Vulcan 9.1 - Top features
Vulcan 9.1 delivers widespread improvements and new features designed to save processing time and improve your Vulcan workflow.
We asked Vulcan Technical Services staff to nominate their top features in Vulcan 9.1.
Susanna McKay
Vulcan Technical Services Consultant
- As a geologist I really appreciate the new Update HARP Model Qualities option (Integrated Stratigraphic Modelling > Update HARP Model Qualities). Prior to Vulcan 9.1, adding new quality data or editing required running the entire model from scratch, including all of the structural data. Update HARP Model Qualities allows you to quickly and easily add new data to your existing HARP model, saving time. As a bonus, you can also apply quality grid or default values to interburden horizons.
- Another favourite for geologists is the new dynamic editor for Downhole Geophysics data (Downhole Geophysics > Interactive Editor). The Interactive Editor can read directly from a LAS file which is a great time saver. If you want to import LAS data into an ISIS database, it can also read the information from a drillhole database. The chosen geophysical traces and associated drillhole are loaded into a floating panel and adjustments made to the lithology picks in the Interactive Editor will dynamically update in the ISIS drilling database. Just don't forget to hit the 'Save' button in the panel before exiting.
- My third favourite feature is the new Triangulation Rename menu (Model > Triangle Utility > Rename) which allows you to rename triangulations in bulk by building a custom naming convention. Functions such as Shells and Multi-Boolean that output multiple triangulations have limited naming options. The Rename enhancement gives you full control over naming triangulations, removing the painful process of manually renaming each one.
Triangulation names can be formed from a range of sources including user-defined text, design object attributes, triangulation coordinates, sequence number and many other options. As each new element is added to your triangulation name you can dynamically see the name being built. You also have the ability to rearrange the order of the elements.
Jono Haines
Vulcan Technical Services Consultant
- & 2. The Gantt Scheduler and Level Designer options complement each other perfectly, dramatically enhancing the strategic decision making for engineers. The sequence of stope design and optimisation, level design, ramp design and finally gantt scheduling is very well defined. Efficient workflow and powerful tools in Vulcan 9.1 allow strategic scenarios to be created and assessed in hours.
- Triangulation attribute visibility and editing in the properties window (Model > Triangle Utility > Properties) is another great enhancement in Vulcan 9.1, providing even easier interactivity with your data. Allowing users to harness the power of attributes in Vulcan continues to gain momentum ... watch this space!
James MacKenzie
Vulcan Technical Services Consultant
- Multi-Boolean solid validation (Model > Triangle Utility > Multi-Boolean) automatically applies various triangulation tools to ensure that only valid solids are generated during the multi-Boolean process. This ensures that data imported into multi-Boolean achieves a valid result and removes the need for manual fixes.
Keep in mind that just because the option is robust and automates manual processes, the data still needs to be good quality. The golden rule of ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’ applies here!
- Repair invalid solids (Model > Triangle Solid > Repair by Voxelation) allows you to create a valid solid from a triangulation that cannot be repaired. The option flags the block model by the invalid solid and creates a grade shell. This essentially wraps the invalid solid in a grid and regenerates it.
You can choose the block size of the block model to be flagged which determines the resolution of the fixed solid. Smaller blocks will result in more triangles and detail in the solid, but it takes longer to process. Be sure to check out the handy option to merge flat triangles to reduce the amount of facets without sacrificing the detail or volume of the repaired solid.
- Using the Shrink Wrap (Model > Triangle Utility > Shrink Wrap) tool you can input any number of triangle surfaces, triangle solids and grids, and output a choice of upper most surface (maximum or top surface), lower most surface (minimum or bottom surface) and/or a solid of all of the surfaces combined. You can even output all three options at once.
Shrink Wrap essentially 'drapes' a grid over any combination of surfaces, solids and grids to create a surface or solid triangulation. Similarly to the Repair by Voxelation tool, you can select the grid cell size for the draped grid that forms the new surface. Keep in mind that smaller cell size means more points and detail, but takes longer to process.
