Constraints

You use constraints to define the mining locations from your block, grid, or string model.

You define each constraint in the Define Constraint form. For example, you can constrain a model below surface topography, above a pit design, inside a stope design, above or below a geological surface, above or below a specified elevation, or to blocks that are above or below a certain value.

You can define up to six constraints. Multiple constraints are combined using the AND operator. If you want to add more than six constraints to your model, or if you want to combine constraints with the OR operator, you can create a constraints file in GEOVIA Surpac.

Notes:

Constraints files are processed faster during scheduling compared to spatial constraints. It is recommended that you use constraints files, especially when the same constraint is used in a number of locations.
Constraints files contain a static list of the blocks in the block model that meet the constraint parameters at the time that the file is created. If the block model changes and the blocks that meet the constraint parameters could have changed, you should create the constraints file again in Surpac.

Fields on the Define Constraint Form

When Scheduling from a Block Model

Column	Description
Constraint type	The type of constraint applied to the block model. Options are: Surpac Constraint file Surface Solid Polygon Block X Plane Y Plane Z Plane Plane
Constraint file
File name	The name and file path of the constraints file.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the constraints file is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the constraints file is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the constraints file is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the constraints file is excluded from the location.
Surface
Source	The name and file path of the surface file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the surfaces. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the surfaces.
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model below the surface is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model above the surface is excluded from the location.
Object ID	The number of the object in the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all objects in the surface, leave this field blank.
Trisolation ID	The number of the trisolation in the object of the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all trisolations in the object, leave this field blank.
Solid
Source	The name and file path of the solids file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the solids. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the solids.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the solid is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the solid is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the solid is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the solid is excluded from the location.
Object range	The range of objects in the solids file that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all objects in the solids file, leave this field blank.
Trisolation range	The range of trisolations of the objects in the solids file that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all trisolations in the object, leave this field blank.
Polygon
Source	The name and file path of the polygon file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the polygons. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the polygons.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the polygon is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the polygon is excluded from the location.
Extend direction	The direction in which the polygon extents are extended until they intersect the extents of the model.
Object range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the range of strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all strings are used. If the source is a GEMS project, an Ellipsis button appears to the right of the Object range field. The Ellipsis button opens the Workspace Records form, which you use to select the polygons.
Segment range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the segments of the strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all segments are used.
Block
[Choose a Model Attribute]	The attribute in the block model that you want to use to constrain the model.
Operator	The operator you want to use to constrain the model. Options are: less than less than or equal to equal to not equal to greater than or equal to greater than
Value field	The value that the attribute of the block must be less than, less than or equal to, equal to, not equal to, greater than or equal to, or greater than (depending on the operator selected) for the block to be included in the constraint.
X Plane, Y Plane, or Z Plane
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model below the plane is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model above the plane is excluded from the location.
Value field	The northing, easting, or elevation for the plane.
Plane
A	The coefficient of X in the scalar equation of plane.
+ B	The coefficient of Y in the scalar equation of plane.
+ C	The coefficient of Z in the scalar equation of plane.
- D	The constant in the scalar equation of plane.
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model below the plane is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model above the plane is excluded from the location.

When Scheduling from a Grid Model

Column	Description
Constraint type	The type of constraint applied to the grid model. Options are: Grid Surface Polygon Z Plane
Grid
File name	The name and file path of the grid file.
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the grid is included in the location. The portion of the model below the grid is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the grid is included in the location. The portion of the model above the grid is excluded from the location.
Surface
Source	The name and file path of the surface file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the surfaces. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the surfaces.
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model below the surface is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model above the surface is excluded from the location.
Object ID	The number of the object in the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all objects in the surface, leave this field blank.
Trisolation ID	The number of the trisolation in the object of the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all trisolations in the object, leave this field blank.
Polygon
Source	The name and file path of the polygon file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the polygons. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the polygons.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the polygon is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the polygon is excluded from the location.
Extend direction	The direction in which the polygon extents are extended until they intersect the extents of the model.
Object range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the range of strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all strings are used. If the source is a GEMS project, an Ellipsis button appears to the right of the Object range field. The Ellipsis button opens the Workspace Records form, which you use to select the polygons.
Segment range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the segments of the strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all segments are used.
Z Plane
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model below the plane is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model above the plane is excluded from the location.
Value field	The elevation of the plane.

When Scheduling from a String Model or a CSV Model

Column	Description
Constraint type	The type of constraint applied to the string model. Options are: Block Surface Solid Polygon X Plane Y Plane Z Plane
Block
[Choose a Model Attribute]	The attribute in the model that you want to use to constrain the model.
Operator	The operator you want to use to constrain the model. Options are: less than less than or equal to equal to not equal to greater than or equal to greater than
Value field	The value that the attribute of the block must be less than, less than or equal to, equal to, not equal to, greater than or equal to, or greater than (depending on the operator selected) for the block to be included in the constraint.
Surface
Source	The name and file path of the surface file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the surfaces. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the surfaces.
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model below the surface is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the surface is included in the location. The portion of the model above the surface is excluded from the location.
Object ID	The number of the object in the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all objects in the surface, leave this field blank.
Trisolation ID	The number of the trisolation in the object of the surface that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all trisolations in the object, leave this field blank.
Solid
Source	The name and file path of the solids file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the solids. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the solids.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the solid is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the solid is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the solid is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the solid is excluded from the location.
Object range	The range of objects in the solids file that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all objects in the solids file, leave this field blank.
Trisolation range	The range of trisolations of the objects in the solids file that you want to use for the constraint. Note: This field is available only if the source file is a Surpac DTM. To use all trisolations in the object, leave this field blank.
Polygon
Source	The name and file path of the polygon file. If you select a GEMS project, the Workspace Browser form appears, which you use to select the workspace that contains the polygons. After you select the workspace, the Workspace Records form appears, which you use to select the polygons.
Inside	Selected: The portion of the model inside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model outside the polygon is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model outside the polygon is included in the location. The portion of the model inside the polygon is excluded from the location.
Extend direction	The direction in which the polygon extents are extended until they intersect the extents of the model.
Object range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the range of strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all strings are used. If the source is a GEMS project, an Ellipsis button appears to the right of the Object range field. The Ellipsis button opens the Workspace Records form, which you use to select the polygons.
Segment range	If the source is a Surpac string file, the segments of the strings in the file that you want to use for the constraint. If you leave this field blank, all segments are used.
X Plane, Y Plane, or Z Plane
Above	Selected: The portion of the model above the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model below the plane is excluded from the location. Cleared: The portion of the model below the plane is included in the location. The portion of the model above the plane is excluded from the location.
Value field	The northing, easting, or elevation for the plane.

Constraints

Fields on the Define Constraint Form

When Scheduling from a Block Model

When Scheduling from a Grid Model

When Scheduling from a String Model or a CSV Model

See also