Importing a Dynamic Solids Pit

Operation sequence

Follow these steps to add a dynamic solids pit to your setup:

Select Pit (Dynamic Solids) in the New Model group of the Evolution ribbon.

Evolution will add the Dynamic Solids Pit Import file to the project explorer and open it in a new tab in your workspace.

Note: If you create more files of this type, a consecutive number will be assigned to each of them. You can change the default name by right-clicking on the file and selecting Rename or by pressing F2.
In the Vulcan Block and Triangulation Input panel, click Browse to select a Vulcan block model file (.bmf) based on which you wish to create a dynamic solids pit.
Select the triangulations you want to import. You can do so by clicking either of the following buttons:
- Add Triangulation Files (.00t): Select and upload Vulcan triangulation files (.00t) directly.
- Add From Selection File (.sel): Select the required triangulations by supplying a Vulcan selection file (.sel).
  
  Expand for more information on adding triangulations from .sel files.
  
  The Add Triangulations panel will appear when you click the Add From Selection File (.sel) button.
  
  Click Browse to specify the required file and confirm your selection by clicking OK.
  
  Note: Once you choose a Selection File, Evolution will assume that the Relative Path is the same folder where the .sel file is located, as shown above. If the triangulations (.00t) files are located relative to a different folder, click the Browse button in the Relative Path and select the correct folder. This will change the blue parts of the triangulation paths.
  
  The triangulations will be loaded to the Vulcan Block and Triangulation Input panel.
- Add From Folder. Select the folder containing the triangulations that you want to add.
  
  Tip: Expand the search scope by enabling the Search Subfolders option.
  Note
  After loading triangulations from the specified location, you can remove the ones that are not required in the following ways:
  - Click the Remove button that corresponds to a single triangulation.
  - Click the Remove All button. Evolution will display a pop-up asking you to confirm your selection.
  Tip: Click the arrow in the Directory and File Name column to sort the triangulation files alphabetically. This can help you identify the files to delete, especially when there are two solids with the same name but in different locations. Evolution uses the file name as the solid ID, so importing triangulation files with the same name is not possible.
Optionally, modify your triangulation attributes by selecting the following from the Transform drop-down at the top of the panel:
- Maths Script
  Expand for more information on maths script transforms.
  Use Maths Script to create attributes or to modify the existing ones in a model.
  
  Note: Maths scripts can only be run on the block component of the dynamic solids model during import process. You can create solid-only attributes after importing your dynamic solids pit. See Creating solid attributes using scripts for more information.
  
  The Maths Script panel consists of the following tabs:
  - Summary: Customise the name of the transform and enter any relevant comments.
    
    Note: The name of the script that you enter will replace the default name (Maths Script) in the panel.
  - Script: Write the required script.
    
    Example: If you apply the following equation as a maths script:
    availability = 0.95,
    then every block within the dynamic solids model will have its availability attribute set to 0.95.
  See also: Maths Scripts for Block Models
- Python Maths
  Expand for more information on Python maths transforms.
  Use Python Maths to create attributes or to modify the existing ones in a model.
  
  Note: Python maths scripts can only be run on the block component of the dynamic solids model during import process. You can create solid-only attributes after importing your dynamic solids pit. See Creating solid attributes using scripts for more information.
  
  The Python Maths panel consists of the following tabs:
  - Summary: Customise the name of the transform and enter any relevant comments.
    
    Note: The name of the Python script that you enter will replace the default name (Python Maths) in the panel.
  - Script: Write the required script.
  See also: Python Scripts for Block and Solid Models
- CSV Attributes
  Expand for more information on CSV attribute transforms.
  Use CSV Attributes to add new attributes or update existing ones in the block model.
  
  Note: Attributes for blocks that are missing from the imported CSV file will be assigned based on the default values that you provide in the CSV Attributes panel.
  
  To load a file with attributes, click Browse to select it from the file explorer. Evolution will load a preview in the CSV Attributes panel.
  
  The file that you load should be formatted as follows:
  - Contain one column for each block centroid coordinate (X, Y, Z).
    
    If labels of these columns correspond to each coordinate (for example, XC, YC, and ZC), Evolution will automatically fill in the Coordinates drop-downs. You can also map the columns with coordinates manually, by selecting the required attribute from the X, Y, and Z Attribute drop-down.
  - Contain the attributes that you want to assign the blocks with.
    
    Example:
    As shown below, the low, middle, and high grade attributes are listed for each coordinate.
Tip: Click (Delete the selected transform) to remove the optional transforms ( Maths Script, Python Maths, and CSV Attributes) from the Dynamic Solids Pit Import.
Configure the Block Attribute Aggregation panel as follows:
1. Select the density attribute from the Density drop-down.
2. Click Add Aggregation Type and select the required aggregation groups from the drop-down.
  
