the Object Type. For this example, I'll key-in Excavated Surface as the Object Name and press OK as shown below:
Next we need to make these yellow lines SITE elements and give them some intelligence.
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Elements > New/Edit , toggle on Add to Active Object, use Constant Elevation, (5th icon from the left), set the Feature Type to Boundary and enter an elevation of 2486.6. I'll toggle on Use Power Selector and Redefine Site Element.
Select Select Elements, data point the left yellow line and press Apply, as shown below. The element has now been added to the Active Object, Excavated Surface.
To check whether it actually worked, use the Element Information tool from the pulldowns, Modeler > Elements > Information.
On the Site Modeler Element Information dialog, select the Vertices tab, select the Select Element icon (first icon) and data point the element. The X, Y and Z vertices values will appear in the dialog as shown below, NOTE... the elevation is 2486.6:
Click on the Objects tab and you will also see that it has been added to the Object Excavated Surface, as shown below:
The next step is to project a +1% slope towards the yellow line on the right side and add it to the temporary object Excavated Surface.
This time we will use the first icon on the New/Edit Site Elements dialog, the Slope/Offset From Site Element icon, as shown below:
With the dialog set as shown above, click the Select Elements icon and data point the yellow line on the right side.
Next, click the Select Reference button and data point the yellow line on the left side. Click Apply.
To check what you've just done, use the Height/Slope tool again. The illustration below displays the visualized triangles. Notice the +1% slope on the Height/Slope dialog for the Object Excavated Surface:
All we've really done at this point to to create a temporary Object (Excavated Surface) with an elevation of 2486.6 on the left side, with a projected +1% slope to the right. We will use this temporary Object as a surface to "Drape" the light blue elements on to. This will represent the "floor" of the quarry, as it currently exists. Later, we will create the near vertical side slopes.
Create a Site Object Representing the Boundary (or Floor) of the light blue area
We will need to create another Site Object that represents the boundary of the light blue area.
Select Modeler > Object > New. Select Existing Ground as the Object Type. For this example, I'll key-in Excavated area as the Object Name and press OK as shown below:
NOTE: I've chosen to not Add to Active Model........You could do it now, but can also always do that later, it's your call. It is very easy to add (and remove) Objects to the Active Model.
DRAPE the Elements Onto the Temporary surface (Object)
The next step is to Drape the perimeter elements of the light blue area onto the temporary object Excavated Surface.
This time we will use the 4th icon on the New/Edit Site Elements dialog, the Drape on Model/Object icon, as shown below:
Select Select Elements, and data point the elements that make up the perimeter of the light blue area. Press Apply.
When the triangles are turned on (Modeler > Edit > Object > Display) for the Object Excavated area, (shown below) notice how flat they are:
Using the Profile tool (Modeler > Analysis > Profiles) let's examine how the Object looks from a couple of profile views:
In the view below, the white line represents the profile of the Object Excavated area from west to east. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground from the original survey, ( Object = Exist Ground 1).
In the view below, the white line represents the profile of the Object Excavated area from north to south. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground from the original survey, ( Object = Exist Ground 1).
Assign Side Slopes to the Object
The next step is to assign side slopes to the object Excavated area.
Invoke the Edit Object dialog, Modeler > Object > Edit and click on the Slopes tab.
Set the Side Slope option as desired, (I'll use Cut-Fill Slope). We were told that the slopes were near vertical, so I've set my Cut slope to 1V:0.01H, I set my Fill slopes to be rather flat, (1V:6H) as illustrated in the dialog below. When the dialog is complete, press Apply:
At this point nothing in the MicroStation view will change. All you've done is assign side slopes to the Object "Excavated area". To see these reflected, you must add the Object "Excavated area", to the Model.
Add the Object to the Model
Invoke the Edit Model dialog, Modeler, Model > Edit.
