Analyzing Movement of Slope Materials

RockWorks | Utilities | Grid |
Directional Analysis | Movement Analysis

This program is used to determine the direction, inclination, distance, and velocity for X, Y, Z and time data.

A typical application involves a slope in which survey stakes have been repeatedly surveyed over time. This program will generate velocity data that allows the user to contour slope movement.    The program assumes that the X, Y, and Z coordinates are in the same units (e.g. all represent feet, or all meters). 

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Input Columns:
  • X1: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the X locations for the starting date in the analysis.
  • Y1: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the Y locations for the starting date in the analysis.
  • Z1: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the Z elevations for the starting date in the analysis. This entry will be ignored if the Include Elevations option (to the right) is not activated.
  • Date-1: Select the column listing the starting date for the analysis. The dates and times must be entered in a manner that matches the date format established in your Windows Regional and Language Options.  For typical US systems, the dates and times must be entered in a MM/DD/YYYY and/or HH:MM:SS format. Specifying AM or PM, or seconds, as part of the time is optional. When 24-hour time is used, the AM or PM suffix may be omitted. For non-US date formats, the dates would be entered using a DD/MM/YYYY format.
    The Date1 entry will be ignored if the Include Dates option (to the right) is not activated.
  • X2: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the X locations for the ending date in the analysis.
  • Y2: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the Y locations for the ending date in the analysis.
  • Z2: Select the name of the column in the data sheet that contains the Z elevations for the ending date in the analysis. This entry will be ignored if the Include Elevations option (to the right) is not activated.
  • Date-2: Select the column listing the ending date for the analysis. This entry will be ignored if the Include Dates option (to the right) is not activated.
• Output Columns:
  • Direction: In the center of the window, select the columns in the datasheet where the computed directions will be stored. Only those columns for which you request computations (described below) will be used; the others will be ignored.
  • Inclination: Select the columns in the datasheet where the computed inclinations will be stored. Only those columns for which you request computations (described below) will be used; the others will be ignored.
  • Distance: Select the columns in the datasheet where the computed distances will be stored. Only those columns for which you request computations (described below) will be used; the others will be ignored.
  • Velocity: Select the columns in the datasheet where the computed velocities will be stored. Only those columns for which you request computations (described below) will be used; the others will be ignored.
• Include Elevations: Be sure this is checked if you have elevation data, declared in the Z1 and Z2 columns specified under Input Columns. This will enable the program to compute Inclinations.
• Include Dates: Be sure this is checked if you have date or time data, declared in the Date1 and Date2 columns specified under Input Columns. This will enable the program to compute velocities.
• Compute Direction: Insert a check to compute movement direction.  Expand this heading to specify the number of decimal places to be include in the output computations.
• Compute Inclination: Insert a check to compute movement inclination. Inclination will only be calculated when Z input data is available (and when Include Elevations is checked.  Expand this heading to specify the number of decimal places to be include in the output computations.
  • Positive Down:  Click in this button to have the downward slope inclination reported as a positive value.
  • Positive Up: Click in this button to have the downward slope inclination reported as a negative value.
• Compute Distance: Insert a check to compute movement inclination.  Expand this heading to specify the number of decimal places to be include in the output computations.
• Compute Velocity: Insert a check to compute movement velocity. Velocity data be available only when date or time input data was selected (and when Include Dates is checked). Expand this heading to specify the number of decimal places to be include in the output computations.  Note that velocity will represent the number of units (to match the input XYZ units) per day.  Should you need velocities in hours, minutes or seconds, you will need to divide the results by the appropriate value.  (See the Columns | Math options.)

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab. 
2. Enter/import your slope movement data into the datasheet. 
3. Select the Grid | Directional Analysis | Movement Analysis menu option. 
4. Enter the requested menu settings, described above.
5. Click the Process button to proceed.

The program will calculate directional, inclination, distance, and velocity values as requested for the input data and store them in the selected columns in the data sheet. 

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