  Note: For the Weighted Average aggregation, select the attribute by which you want the aggregation to be weighted. You can add multiple weighted average groups with different attribute weights.
  
  Tip: Click the button to remove the selected aggregation group.
3. Assign the attributes listed in the Available Columns to the required aggregation type. You can do so manually (by dragging each attribute to the aggregation type) or by importing the aggregation information from a Vulcan reserve specification file (.res).
  
  Note: Columns that are not assigned an aggregation behaviour will not be imported.
  
  Tip: In huge block models with many attributes, use the search bar to quickly find the required columns.
Configure the Parcel Definitions panel to define how you want your blocks to be parcelled. You can do so manually or by importing defined parcels from a Vulcan reserve specification file (.res).

Evolution will check the definitions one by one starting from the top of your list and determine which parcel each block belongs to. If you leave the definition of your last parcel blank, all blocks that did not pass any other parcel definitions will automatically be assigned to it.

You can also define custom targets among your parcel definitions. For each custom target that you use in a parcel definition, you must specify the Default Value in the User-Defined Targets table.

Example:

Note: You can later change the default value for each parcel on a period-by-period basis in the User-Defined Targets tab of an Epoch setup that contains the imported dynamic solids model. See User-Defined Targets for more information.
- To add rows to the table, enter the required number and click Add.
- To remove parcels that are no longer needed, click Remove in the rows corresponding to them.
- Click Remove All to remove all parcels from the table.
See also: Parcel Reporting in Epoch
Configure the Solid Attribute Aggregation panel.

You can configure this panel the same way that you set the Block Attribute Aggregation (see Block Attribute Aggregation for details).

Note: Solid aggregation includes an additional behavior called Distinct, which is not available in block aggregation. The Distinct behaviour ensures that when you select multiple solids, Evolution will display a value only if all selected solids share the same value for a given attribute. If the values differ, Evolution will display <various> instead. This functionality is intended for attributes where standard aggregation techniques are not applicable, such as sequence numbers or unique identifiers.

Example:

Note: You can create solid-only attributes after importing your dynamic solids model. See Creating solid attributes using scripts for more information.
Configure the Dynamic Solids Pit panel by setting the following:
- Name. Enter the name of your dynamic solids model.
- Stage. Choose one of the following ways to set the stage attribute:
  - Turn on the Use Default Value toggle button.
    
    This will allow you to create a new stage attribute and set a default stage value for all solids.
  - Turn off the Use Default Value button.
    
    This will allow you to set the stage by choosing one of the following ways:
    - Using an attribute from an existing model.
      
      Select either Solid or Block model and specify the attribute from the drop-down.
      
      Note: When you select Block, only the attributes that have been assigned an aggregation behaviour defined in the Attribute Aggregation panel will be shown.
    - Extracting the stage attribute from triangulation names.
      
      Enter the name for the stage attribute and set the stage attribute value by configuring one of the following:
      - Separator. Enter one or more characters as the Separator and specify the position.
        
        Example: In the example below, _ (an underscore) was entered as the Separator.
        Evolution will select Left when you set the position to 1 and _One when you set the position to 2.
      - Start Position. Choose the starting character and the length by entering the appropriate values.
        
        Example: To set Left as the stage attribute, enter 1 as Start Position and 4 as Length. To set One as the stage attribute, enter 6 as Start Position and 3 as Length.
- Bench. Choose one of the following ways to set the bench attribute:
  - Turn on Use Default Value toggle.
    
    This will allow you to create a new bench attribute and set a default bench value to all solids.
  - Turn off Use Default Value.
    
    This will allow you to set the bench by choosing one of the following ways:
    - Using an attribute from an existing model.
      
      Select either Solid or Block model and specify the attribute from the drop-down.
    - Extracting the bench attribute from triangulation names.
      
      Enter the name for the stage attribute and set the stage attribute value by configuring one of the following:
      - Separator. Enter _ (an underscore) as the Separator and specify the position.
        
        Example: Evolution will select Left when you set the position to 1 and One when you set the position to 2.
      - Start Position. Choose the starting character and the length by entering the appropriate values.
        
        Example: To set Left as the stage attribute, enter 1 as Start Position and 4 as Length. To set One as the stage attribute, enter 6 as Start Position and 3 as Length.
After configuring all the panels for your dynamic solids pit import, click Run. Evolution will process the configuration you have set. When successful, your model will be added to the project explorer.

