Converting a Solid Model to a High/Low/Sum/Average Grid Model

RockWorks | Utilities | Solid | Convert | Solid -> Grid

Given a solid model, this program will create a grid model in which the z-value represents either:

• Grade values: Extract the highest, lowest, average, or sum of corresponding value within the solid model (i.e. all nodes which fall within the same vertical region). This program allows you to view, in plan-view or 3D, a virtual summary of the underlying values.
• Elevation values: the highest elevation for the highest or lowest G value, or the lowest elevation for the highest or lowest G value.  This allows you to view an elevation distribution of the model values.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
 

Menu Options

• Input Columns: Use these prompts only if you have map location data for your current project listed in the Utilities datasheet and wish to include map symbols in a 2D map.  If you don't turn on the 2D map symbol layer, these settings will be ignored.
  • X (Easting): Select the column in the current datasheet that contains the X or Easting coordinates for the map symbols.
  • Y (Northing):  Select the column in the current datasheet that contains the Y or Northing coordinates for the map symbols.
     
• Input Model: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing RockWorks solid model (.RwMod file) that the program is to read and extract to a grid model. 
   
• Output Grid:  Click to the right to type in the name to assign to the new grid file that the program will create, representing the high, low, average, summed, or elevation values.
  
  
• Constraining Surfaces: Expand this heading to turn on/off surface filters for the solid model nodes to be processed. For example, you might want to evaluate contaminants in an I-Data model which reside within a specific stratigraphic unit. These settings allow you to do this without having to first filter the input RwMod file as a separate step. You can turn on either or both constraints.
  • Upper Constraining Grid: Check this box if the input solid model nodes to be evaluated are to be limited to those which lie below an existing surface.
    • Upper Grid Name: Click to the right to browse for the existing RwGrid file to be used to constrain the node evaluation. In the above example, this could represent the top of the stratigraphic unit.
      ! Note that these grid models must have the same XY extents and node spacing as the input solid model.
  • Lower Constraining Grid: Check this box if the solid model nodes are to be limited to those which lie above an existing surface.
    • Lower Grid Name: Click to the right to browse for the existing RwGrd file to be used as a lower constraint. In the above example, this could represent the base of the stratigraphic unit.

• If you are using the weighted arithmetic means or weighted harmonic means (below), only the portions of voxels below/above the constraining grids will be included within the computations.

• Conversion Options:  Expand this heading to select the desired solid -> grid conversion:

• • Z = Highest G Value: Select this option to create a grid model in which the highest G value in each vertical column of model nodes is stored in the corresponding grid node. 
  • Z = Lowest G Value: Select this option to create a grid model in which the lowest G value in each vertical column of model nodes is store in the corresponding grid node.
  • Z = Average G Value: Select this option to compute the average of the node G values in each vertical column of the solid model, and store that average value in the corresponding grid node.
  • Z = Sum of all G Values: Select this option to compute the sum of the nodes in each vertical column of the solid model, and store that summed value in the corresponding grid node.
    
    
  • Z = Highest Elevation of Highest G Value: Select this option to determine the highest G value in each vertical column model nodes, and store the uppermost elevation for that value in the corresponding grid node.
  • Z = Lowest Elevation of Highest G Value: Select this option to determine the highest G value in each vertical column model nodes, and store the lowermost elevation for that value in the corresponding grid node.
  • Z = Highest Elevation of Lowest G Value: Select this option to determine the lowest G value in each vertical column model nodes, and store the uppermost elevation for that value in the corresponding grid node.
  • Z = Lowest Elevation of Lowest G Value: Select this option to determine the lowest G value in each vertical column model nodes, and store the lowermost elevation for that value in the corresponding grid node.
    
    
  • Z= Weighted Arithmetic Mean: Select this option of the grid nodes are to represent a weighted arithmetic mean of the vertical column of model nodes:
    Z = Sum ( G x Voxel_Height ) / Sum ( Voxel_Height )
  • Z = Weighted Harmonic Mean: Select this option if the grid nodes are to represent a weighted harmonic mean of the vertical column of model nodes:
    Z = Sum ( Voxel_Height ) / Sum ( Voxel_Height / G )
     
• Create 2-Dimensional Grid Diagram: Insert a check here to create a flat "bird's eye" map of the output grid model.  Expand this heading to set up the 2D map layers (bitmap, symbols, labels, line contours, color-filled contours, labeled cells, and/or map border).
  ! Don't request map symbols or labels if you don't have any data loaded into the Utilities datasheet at this time.
   
• Create 3-Dimensional Grid Diagram: Insert a check here to create a 3-dimensional image of the output grid model.  Expand this heading to set up the 3D map layers (surface style, colors, perimeter, reference cage).
   
• Create Grid Statistics Report: Insert a check here if you want to see a report summarizing the output grid. 
  • Include Standard Deviation:  Check this box if you want the report to include standard deviation.
  • Include Directional Analysis:  Check this box to include slope, aspect, and strike computations. Be warned that these can take a few moments for large grid models.
     

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Be sure you have an existing solid model already created, for input into this program. 
2. Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab.
3. If you want to include your control point symbols on a 2D map, you'll need to create or open a listing of these X and Y locations.
   ! Tip: Use the Borehole Manager's File | Transfer | Locations -> Utilities Datasheet to transfer a listing of your borehole location data to the Utilities.  
4. Select the Solid | Convert | Solid -> Grid menu option.
5. Enter the requested menu settings, described above.
6. Click the Process button to proceed.
   
   The program will read the input solid model file, and for each column of node values it will perform the requested data computation, storing the result as the Z value for that X,Y node location in the output grid file. This process is repeated for each column of nodes in the source file. The completed grid file will be stored on disk under the requested file name. 
   
   The requested diagram(s) will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab and/or RockPlot3D tab in the Options window.   If you requested a statistics report, it will be displayed in a Text Tab in the Options window.
    
7. You can adjust any of the settings in the Options window and then click the Process button again to regenerate the diagram(s).
   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing display(s) will be replaced. 
    
8. View / save / manipulate / print the diagram in the RockPlot2D or RockPlot3D window.
   
   

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