Select the Model Name, Base Object Name and click the icon Add Object To List By Name as shown below:
The Object List dialog appears, I'll select the Object Excavated area and press OK as shown below:
Once the Object is in the FIFO (First In - First Out) List, press Process as shown below:
The graphic below illustrates how the Model now looks with the Object Excavated area added to it:
Let's quickly take a look at the same 2 profile views from earlier:
In the view below, the white lines represents the profile and side slopes of the Object Excavated area from west to east. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground from the original survey, ( Object = Exist Ground 1).
In the view below, the white lines represents the profile and side slopes of the Object Excavated area from north to south. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground from the original survey, ( Object = Exist Ground 1).
Now that we have finally removed the excavated area from our Model, let's Export the results to a new .tin file and use that to obtain the 100,000 cubic meters of excavation.
Export the Model (as a new .tin file) with the Added Object
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Project > Export > Model Object.
Toggle on Model and select the Model to export, (our Model is Quarry Surface).
Set the Export Type to TIN File.
Key-in a new .tin File Name and press Apply as shown below:
Import the new .tin file (with the excavated area removed)
To import the new .tin file use pulldowns and select, Modeler > Project > Import > Data. The Import Data dialog will appear as shown below:
Adjust the Import Data dialog as shown below. I'll call the New Object Name "New Ground", press Apply.
Create a new Model that uses "New Ground" as the base Object
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Model > New. The Create New Model dialog appears as shown below:
Key-in a Model Name, and press OK. For this exercise, I'll use Modified Quarry Surface as the Model name.
Set the Base Object for the new Model
Using the pulldowns select Modeler > Model > Edit. Select New Ground as shown below and press Process.
Create a temporary surface (plane) for the Quarry Floor
The next thing that we have been instructed to do (as far as developing this quarry) is to create the new excavated floor at a +1% slope in a southerly direction. This will allow for drainage from the new excavated area onto the previously excavated quarry floor. An illustration is shown below:
As we have done before... we need to create a temporary surface (Object) for the new (future) +1% sloped floor.
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Object > New. I'll select Temporary Grading Surface for the Object Type and key-in Temp Grading 1 as the Object Name as shown below:
We'll place 2 elements (with MicroStation) representing the edges of this temporary surface:
- One will drawn (and eventually be draped) on the existing floor of the quarry.
- One will be drawn towards the south, used to project a +1% slope towards.
The 2 (yellow) elements are shown below:
First we will drape the northern yellow element onto the Object Excavated Surface (this was our first temporary surface).
NOTE: Elements must be WHOLLY CONTAINED within the surface or the drape will fail! In the illustration below, I'll display the Object Excavated Surface, (using white triangles) just to illustrate that the northern yellow element is within the Object surface that it is to be draped onto:
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Elements > New/Edit , toggle on Add to Active Object, use Drape on Model/Object , (4th icon from the left), set the Feature Type to Boundary. I'll toggle on Use Power Selector and Redefine Site Element.
Select Select Elements, data point the north yellow line and press Apply. The element has now been added to the Active Object, Temp Grading 1.
The next step is to project a +1% slope towards the southern yellow line and add it to the temporary object Temp Grading 1.
Select the first icon on the New/Edit Site Elements dialog, the Slope/Offset From Site Element icon, as shown below:
With the dialog set as shown above, click the Select Elements icon and data point the yellow line on the south side.
Next, click the Select Reference button and data point the yellow line on the north side. Click Apply.
To check what you've just done, use the Height/Slope tool again. The illustration below displays the visualized triangles. Notice the +1% slope on the Height/Slope dialog for the Object Temp Grading 1:
To check and make sure that the Object Temp Grading 1 was created correctly, use the Height / Slope tool set as shown below. In the illustration I drew a line perpendicular to the north boundary, then snapped to each end using the Height / Slope tool.
Create an Object that represents the Quarry Floor boundary:
Next thing we need to do is create an Object that represents the boundary of the floor excavation and Drape it onto the temporary surface, (Object) Temp Grading 1.
