IMS 1.0
Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions”
IMS - Model Export
Produced by W.S. Mart and G. Markey
For MineMap Pty Ltd
Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
Copyright © 2013 by William Seldon Mart and Geoff Markey. All rights reserved.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 3
EXPOTING A MODEL .......................................................................................................... 4
The Stratigraphy Page ............................................................................................................... 5
The Region Page .......................................................................................................................... 6
The Restrictions Page ................................................................................................................ 7
The Output Page .......................................................................................................................... 9
APPENDIX A: OUTPUT FILE FORMAT ......................................................................... 11
APPENDIX B: OUTPUT FORMAT EXAMPLES ............................................................ 12
Example 1: Values exported with no range criteria ................................................................ 12
Example 2: Values exported using a minimum value of 0 for each assay ....................... 12
APPENDIX C: MASSAGING MODEL DATA IN MICROSOFT ACCESS .................. 13
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
INTRODUCTION
IMS can export a model to an ASCII file so that it can be imported into other systems. E.g. the ASCII
file can be imported into a spreadsheet or database where various algorithms and selection criteria can
be applied to massage model quality values. The resulting file can then be imported back into the
same model.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
EXPOTING A MODEL
1. Load the required model into the 3D View Pane.
2. Select the <Model><Import/ Export Cells><Export...> menu item (Figure 1) to display the
first page of the model export parameters wizard.
Figure 1: Selecting the import/export option.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
The Stratigraphy Page
Figure 2: Selecting the stratigraphies to export.
1. Enter the name of the output file. IMS automatically appends an extension (ASD) if one is not
specified.
2. Select the stratigraphic units (benches) that must be exported Use the selection buttons to the
right of the stratigraphies list for quick selections of ore, etc. For example, if you want to
select everything but stratigraphy 520 then:
a. Press the <Select None> button to clear the list.
b. Select stratigraphy 520.
c. Press the <Reverse> button to reverse the selection.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
The Region Page
Figure 3: Selecting the region of interest.
1. Enter the starting and ending rows and columns to define the region of interest in the model.
2. If a CAD layer is loaded then you can further restrict the cells to those that are inside a solid
in that CAD layer.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
The Restrictions Page
Figure 4: Selecting the qualities to export.
1. Select the qualities to export.
2. To restrict the range of values for the selected quality:
a. Select the row containing the assay.
b. Press the <Edit> button to display the Assay Range dialog box (Figure 5).
Figure 5: The assay range dialog box.
c. Enter the minimum and maximum value of the range.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
3. Select which cells should be exported with respect to the qualities. This is either:
a. cells which satisfy any of the range criteria, or
b. cells which satisfy all of the range criteria.
4. If cells that satisfy any of the range criteria are exported then values that are outside the range
can be:
a. written unmodified
b. blanked out (not written).
NOTE: The flagged-out value for any cell (i.e. a cell which has been mined out or does not
have a value inserted in the cell) is treated as a completely separate case and is assigned the
value -999.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
The Output Page
Figure 6: Output property page
1. Select how the cell coordinates are written. The coordinates are one of the following:
a. Row, column and stratigraphy numbers. Use this format if you plan to import the file
into IMS later.
b. Easting, northing and elevation of the cell centre. Use this format to import into other
systems.
2. If you want a header in the ASCII file then select the Header check box. The header
describes the columns in the file.
3. Select the Data for the roof of the topmost strat unit check box if you require that
information.
4. Select the Stratigraphy names check box to write the name of the stratigraphic unit along
with the other information.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
5. Select the Remove blanks from each line check box if a smaller file size is more important
than readability. An example of this option follows:
16,
33,
37,
235.000,
16,33,37,235.000,29.317,3.071,25.535,
29.317, 3.071, 25.535,
With blanks
Without blanks
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
APPENDIX A: OUTPUT FILE FORMAT
An IMS model is a stack of horizontal matrices each representing a two-dimensional grid of cells on a
single seam or bench. When this model is exported as cell numbers the cells are written as follows:
z,
y,
x,
elev,
qual1, qual2, qual3,...
z
=
matrix number (strat unit/bench)
y
=
row number
x
=
column number
elev
=
elevation of the floor of this cell
qual1
=
1st quality/assay value
qual2
=
2nd quality/assay value
qual3
=
3rd quality/assay value
where
NOTE:
1. The base point of an IMS model is located at the bottom right corner (southeast corner).
2. The rows and columns are numbered starting with 1 at the base point, rows (Y) count from
bottom to top and columns (X) count from right to left.
3. Stratigraphic unit 0 refers to the structure of the roof of the top strat unit in the model. This
stratigraphic unit has no assay values.
4. Stratigraphic unit 1 corresponds to the top stratigraphic unit in the model.
5. Assays are stored on the floor matrix of each stratigraphic unit. Assays for the first strat unit
are in matrix # 1, assays for the second strat unit are in matrix # 2, etc.
6. The elevation parameter is the same for all cells of the same matrix for an unmined block
model (i.e. a model that has not undergone any volume calculations). When surface
topography or a mine plan is extracted from the model using the mined out model will have
its elevations (structure) changed for cells that have undergone partial mining.
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
APPENDIX B: OUTPUT FORMAT EXAMPLES
Example 1: Values exported with no range criteria
16,
33,
37,
235.000,
29.317,
3.071,
25.535,
16,
33,
38,
235.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
16,
33,
39,
235.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
16,
33,
40,
235.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
-1.000,
17,
31,
20,
230.000,
31.813,
6.259,
24.734,
17,
31,
21,
230.000,
29.700,
2.662,
23.770,
17,
31,
22,
230.000,
-999.000,
3.689,
22.674,
Example 2: Values exported using a minimum value of 0 for each assay
16,
33,
37,
235.000,
29.317,
3.071,
25.535,
17,
31,
20,
230.000,
31.813,
6.259,
24.734,
17,
31,
21,
230.000,
29.700,
2.662,
23.770,
17,
31,
22,
230.000,
-999.000,
3.689,
22.674,
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Intelligent Mining Software “Solutions” IMS - Model Export
APPENDIX C: MASSAGING MODEL DATA IN MICROSOFT ACCESS
1. Export the model data to an ASCII file using <Model><Import/Export Cells><Export...>.
2. Create or open a database in Microsoft Access.
3. Read the ASCII file from step 1 into the database as a comma delimited text file (CSV).
4. In Microsoft Access create the required queries to massage the data.
5. Create a new empty block model in IMS (<File><New><Model...> and <Model><Block Model
Operations><Build Empty Block Model...>).
6. Update the empty model with the selectively dumped output from the database using the
<Model><Import/Export Cells><Import...> menu item to produce a new model.
This process leverages the comprehensive power of a database query language to produce a modified
model.
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