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Construct Inner Surface

Process of Constructing an Inner Surface

This dialog box constructs an inner surface by identifying the profile of the inner surface against a vertical cross section. An example would be the final pit wall profile, or a ramp profile. The profile of the inner surface forms a "feature" or "polyline" i.e. a number of connected straight line segments.

To start constructing an inner surface you need to draw a feature (polyline) that corresponds to the intersection of the surface with the specified vertical plane of the cross section.

Here are the steps to construct an inner surface:

•Click the "Draw Feature" button.

•Move the mouse cursor in the section window to the start of your feature.

•Click the left mouse button to anchor the feature start.

•Continue similarly to draw each feature segment.

•Click the right mouse button to finish and return to the dialog box.

Then click the "Create Surface" button to create the inner surface. The drawn feature will be projected out of the plane of the cross-section, for the full extent of the terrain or for a specified horizontal distance in each direction. Projection of the feature will be at a specified angle to the horizontal. This process is illustrated in the diagram below:

Note that the direction of projection is to the left and right of the section drawn on the terrain surface. An arrow on the section shown on the terrain surface indicates the direction of the section. The direction into the plane of the cross-section corresponds to "left" when looking along the arrow on the terrain surface.

Dialog Box Elements

Inner Surface Name

Name of the new inner surface

Feature Options Group.

Feature Color

Click this button to set the color to draw the feature (inner surface profile) on the cross section

Delete Feature check box.

Check this box to delete the feature (drawn inner surface profile) after the surface is created.

Surface Inclination Group.

Angle

Specify an angle of the feature projection (slope of surface perpendicular to section). Positive angles correspond to surface slopes below the horizontal when looking into the section. The direction into the plane of the cross-section corresponds to "left" when looking along the section arrow on the terrain surface.

Surface Extent Group.

The drawn feature may be projected either for the full extent of the terrain or for a specified horizontal distance.

Full Extent of Terrain

Select this option to make the new surface extend for the full terrain perpendicular to the cross section.

Specified Horiz. Distance

Select this option to project the drawn feature for a specified horizontal distance perpendicular to the cross section.

Into Section

Specify horizontal distance of surface extent perpendicular to plane of cross section, into the plane. The direction into the plane of the cross-section corresponds to "left" when looking along the section arrow on the terrain surface.

Out of Section

Specify horizontal distance of surface extent perpendicular to plane of cross section, out of the plane. The direction out of the plane of the cross-section corresponds to "right" when looking along the section arrow on the terrain surface.

Grid Group.

Create Grid for Surface check box.

Check this box to create a regularly spaced grid (as well as triangulation) for the new surface.

Grid Step

Specify the interval at which to calculate surface points in the grid.

Draw Feature button.

Press this button to draw the profile of the new surface on the cross section

Create Surface button.

Press this button to create surface according to the specified profile on cross-section. The drawn profile will be projected in and out of the plane of the cross-section. Projection of the profile will be at a specified angle to the horizontal.

Close button.

Press this button to close dialog box.

Help button

Press this button to show context-sensitive help for this dialog box.