Linear clearance analysis

You can use this function to determine the distance between solids or surfaces, and other solids or surfaces. You can also use this function to determine the distance between solids or surfaces and drillholes or segments. You can use clearance analysis to assess safety when you are designing underground workings, for example, the distance between converging drives.

To run this function: Choose Surfaces > Mesh tools > Linear clearance analysis, or Solids > Mesh tools > Linear clearance analysis, or...

In the Function Chooser, type MESH CLEARANCE ANALYSIS, and press ENTER.

To remove the intersections displayed in Graphics, choose Solids > Mesh tools > Hide clearance analysis results, or Surfaces > Mesh tools > Hide clearance analysis results.

Note: The function name for Hide clearance analysis results is MESH HIDE CLEARANCE DATA.

Fields on the Clearance Analysis form

Field	Description
Layer	The layers that are open in Graphics. Each layer appears as a row in the table.
Use objects?	Selected: The clearances to the solids or surfaces in the layer are calculated. Cleared: The solids or surfaces in the layer are ignored during clearance analysis.
Object range	The objects in the layer for which you want to calculate clearance. If you leave this field blank, all objects are included.
Trisolation range	The trisolations of the objects in the layer for which you want to calculate clearance. If you leave this field blank, all trisolations are included.
Use strings?	Selected: The clearance between, or intersection of, the solids or surfaces and strings is calculated. Cleared: The strings in the layer are not used in clearance analysis.
String range	The strings that you want to use to calculate clearance. If you leave this field blank, all strings are used.
Include drillholes?	Selected: The clearance between, or intersection of, the solids or surfaces and drillholes is calculated. Cleared: The drillholes are not used in clearance analysis.
Settings
Maximum clearance to show	The largest distance between the solids or surfaces and each other, or drillholes, or segments, for which the clearance is displayed. If the two data objects are further apart than the maximum distance, the clearance is not displayed.
Clearance colour	The colour to display information about geometry that does not intersect.
Intersection colour	The colour to display information about geometry that does intersect.
Line pattern	The line pattern for temporary data lines in Graphics.
Marker style	The marker style for clearance information in Graphics.
Save report to a file (optional)
Report file name	The name and location of the report file.
Format	The format of the report file.

Output

If the solids or surfaces intersect with each other, or the drillholes, or segments, the intersection is displayed in Graphics.

If the solids or surfaces do not intersect with each other, or the drillholes, or segments, the line of closest approach (with a marker at the coordinate location of the two closest points) and the minimum distance in Graphics is displayed.

If you selected to create a report, it is created and lists each object, and the geometry that comes within the clearance distance that you specified on the Clearance Analysis form.

Troubleshooting

If you select a DTM as one of the objects being assessed, you might see a warning that the object is not closed. The warning does not interrupt the analysis porcess, and a report is still generated.