Introduction to MineSightIntroduction to MineSight

©2012 Dr. B. C. Paul©2012 Dr. B. C. Paul

Note – This presentation refers to trademarked mine design software products Note – This presentation refers to trademarked mine design software products and includes screen shots from the program MineSight by Mintec. Credit for and includes screen shots from the program MineSight by Mintec. Credit for

the products so referenced or shown is given to the developers.the products so referenced or shown is given to the developers.

Why Design SoftwareWhy Design Software

• Mine layouts have long needed to be Mine layouts have long needed to be drawn outdrawn out• Today computer drafting predominates Today computer drafting predominates

over manualover manual

• Mine optimization and evaluation Mine optimization and evaluation requires large numbers of redundant requires large numbers of redundant calculationscalculations• Best done by computerBest done by computer

What is MineSight®?What is MineSight®?

• MineSight® is a suite of mining tuned computer MineSight® is a suite of mining tuned computer programsprograms• Heart is a 3D CAD graphics program called Heart is a 3D CAD graphics program called

MineSight®MineSight®• Has a wide array of mining calculations programs that Has a wide array of mining calculations programs that

link production planning to the graphics functions in link production planning to the graphics functions in the 3D CAD programthe 3D CAD program

• MineSight® development started with first MineSight® development started with first computer routines in the 1970’s and list has grown computer routines in the 1970’s and list has grown sincesince• Collection includes everything from old fortran routines Collection includes everything from old fortran routines

to modern python program language routinesto modern python program language routines

MineSight’s ® Visually Linked MineSight’s ® Visually Linked Calculation Routines Calculation Routines • MineSight ® CompassMineSight ® Compass

• A windows like user interface built over a bunch A windows like user interface built over a bunch of old Dos, Fortran and Unix Programsof old Dos, Fortran and Unix Programs

• Collection of over 400 routinesCollection of over 400 routines• Have the feel of old mainframe batch programsHave the feel of old mainframe batch programs

• That’s because they are old mainframe routines and That’s because they are old mainframe routines and subroutines with a modern windows like graphical subroutines with a modern windows like graphical interface to feed theminterface to feed them

• Looks new but has you do some things to set up Looks new but has you do some things to set up runs that are like old mainframe batch routinesruns that are like old mainframe batch routines

New Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the Block

• Built a Suite of New Programs that run in Python Built a Suite of New Programs that run in Python visual languagevisual language• Economic PlannerEconomic Planner

• State of the Art Open Pit Metal Mining Optimization and State of the Art Open Pit Metal Mining Optimization and integrated togetherintegrated together

• Activities PlannerActivities Planner• Microsoft Projects Gant Charts set up for MiningMicrosoft Projects Gant Charts set up for Mining

• Data AnalystData Analyst• Ore Reserves Statistics and GeostatisticsOre Reserves Statistics and Geostatistics

• Interactive PlannerInteractive Planner• Link between databases and 3D graphics for planningLink between databases and 3D graphics for planning

• Strategic PlannerStrategic Planner• Other procedures constantly being preparedOther procedures constantly being prepared

Editorial CommentaryEditorial Commentary

• Lack of ConsistencyLack of Consistency• A 40 year collection and operating systems have run in A 40 year collection and operating systems have run in

fundamentally different ways over the yearsfundamentally different ways over the years• Made to look windows like but can’t always hide the architecture Made to look windows like but can’t always hide the architecture

underneathunderneath• Has bugs in itHas bugs in it

• Most bugs are triggered by assuming people will input in a certain Most bugs are triggered by assuming people will input in a certain way – and you don’tway – and you don’t

• Mining has lots of local terms in it so wording can encourage you to Mining has lots of local terms in it so wording can encourage you to do unexpected thingsdo unexpected things

• Most bugs are operator “error” triggered but it is rather unforgivingMost bugs are operator “error” triggered but it is rather unforgiving• Very computer and graphically intensiveVery computer and graphically intensive

• Pushes hardware and designs to the limit and a lot of hardware and Pushes hardware and designs to the limit and a lot of hardware and system components misbehave when they are at their limitsystem components misbehave when they are at their limit

• Its wonderful to have so much integrated power and routines all Its wonderful to have so much integrated power and routines all in one semi-coherent packagein one semi-coherent package