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Object > New. I'll select Lot for the Object Type and key-in Quarry Floor Boundary as the Object Name as shown below:
DRAPE the Elements onto the Temporary Surface (Object)
NOTE: It is important to draw the perimeter as an element that can later have it's vertices modified. Most likely this perimeter will be modified later in order to adjust the excavation quantities.
I've drawn the (estimated) perimeter of the quarry floor using SmartLine, with Join Elements toggled on as shown below in the first graphic. You can also use The Place Shape tool to draw the perimeter, as shown in the second graphic below:
Drape the elements representing the boundary of the floor excavation onto the temporary object Temp Grading 1.
NOTE: Remember...Elements must be WHOLLY CONTAINED within the surface or the drape will fail!
This time we will use the 4th icon on the New/Edit Site Elements dialog, the Drape on Model/Object icon, as shown below:
NOTE: Enable the "Use Reference Element Association" toggle when draping the quarry extent element. When this toggle is enabled and you modify the element later, it will get updated.
Select Select Elements, and data point the elements that make up the perimeter of the boundary of the floor excavation. Press Apply.
When the triangles are turned on (Modeler > Edit > Object > Display) for the Object Quarry Floor Boundary, (shown below) notice how flat they are:
Assign the Side Slopes to the Object Quarry Floor Boundary
OK... now that we have the new floor of the quarry designed, now it's time to apply the side slopes and see what our volume of excavation looks like.
Using the pulldown, select Modeler > Object > Edit, configure the dialog and press Apply.
Once again, at this point nothing in the MicroStation view will change. All you've done is assign side slopes to the Object "Quarry Floor Boundary". To see these reflected, you must add the Object "Quarry Floor Boundary", to the Model.
Add the Object to the Model
Invoke the Edit Model dialog, Modeler, Model > Edit.
Select the Model Name, Base Object Name and click the icon Add Object To List By Name as shown below:
The Object List dialog appears, I'll select the Object Quarry Floor Boundary and press OK as shown below:
Once the Object is in the FIFO (First In - First Out) List, press Process as shown below:
The illustration below reflects the +1% slope of the quarry floor, and the near vertical side slopes:
Using the Profile tool (Modeler > Analysis > Profiles) let's examine how the Object looks from a couple of profile views:
In the view below, the white lines represents the profile and side slopes of the Object Modified Quarry Surface from west to east. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground. ( Object = New Ground).
In the view below, the white lines represents the profile and side slopes of the Object Modified Quarry Surface from north to south. The dashed line (in profile view) represents existing ground. ( Object = New Ground).
Calculate the Volumes
The final step is to see how the volume turned out. Do we have the 100,000 cubic meters of material?
To check this use the Volume Calculations tool.
Using the pulldowns select Modeler > Analysis > Volumes.
The Volume Calculations dialog appears as shown below:
I'll adjust the dialog (as shown below) to produce volumes between the Object New Ground and the Object Quarry Floor Boundary. After the adjustments to the dialog are made, press Process.
As you can see, we have almost twice as much material (194,661 CM) than we need. Since we made the perimeter of the quarry floor a complex chain/string, we can now simply modify the edges to change the volume quantities.
Adjust the Object to Produce Different Volumes
If the Object has been created as a shape or complex chain/string, it can be easily modified with standard MicroStation Modify tools as shown below:
The entire Object can even be moved to a completely new location, providing it is still within the limits of the surface being draped onto.
In the illustration below I used Modify Element and Delete Vertex to manipulate the boundary . Notice how I have pulled the southeast corner in, away from the red permit boundary. When Process was pressed, notice how the Cut Volume is now calculated as 100,056 CM.
You could have also re-applied other Side Slopes to the Object and achieved instantaneous results in the graphical representation of the contours and volume calculations as shown below:
Just for kicks I'll set the Side Slopes to 1V:1H and reprocess the earthwork.
Using the pulldowns, select Modeler > Object > Edit and adjust the dialog as shown below. Press Apply.
The beauty of this procedure is that once everything is drawn in and created, anything can be modified very easily and achieve new contours and new volumes, instantly.