To change the name of the imported model, right-click on it in the project explorer, select Rename, and enter the new name. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut F2.

Note: If Evolution finds errors in your configuration, it will indicate what needs to be modified in each panel.

You can update your imported model by right-clicking on the imported model in the project explorer and selecting Transform… from the context menu.

This will open a transform containing all of the original parameters used to import the model. You can modify these parameters and then click Run to update the model.

Important: Updating the model will cause any setup-level solid cuts to be reset.

Note: You can also transform your imported model using Maths Script or Python Maths. To do so, right-click on the imported model in the project explorer and select the required transform type from the context-menu.

See Maths Script and Python Maths for more details.

Tip: You can also create a new model based on the previously imported dynamic solids model, which will allow you to modify the previously set configuration. To do so, right-click on the model in the project explorer and select Duplicate… from the context menu. Evolution will create the <Imported model name> Transform file in the project explorer and open it in a new window. Apply the required changes according to the steps described in this topic and click Run to generate your new dynamic solids model.

To apply the imported dynamic solids model into a setup, drag it from the project explorer into the required setup.

Creating solid attributes using scripts

Solid-only attributes allow operational metadata to be stored directly within solid geometries in a dynamic solids pit, independent of the underlying block model. You can use these attributes to capture mine planning and scheduling data that are specific to geometry, such as sequence numbers, equipment assignments, or drilling metrics.

Unlike block model attributes, which are reserved up into solids, solid-only attributes are defined and managed exclusively at the solid level. This enables greater flexibility when modelling operational constraints and dependencies.

You can create additional solid attributes for your imported dynamic solids model using maths scripts or Python scripts, as follows:

Right-click the required dynamic solids pit in the project explorer.
Select either Add Solid Maths Script or Add Solid Python Script from the context menu.

Evolution will add a folder named Maths Scripts under the dynamic solids model and add a file named Solid Maths or Solid Python Script to it, according to your selection.

Click on the required file to enter the script editor.
Enter a script to create or modify solid-only attributes.
Example
You can assign a mining sequence based on the stage attribute in your imported model and use the new attribute to sort solids in scheduling, using either of the solid scripting methods, as follows:
- Maths script
- Python script
Tip: You can create an attribute with a default value (for example, 0) and use it as the sequencing attribute for cutting solids. For more information on solid cuts in Epoch, see Solid Cuts.
Optionally, click the Attribute Aggregation button in the script editor toolbar to edit the aggregation behaviour of the attributes modified by the script.
This will open the Attribute Aggregation panel. Assign the listed attributes as required and click OK. For more information on assigning attributes, see step 5 of the dynamic solids pit import workflow.

Note: If you choose not to edit the aggregation behaviour, it will default to your previous settings if the attribute is an existing one, otherwise it will default to Distinct. For more information on the Distinct aggregation behaviour, see the note in step 7 of the dynamic solids pit import workflow.

Note: The attributes listed in the Attribute Aggregation panel will correspond to those referenced in the maths or Python script that you entered. If your script is invalid, no attributes will be listed.
Click Run Script to apply the attributes in your model. Evolution will display the following pop-ups, depending on the script type that you used:

Maths script

Python script

Note: If your dynamic solids model has been added to any setups, the Script Summary dialogs will also contain a Setups section that will list the setups that include the model. The script will also be applied to setup-level models.

Click Confirm to apply the listed attributes in your model.

Properties of the dynamic solids models

You can check the properties of your imported dynamic solids model by opening it in the viewer. To do so, double-click the model in the project explorer or right-click on the model in the project explorer and select Open from the context menu.

Note: You can apply dynamic colours and dynamic filters to both the solid and block components of your dynamic solids model in the viewer the same way as in other models. See View Manager for more information.

Next, go to the (Interactive Mode) selection, select the required solid in your view, and open the Properties panel.

Tip: Shift+click to select multiple solids.

Tip: Check the properties of the required blocks by changing the selection type to Block and selecting them in the viewer.

The Properties panel displays the information on the total amount calculated for each defined model attribute and the properties of each parcel that you have defined in your imported dynamic solids model.

Note: Solid-only attributes can be modified in the Properties panel. The aggregated block attributes are not editable.

Note: The values are calculated based on the aggregation behaviour that you specified while importing the dynamic solids model. In the example above, cu_grade is a weighted average and rocktype is mode. See step 5 of the procedure for importing a dynamic solids pit.

Tip: Click the button to pin the selected attribute on the top of the Properties tab. To unpin a pinned attribute, click the button. Save the pinned attributes in the Properties tab by clicking Save in the Evolution Home ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+S.

See also: Solid Cuts, Viewer guidelines

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