Create a Constraint

You can define up to six constraints. If you want to add more than six constraints to your model, you can create a constraint file in GEOVIA Surpac to use in GEOVIA MineSched.

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.

Create a Constraint when Scheduling from a Block Model

1. In the Location Properties pane of the Setup Schedule > Locations, Setup Schedule > Locations > Stockpiles, or Setup Schedule > Locations > Surfaces tab, select the Mining tab.
2. In the Constraints box, click Insert.

The Define Constraint form appears.

3. In the Constraint type field, choose the type of constraint you want to add.
4. If the Constraint type is Constraint File:
   1. In the File name field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a Block Model Constraint form appears.

   2. Select the constraint file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the constraint file, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the constraint file, clear the Inside check box.
5. If the Constraint type is Surface:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a Geometry form appears.

   2. Select the geometry file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything above the surface, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the surface, clear the Above check box.
   5. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one object within the DTM file to constrain the data, type the object number in the Object ID field.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one trisolation of an object in the DTM to constrain the data, type the trisolation number in the Trisolation ID field.
6. If the Constraint type is Solid:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a solid file form appears.

   2. Select the solid file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the solid, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the solid, clear the Inside check box.
   5. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one object within the solid file to constrain the data, type the object number in the Object range field.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one trisolation of an object in the solid to constrain the data, type the trisolation number in the Trisolation range field.
7. If the Constraint type is Polygon:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Select Polygon File form appears.

   2. Select the polygon file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the polygon, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the polygon, clear the Inside check box.
   5. In the Extend direction field, select the direction in which the polygon is extended. The extend direction is usually the Z direction.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one string within the string file to constrain the data, type the string number in the String range field.
   7. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one segment of a string in the string file to constrain the data, type the segment number in the Segment range field.
8. If the Constraint type is Block:
   1. From the Choose a Model Attribute list, select an attribute.
   2. From the Operators list, select an operator.
   3. In the Value field, type the value that the attribute 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.
9. If the Constraint type is X Plane, Y Plane, or Z Plane:
   1. If you want the data to include everything above the plane, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the plane, clear the Above check box.
   2. In the Value field type the value of the northing, easting, or elevation that the data is above or below.
10. If the Constraint type is Plane:
    1. In the A field, type the coefficient for X in the scalar plane equation.
    2. In the + B field, type the coefficient for Y in the scalar equation of plane.
    3. In the + C field, type the coefficient for Z in the scalar equation of plane.
    4. In the - D field, type the value for the constant in the scalar equation of plane.
    5. If you want the data to include everything above the plane, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the plane, clear the Above check box.
11. Click OK.

The constraint is added to the constraints list.

Create a Constraint when Scheduling from a Grid Model

1. In the Location Properties pane of the Setup Schedule > Locations, Setup Schedule > Locations > Stockpiles, or Setup Schedule > Locations > Surfaces tab, select the Mining tab.
2. In the Constraints box, click Insert.

The Define Constraint form appears.

3. In the Constraint type field, choose the type of constraint you want to add.
4. If the Constraint type is Grid:
   1. In the File name field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Select Grid Model form appears.

   2. Select the grid file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything above the grid, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the grid, clear the Above check box.
5. If the Constraint type is Surface:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a Geometry form appears.

   2. Select the geometry file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything above the surface, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the surface, clear the Above check box.
   5. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one object within the DTM file to constrain the data, type the object number in the Object ID field.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one trisolation of an object in the DTM to constrain the data, type the trisolation number in the Trisolation ID field.
6. If the Constraint type is Polygon:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Select Polygon File form appears.

   2. Select the polygon file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the polygon, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the polygon, clear the Inside check box.
   5. In the Extend direction field, select the direction in which the polygon is extended. The extend direction is usually the Z direction.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one string within the string file to constrain the data, type the string number in the String range field.
   7. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one segment of a string in the string file to constrain the data, type the segment number in the Segment range field.
7. If the Constraint type is Z Plane:
   1. If you want the data to include everything above the plane, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the plane, clear the Above check box.
   2. In the Value field type the value for the elevation that the data is constrained above or below.
8. Click OK.

The constraint is added to the constraints list.

Create a Constraint when Scheduling from a String Model

1. In the Location Properties pane of the Setup Schedule > Locations, Setup Schedule > Locations > Stockpiles, or Setup Schedule > Locations > Surfaces tab, select the Mining tab.
2. In the Constraints box, click Insert.

The Define Constraint form appears.

3. In the Constraint type field, choose the type of constraint you want to add.
4. If the Constraint type is Block:
   1. From the Choose a Model Attribute list, select an attribute.
   2. From the Operators list, select an operator.
   3. In the Value field, type the value that the attribute 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.
5. If the Constraint type is Surface:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a Geometry form appears.

   2. Select the geometry file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything above the surface, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the surface, clear the Above check box.
   5. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one object within the DTM file to constrain the data, type the object number in the Object ID field.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one trisolation of an object in the DTM to constrain the data, type the trisolation number in the Trisolation ID field.
6. If the Constraint type is Solid:
   1. In the File name field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Choose a Solid form appears.

   2. Select the solid file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the solid, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the solid, clear the Inside check box.
   5. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one object within the solid file to constrain the data, type the object number in the Object range field.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac DTM and you want to use only one trisolation of an object in the solid to constrain the data, type the trisolation number in the Trisolation range field.
7. If the Constraint type is Polygon:
   1. In the Source field, click the Ellipsis button.

   The Select Polygon File form appears.

   2. Select the polygon file.
   3. Click Open.
   4. If you want the data to include everything inside the polygon, select the Inside check box. If you want the data to include everything outside the polygon, clear the Inside check box.
   5. In the Extend direction field, select the direction in which the polygon is extended. The extend direction is usually the Z direction.
   6. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one string within the string file to constrain the data, type the string number in the String range field.
   7. If the source file is a Surpac string file and you want to use only one segment of a string in the string file to constrain the data, type the segment number in the Segment range field.
8. If the Constraint type is X Plane, Y Plane, or Z Plane:
   1. If you want the data to include everything above the plane, select the Above check box. If you want the data to include everything below the plane, clear the Above check box.
   2. In the Value field type the value for the elevation that the data is constrained above or below.
9. Click OK.

The constraint is added to the constraints list.

See also

• Constraints
• Surface Locations Mining Tab
• Underground Locations Mining Tab