alpha character
See character.
alphanumeric
From the set of characters consisting of the alphabet and the numerals 0-9. Most other typewriter characters are usually excluded and are reserved for programming, as control characters or as prompts. Also called alphameric.
amendment
A revised page of the Users Reference or Installation Manual.
angle
A measure of the difference in direction between two lines.
append
To add data to the end of a data file.
area
One of several convenient parts into which you divide a mine or project. The area in square units of a polygon.
ASCII
A standard way of coding characters (alpha, numeric and punctuation) into numbers so they can be handled and transmitted by computers. For example, A is 65, B is 66. It is an acronym for the group which made the code: American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
audit trail
A history of changes made to a file, recorded in the file so you can follow the trail of changes backwards or forwards.
axis
The second record in a string file. A line which is used to define a set of perpendicular sections.
azimuth
In surveying: the horizontal direction of a line measured clockwise from a reference plane, usually the meridian. Contrasts with bearing.
backsight
In a traverse, a sight made with the instrument on the station just left. Also called back sighting.
backsight station
A point used as a reference direction from the setup station.
balance line
The line which divides some segments of a string so that the area alone the balance line (cut) is equal to the area below the balance line (fill).
balance test value
The tolerance for error between cut and fill areas when regrading a section in the reshaping function.
base line
In surveying: a surveyed line established with more than usual care, to which surveys are referred for coordination and correlation.
baud rate
A measure of how fast data are sent between computer and a device. It is approximately equal to the number of bits per second. In this context the term usually refers to data sent between computer and plotter or digitiser and the two must be configured at the same baud rate to communicate properly.
bearing
The clockwise horizontal angle between any survey line and a given reference direction. In the Core Management System (CMS) the reference direction is grid north.
bench
In an open cut pit, a step comprising a level stretch (the bench floor) and a sloping wall going down to the next lower bench.
bench floor
The level stretch of a bench
binary
A standard for coding characters (alpha, numeric and punctuation) in 0s and 1s that are readable only by computers. The simplest code used by a computer, where information is arranged into permutations of just two numbers, 0 and 1.
bit
The smallest unit of memory. It is a switch with just two positions -- off and on. The positions are also referred to as 0 and 1, or low and high.
blasthole
A hole drilled for receiving a charge of explosive.
blasthole collar
The place where a blasthole enters the ground.
blasthole location
The XYZ coordinates of a blasthole's collar.
booking error
An error made entering measurements or calculations into a surveying fieldbook
booking technique
The techniques you use for recording measurements or calculations into a surveying fieldbook
boundary
An all-encompassing line
boundary file
A file containing data about a boundary string
breakline
A string which outlines the junction between two features
byte
A convenient measure of information containing 8 bits. It is convenient because each character is represented by 8 bits.
case
Refers to small or capital letters: Lower case letters--'like these' Upper case letters--'LIKE THESE'
case sensitive field
A field where upper or lower characters make a difference. For example, in a case sensitive field these four values are different: level246 Level246 leveL246 LEVEL246
character
Any one of the keyboard characters which can be displayed by pressing its key. There are three types of characters -- alpha, numeric and punctuation:
character keys
Those keys which produce characters on the screen when pressed, as distinct from command keys, which don't. See character for a list of the character keys.
child directory
A subdirectory of another directory (the parent directory) in the directory tree.
closed string
A string in which the two end points have the same x, y, z values.
collar
The entry end of a drillhole.
collar position
See drillhole position
collimation system
In levelling along a series of instrument setups, the transfer of line of collimation from backsight to foresight by the change in reading on a graduated staff.
command key
Any key you use to give a specific command to the computer. Some commands require a command key to be pressed by itself others require the command key to be pressed at the same time as other command or character keys.Compare function keys, character keys.
contour
The imaginary intersection line between the ground surface and any given level surface a line connecting points on the ground surface which are at the same height above datum.
contour interval
The vertical distance between adjacent contours in any particular case.
contour level
The Z value or elevation of a contour.
