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Background

3d-DigPlus' excavation functionality allows the design of complex excavations subject to various design criteria and constraints. The functionality used is sufficiently flexible that it can also be used to design spoil dumps in a process called Fill modelling.

An important distinction in 3d-DigPlus is between the concept of Fill modelling and Dump modelling. 3d-DigPlus is unique in the way it simulates the process of dumping material onto a topography. Dump modelling involves simulating the way particulate material, such as mining waste, flows out onto a topography, at repose angle, when dumped. The dumping processes modelled in this way are simulated progressively in a series of small steps from the commencement of the dump to completion. This is the typical mode for modelling dumped material in 3d-DigPlus and is explained in the following topic.

Fill modelling involves imposing a geometric shape onto the topography which represents a completed dump. Designing a dump in this manner is geometrically very similar to the process of designing a Excavation. Consequently in 3d-DigPlus the same set of functionality used for Excavation modelling is used for this type of Fill modelling. Filling occurs when the design structure is located above the topography. Note that in 3d-DigPlus filling is usually modelled via the dump modelling process. Using the Excavate/Fill modelling to model a fill or dump operation is limited to certain specialised tasks.

The Excavate/Fill functionality is primarily intended for the process of designing Excavations, The following topic focuses on the Excavation application whilst also covering Fill.

There are two modes of operation for Excavation Modelling:

1.Manual (single step) mode

2.Automated mode.

Mode 1 is available in the Generic and Topographic Simulation and Single Step Dragline modules. This is the mode which is covered in the following topic. Mode 2  is covered in the Automated Excavation & Dump Sequencing topics.