Creating P-Data Surface Maps

RockWorks | Borehole Manager P-Data | Surface Map

Use this program to:

• Create a new 3-dimensional solid or block model representing your downhole point-sampled data (an .RwMod file) - OR - read an existing .RwMod file you've already created.

• Create a 2-dimensional map representing the interpolated values where the model intersects a designated surface.

The surface extraction will be stored as an .RwGrd model in your project folder.  Standard color- and line-contour options are available.  The completed map is displayed in RockPlot2D.

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Tips
 

Menu Options

• Solid Modeling Options: First, tell the program whether you wish to use an existing solid model (from a previous use of this tool or another P-Data menu tool) or you wish to create a new solid model, by clicking in the appropriate radio button.
  ! NOTE This is not trivial. Creating the solid model can take some time, depending on the resolution of the model and the detail of your data. If you already created a pleasing model for display as a profile diagram, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the model from which the surface-view will be extracted.
   
  • Create New Model: If want to create a new model, click in this radio button, and expand this item to establish the modeling settings.
    • P-Data Track: Click to the right to select the track or column in the P-Data table that is to be modeled. The names displayed in the list will be pulled from the column headings.   Expand this option to establish any source data filtering.
      ! Note that these tools filter the data that is passed to the modeling procedures.  This is distinct from the filters that are applied after the model is completed (see Other Modeling Options below).
      • Filter Based on G-Values: Activate this option to establish a data filter based on the measured values, and expand the heading to establish the filter parameters.  (More.)
      • Resample at Regularly-Spaced Intervals: Check this box to resample the data.  (More.)
      • Spatial (XYZ) Filtering: Insert a check in this box - on the far right side of the current program window - to activate a data filter based on where the data points lie. Expand this heading to establish the filter settings. 
        
      • Create Filter / Sampling Report: If you've selected any filter/resampling options, this tool will create a summary report of the results. (More.)
    • Solid Model Name: Click to the right to enter a name for the solid model, with an .RwMod file name extension.
    • Solid Modeling Options: Click on this button to establish important modeling settings:
      • Algorithm (Modeling Method): This determines the modeling method to use, for creating a solid model from your irregularly-spaced drill hole data. (More.)
      • Model Dimensions: This determines the model density. (More.)  Unless there's a specific reason to do otherwise, you should probably leave the solid model dimensions set to the current project dimensions.
      • Other Modeling Options: These include tilting, warping, filtering above-ground, smoothing, and much more. 
         
  • Use Existing Model: Click in this radio button if you wish to use an already-existing solid model of your P-Data.  Expand this item to select: 
    • Model Name: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing solid model (.RwMod file) from which the surface grid will be extracted. 
       
• Surface Topography Grid: Click here to browse for the name of the grid model (.RwGrd file) to be used to create the P-data surface.  This would typically represent the ground surface, but could also be a surface representing an aquifer, a stratigraphic layer, a fracture plane, etc.  
  • ! Be sure the Surface Topography Grid you specify has the same node dimensions and spacing in the X,Y directions as your input solid model.
     
• Output Grid: Click here to type in the name to assign the output grid (.RwGrd file) that will be created.  This grid model's nodes will be assigned the solid model G values where they intersect the Surface Topography Grid.
   
• Diagram Settings: 
  • Background Image: Check this box to display a raster image behind the contours, and expand this heading to set the image options. (More.)
  • Contour Lines: Check this box to display the P-Data values using line contours.  Expand this heading to access the contour options. (More.)
  • Colored Intervals: Insert a check here to include color contours to represent the P-data values, and expand this heading to access the various options. (More.)
  • Labeled Cells: Check this to include a map layer that displays the solid model node values as labeled cells; expand the heading to adjust the layer's settings. (More.)
  • Borehole Locations: Insert a check in this box to display the borehole locations with map symbols, with a variety of labeling options.  Expand this heading to access the symbol & label settings.  (More.) 
  • Border: Check this to include a map border, and expand this heading to adjust the border options. (More.)
    
    

Step-by-Step Summary

Follow these steps to create a 2D map that displays the modeled P-data along a user-specified grid surface:  

1. Access the RockWorks Borehole Manager program tab. 
2. Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and P-data. 
3. Select the P-Data | Surface Map menu option. 
4. Enter the requested menu items, described above
5. Click the Process button to continue. 

If you've selected Use Existing Model, the program will load the information from the existing P-Data model (.RwMod file), and will proceed to diagram generation.

If you've selected Create New Model, the program will scan the project database and extract the XYZ points for all of the downhole measurements for the selected P-Data track. It will apply any source data filters you have requested.

6. If you requested Confirm Dimensions, the program will first prompt you to confirm the default solid model dimensions.  (More.)

The program will use the selected algorithm to create a solid model of the point-sampled downhole data representing geophysical, geotechnical measurements, etc. The completed model will be stored on disk under the indicated file name. 

The program will then load the specified Surface Topography Grid model.  For each grid node, it will determine the P-Data model G value at the corresponding location in the solid model, and store that value in the output grid model.   The program will then create the 2D map using the requested diagram settings, displaying them in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.

7. You can adjust any of the modeling or diagram option in the pane to the left and then click the Process button again to regenerate the P-Data surface map.

   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing map display will be replaced. 
   ! * If the P-Data model looks OK and you just need to adjust one of the diagram settings, you don't need to keep re-interpolating the model.  Choose Use Existing Model and browse for the .RwMod file to be used for the map.

8. View / save / manipulate / print / export the image in the RockPlot2D window. 

Tips: 

• Double-click on the plan map in RockPlot2D to access the colorfill settings. There, you can adjust the minimum contour level, transparency, etc.
  
  

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