contour segment
The line between two adjacent points on a contour
control point
An object or mark on the ground whose YXZ coordinates are known accurately. The coordinates are usually determined by ground surveying along a traverse. Control points are used to form a framework by which map details can be fixed in their correct position, azimuth, elevation, and scale with respect to the earth's surface.
control station
Same as control point.
coordinates
A set of measurements which specify the position or orientation of a point. The number of coordinates in the set depend on whether the point is: on a 1-dimensional line: one coordinate on a 2-dimensional plane: two coordinates in 3-dimensional space: three coordinates
crest
In an open cut pit, the inner open edge of the bench floor
crest string
A string representing a crest
crosshairs
A set of wires or etched lines held in the focal plane of a telescope. They are used as index marks when aiming the telescope.
Ctrl key
Short for Control. Does nothing when pressed alone. Used to perform particular commands by holding it down and pressing one or more other keys at the same time.
current file
The file whose contents are now in memory
cut and fill balance
When the cut volume is equal to the fill volume.
cut volume
The volume of material above a defined surface.
data
Information, without instructions for the computer. The computer memory stores data temporarily while the computer is on. The data are stored temporarily in computer memory while the computer is on, and in a more permanent form on hard disk and diskettes.
data file
A file containing bare information, without instructions for the computer. It is one of three types of files which is used, the other two are operating files and application files. The three types form a hierarchy, with data files the highest and operating files the lowest. The data, consisting of numbers and words, is that which you have either typed into CMS or which CMS has created by processing other data.
design parameters
The controlling parameters to define how to design something.
device
A piece of hardware used for putting data into the computer (input) or taking it out (output). The devices in the CMS system are:
digitise
To convert analog information, such as lines on a drawing, into the numbers of digital form.
directory
A named group of files separated from other groups of files on a disk, much as paper documents are grouped in named folders
disk files
Files stored on the hard disk
disk operating system
Same as operating system.
display
To show text or graphics on the screen.
drillhole collar
The top of a drillhole
DTM
Digital Terrain Model. A method of representing a surface using numerical methods.
dump
An area where waste material is placed.
easting
Measured distance eastward from a reference north-south line. The X ground coordinate.
edit
To inspect or alter data.
EDM
Short for electromagnetic distance measurement. Measurement of slope distance by reflecting electromagnetic signals from a prism (held by a staffman) back to a sending/receiving electronic theodolite. Since measuring the elapsed time between sending and return of a signal is impractical, the theodolite sends two signals of different frequencies and calculates the slope distance from their phase difference after reflection.
electronic total station
Same as total station
elevation
The height above an agreed datum.
end point
Last point of a string
Enter
To insert data.
error message
A displayed message telling the type of error which has occurred and sometimes the error's location.
extract contours
The process of creating contour lines from a DTM.
face left sighting
A theodolite measurement made with the telescope face left. Similar for face right sighting face left, face right The pointing of a theodolite telescope when the vertical circle is respectively left and right of the telescope, when seen from the eyepiece end.
feature
A natural or artificial formation on the earth's surface, such as a road, tree, house and the like.
field
Data forming a predetermined part of a record. A field is rather like a box. Just as a box might have a name and something in it, so a field has a field name and a field value .
field name
What a field is called. Some examples are: Point Number, Location Name, ID Number, String Number, Trap Distance.
field value
The information held in a field. For example: If the field name is Date of birth The field value might be 17 March 1988
file
General term for a named set of data items stored in machine-readable form.
file extension
Sometimes called file type. The part of a file specifier to the right of the dot. It may be up to three characters long.
file handling
The way files are named and gathered together in directories
file header
Information common to all records in a particular data file. If a data file has a file header, the header is the first line of the file.
file name
The part of a file specifier to the left of the dot.
fill volume
The volume of material below a defined surface.
foresight
A point being sighted in the direction of a survey's travel.
formatted report
A file in which the standard data arranged in a standard way, usually in rows and standard width columns
function key
A set of 10 or 12 keys labelled F1 to F10 or to F12, depending on the keyboard model. When pressed, they do whatever the current software has for them.
