Creating Solid Model Plan-View Diagrams

RockWorks | Utilities | Solid | Plan Map

This program is used to read an existing solid model file (.RwMod file) and create a horizontal slice for any node layer within the model, for display in RockPlot2D. The birds-eye map can be color-coded in a variety of ways. Axis annotation and a color legend are options.

! Unlike the Fence tools in the Borehole Manager, this Fence tool requires that a solid model file (.RwMod) already exists. This model can be the result of downhole data interpolation in the Borehole Manager, of XYZG data interpolation in the Utilities | Solid | Model option, or of filtering operations elsewhere in the Solid menu. 

See also: The Solid | Convert | Extract Grid from Model tool which extracts a vertical or horizontal grid model from a solid, for display as a 2D plan-view slice or as a 3D surface.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
 

Menu Options

• Input Columns: If you'll be adding map symbols to the plan map (see below), you need to specify the columns in the currently-open data file that list the X and Y coordinates for the symbol locations.
  
  
• Model Name: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing solid model (.RwMod file) to be used for this plan-view diagram.
• Output Grid: Click to the right to enter the name for the grid model (.RwGrd file) under which the plan-view slice from the model will be stored.
  
  
• Create 2-Dimensional Grid Diagram: Insert a check here if you want to display the output grid as a 2D map at this time.  Expand this heading to set up the 2D map layers (bitmap, symbols, labels, line contours, color-filled contours, labeled cells, and/or map border).
  • To activate a layer, insert a mark in its check-box.
  • To access the layer's settings, expand the item by clicking on its "+" button.  Then either click on the available button or expand the additional tree menu headings.
     
• Create 3-Dimensional Grid Diagram: Insert a check here if you want to display the output grid as a 3D surface at this time.  Expand this heading to set up the 3D options.  
  ! You can request both a 2D and 3D representation of the grid model.
  • Color Scheme: Click on the Options button to the right to access a variety of pre-set color schemes, or to create your own.  (More.)
  • 3D Surface Options: Click on this button to establish the color and other surface settings.
  • Reference Cage: Check this box to include a 3D grid of reference lines and labels with the diagram.  Expand this heading to access the cage options.
     
• 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. Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab so that the Solid menu is visible.
2. If you want to include symbol locations and labels with the plan map, you'll need to open into the datasheet a file that contains the X and Y locations where the symbols will plot, and the information to display in the labels.  If you're not including symbols or labels, it is not necessary to open a data file.  (The plan contours will be pulled from an existing solid model file.)
3. Click on the Solid menu and choose Plan. 
4. Enter the requested menu settings, described above.
5. Click the Process button to continue. 
   
   The program will scan the selected solid model file to determine the model’s dimensions.  It will then display a window that lists the top to bottom layers in the model and their Z (elevation) coordinates.
   
   
6. Click on the layer you wish to view as a plan-view map - the numbers here represent elevation levels in the model - and click OK.
   
   The program will extract that layer from the solid model, saving it as a 2D grid model under the specified file name, and create the 2D map using the requested diagram settings.  The completed map will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.
   
   
7. You can adjust any of the diagram options in the pane to the left and then click the Process button again to regenerate the solid model plan map.
   
   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing map display will be replaced.
   
   
8. View / save / manipulate / export / print the diagram in the RockPlot2D or RockPlot3D window. 
   
   

Back to Solid Menu Summary

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