Ring design concepts

Terminology

• Centreline – A single string segment used in the function Centreline slice to create slices from solid models.
• Real World Coordinates – The information in a string file is stored with the coordinates representing a plan view of the data. That is, the coordinates represent the mine grid northing, easting, and elevation. Slices of solid objects that you want to use for ring design must be saved in real world coordinates.
• Section Coordinates – The information in the string file is not stored in real world coordinates, it is stored as sectional coordinates. That is, the view at right angles to the data. Data created using the ring design function Save for plot are saved in section coordinates.
• Underground Drive – A tunnel, or opening in the rock, where the drill rig will be positioned.
• Stope – A 3-dimensional area (usually ore) which is to be mined out by blasting a series of long holes or ring design holes.

Prerequisites

In the most common cases, you will need three things to perform ring design:

• 3D solid models of surveyed underground drives
• 3D solid models of designed stopes
• A string segment to be used as a centreline for slicing solid objects

For stopeless designs, such as for roof stability holes and sample holes, you need only a 3D model of the drives and the centreline string. If you have a Surpac block model, you can also slice it at the same time you slice the 3D solid models of drives and stopes. You can also append DTMs representing other features, such as fault surfaces to the drives and stope designs before slicing. After slicing, and before enabling ring design, you can append any other string files (in real world coordinates) to the string files created from slicing.