graphics screen
A screen which displays lines as well as characters
ground coordinates
The XYZ coordinates of a point's position in space. They are usually measured in metres or feet whatever the unit, it must be used consistently within the one job.The X and Y axes are usually in the plane of the earth's horizon, with +X and +Y pointing east and north respectively. Z is usually the height above sea level. Thus the origin is any convenient point at sea level.
height of instrument axis
The height of a theodolite's telescope above a setup station
height of prism
The height of a prism above a target station
horizontal
Parallel to the earth's horizon.
horizontal axis
The horizontal axis about which the telescope of a theodolite or tachometer may be moved on its trunnion bearing. Also called trunnion axis.
horizontal circle
The graduated circular plate used for measuring horizontal angles by theodolite.
information
The software asks for information (or data) which you supply by typing at the keyboard. For convenience the information is broken into small packages, called fields.
input
Information entering a device. Data about to be processed. To enter information to read in data.
instrument
A general term for a level, theodolite, transit theodolite, or total station.
intersection
Positional fix of a point which is not going to be occupied, by sighting it from two or more known stations.
job name
Whatever you choose to call a job, thus identifying that job to CMS.
joined string file
A string file in which separated segments have been joined
key
A key on the keyboard.
keyboard
A computer-input device with an array of keys to be pressed. Pressing the keys sends information to the computer.
level
A telescopic instrument used in combination with a staff to measure the difference in level between two points. The telescope can rotate horizontally but not vertically.
levelling staff
Light, extensible system of graduated wooden rods used to transfer line of collimation of surveyor's level from backsight, on which it is first held vertically, to foresight, its second vertical station. As the line of collimation is horizontal, change of height is thus measured.
literal geology
A method of describing the geology of a measured unit by using a defined code which represents the unit of interest.
location
The first part of a string file name.
lower case
See case.
menu
A list of items. A passive thing which waits for you to do something generally by choosing a menu item with the mouse.
mouse
A control for moving a pointer around the computer screen
nadir
That pole of the horizon vertically below the observer hence the point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith.
natural scale
A term applied to a section drawn with equal vertical and horizontal scales.
normal
The normal to a line or surface is a line drawn perpendicular to it.
northing
Measured distance northward from a reference east-west line. The Y ground coordinate.
note file
A file which contains textual data for printing or plotting.
object
See triobject.
operating system
The programs which control the computer resources.
optional field
A field you can fill in or not, depending on whether or not you have information to go there. If you want to skip such an optional field, press either Return or the down arrow. The cursor moves down to the next field below.
plot
To make a paper copy on a plotter.
plotter
A computer-controlled output device for drawing on paper, usually with a selection of pens.
point
A coordinate in three dimensional space which may be stored and processed.
point name
A short name given to a point so that it can be identified uniquely.
prism
The common name for the electronic equivalent of a staff, used with EDM.
program
Another word for application or file, but not used by SSI.
punctuation character
See character.
pushback
A logical subsection or division of the ultimate or final pit which contains enough ore to sustain production over a definable time period.
recall
To copy the contents of a file into the computer memory for processing.
reduced level
Also called elevation or RL.
redundant
Duplicated elsewhere, and therefore not required.
reference mark
A distant point from which angular distances to other marks may be taken at a station.
resection
Positional fix of a point which is occupied, by sighting to three or more known stations which are not going to be occupied.
residual error
The difference between a measurement and its most probable value.
RL
Used in some countries to mean elevation. Stands for reduced level.
save
To make a copy of part of the computer's memory, and store it as a named file on the disk.
scale
The ratio of any ground length to its corresponding drawing length. For example, if an 800 m ground length is drawn as 2 m, the scale of 400 (800/2 = 400). Similarly, if an 80 m ground length is drawn as 50 mm, the scale of 1600 (80/.05 = 1600).
screen
The glass face on which text and graphics are displayed. Also the monitor itself.
section
A line created by taking a vertical slice through a DTM.
section spacing
The spacing between successive sections.
segment
A subpart of a string. A segment may consist of many points connected in a sequence.
setup
Location of theodolite above a station point.
slope angle
The angle of a pit or dump to be used during the design of the pit or dump.
slope distance
The distance between two points, not adjusted to the horizontal equivalent
slope string
An area inside which the one slope angle applies.
slope string file
A string file which has one or more slope strings.
slope zone
The area inside a slope string.
southing
Measured distance southward from a reference east-west line.
spot level
The reduced level of a point, usually on the ground surface, not necessarily lying along a traverse or survey line.
spotheight string
A string whose sequence of points has no physical significance. That is, the string doesn't outline a shape.
stadia lines
The two additional horizontal lines, one on each side of the central line, fitted to the diaphragm of a telescope being used in tacheometry. Also called stadia hairs.
stadia staff
A special form of levelling staff bearing bold graduations suitable for the long sights usual in stadia tacheometry.
staff
An extendable system of graduated rods used to transfer line of collimation of a surveyor's level from backsight (its first point) to foresight (its second point). In use, a staffman holds the staff vertically at the point while a surveyor aims the level's telescope at the staff and reads the graduations.
station
A point, being either a control station, a setup station a backsight station, or a foresight station
station identifier
A station's name
string
A set of points on one or more segments which is used to represent some aspect of the real world.
string file
A file which contains one or more strings.
string number
The number used to identify a string. May be between 1 and 32000.
surveying
Measurement of the relative positions of points on the surface of the earth or in space, to enable natural and artificial features to be depicted in their true horizontal and vertical relationship by drawing them to scale on paper.
SWA
Surpac Work Area. An acronym for the area of memory where the program stores its data.
symbolic geology
A method of describing the geology of a measured unit by using a defined hatch pattern which represents the unit of interest.
tacheometry
Angular surveying in which both horizontal and vertical positions of points are determined by sighting a staff through a theodolite.
target
A point (or a staff at that point) towards which an instrument is being sighted
target rod
A levelling staff with a sliding target. In use, the surveyor sights on the staff and directs the staffman to slide the target up or down. The staffman then records the target's position along the graduated staff.
theodolite
Instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles by means of a telescope mounted on an axis made vertical by levelling screws, and rotated both horizontally on this axis and in horizontal bearings. Circular graduated plates are used to measure the amount of rotary motion when the telescope is sighted on successive points.
total station
A combination of theodolite, electromagnetic distance measurement (EDM) and data recorder. In use, the surveyor aims the telescope at a prism held by a staffman, and presses a button. The total station electronically measures and records: the distance from total station to prism the bearing of prism from total station, and the vertical angle of prism from total station.
transformation
The process of transforming from one set of coordinates to another by translation, rotation, or scale change. Although such a transformation may be made mathematically, graphically, or photographically, in this manual the term refers only to mathematical transformation.
translation
Movement in a straight line without rotation.
triangle
The basic component of a DTM or Triobject. A simple polygon of only 3 points.
trigonometric station
A survey station used in triangulation.
trigonometric survey
A survey based on a triangulation.
triobject
Another more generic name for a DTM. A triobject may have only one or more trisolations. Triobjects are identified by a number as are strings. A DTM is created with triobject number 1.
trisolation
An isolated subpart of a triobject which consists of one or more triangles. In a DTM there is generally only one trisolation. Trisolations are to triobjects as segments are to strings. A DTM is created with triobject 1 trisolation 1.
true error
The difference between an observation of a parameter and its true value. Since the true value is rarely known, the term is usually only of theoretical interest. The term residual error is of more use.
version
A revised issue of software, with improvements on an earlier issue.
vertical
Normal to the earth's horizon.
vertical circle
The graduated circular plate used for the measurement of vertical angles by theodolite.
westing
Measured distance westward from a reference north-south line.
zenith
The point on the celestial sphere vertically above the observer's head one of the two poles of the horizon, the other being the nadir.