One of a Limited Set of One of a Limited Set of ProgramsPrograms• MineSight® – (master of the open pit metal mine)MineSight® – (master of the open pit metal mine)

• Probably most overall advanced and completeProbably most overall advanced and complete

• Vulcan – (very good 3D CAD for hardrock Vulcan – (very good 3D CAD for hardrock underground)underground)

• Gemcon/MincomGemcon/Mincom• Serve CAD / CarlsonServe CAD / Carlson

• Really an autocad add on for graphics and designReally an autocad add on for graphics and design• Quite popular with underground applications not Quite popular with underground applications not

demanding heavy 3D visualization and manipulationdemanding heavy 3D visualization and manipulation• Well liked in coalWell liked in coal

Lets Start this Puppy Up!Lets Start this Puppy Up!

Look for the Desktop Icon for Look for the Desktop Icon for MS3D and Click on ItMS3D and Click on It

Ok – I Don’t Have One Cause I Don’t StartThat way – but some people do.

Programs Front Icon OpensPrograms Front Icon OpensMines or designsAre kept asProjects –It can defaultStart where theProgram lives

Or be sent toWhere you storeA project

If you have aProject or designAlready you canHave it loadedAnd ready to go.

I Can Click on An Arrow and See I Can Click on An Arrow and See a List of Recently Worked a List of Recently Worked ProjectsProjects

I Can BrowseI Can Browse

This lets me see my directory or existing projects orCreate a new project with “Make New Folder”.

I Can Purge Old FilesI Can Purge Old Files

The weird X is the delete command forDeleting a selected project.

After I Get My Project Selected I After I Get My Project Selected I Click on OkClick on Ok

The Program StartsThe Program Starts

If you are starting aWhole new projectIt will ask aboutPermission to writeSystem files in theProject area andPossibly what theCoordinates areFor the project

It has typical Windows drop down It has typical Windows drop down menusmenus

Not all options may beAvailable at any oneTime. As typical – non-Available optionsAre grayed out.

Lots of Things are Drawn With Lots of Things are Drawn With LinesLines

They are foundUnder thePolyline Menu

Polyline isA continuousSeries of lineSegments.

Most Common Commands are Most Common Commands are Accessed with IconsAccessed with Icons

(again note that ones not availableAre grayed out)

If I Can’t Remember what an icon If I Can’t Remember what an icon is I can put the curser over it and is I can put the curser over it and it will spill its gutsit will spill its guts

The Big Gray Area is the Drawing The Big Gray Area is the Drawing WindowWindow

A box that appears at theBottom gives youInstructions or information

The Data ManagerThe Data ManagerData Manager isA two tieredWindowsExploring

Select aSubdirectory up top

You see theContents of thatSubdirectory downBelow.

MineSight worksIn an overallDirectory dedicatedTo each project.

Types of FilesTypes of Files

• Main file is called a “Geometry Object”Main file is called a “Geometry Object”• It is information describing some geometric It is information describing some geometric

shape that can be brought up on the shape that can be brought up on the viewerviewer

• Most other files are various type of view Most other files are various type of view control filescontrol files

Place the Curser Over Place the Curser Over Something You Would Like to Something You Would Like to See and Right ClickSee and Right Click

The item turns blue

Left Click to Pop-Up A Menu for Left Click to Pop-Up A Menu for the Itemthe Item

Just Moving the Curser Over the Just Moving the Curser Over the Second Menu Turns Things BlueSecond Menu Turns Things Blue

A Simple Right Click Turns the A Simple Right Click Turns the Object On in the ViewerObject On in the Viewer

You Can Play with the Surface You Can Play with the Surface ViewView

Push and hold the left and right keysOn your mouse as you move it toRotate your object in 3D (so you canLook at it from different directions).

You Can Move Your Surface Up You Can Move Your Surface Up and Down (Pan Around)and Down (Pan Around)

Hold the right click button and theCenter button down (often the centerButton is a roller) and move the mouseAround.

You Can Zoom In and Zoom You Can Zoom In and Zoom OutOut

Hold the left click button and theCenter button down (often the centerButton is a roller) and move the mouse around.

I Can Also Rotate Views with I Can Also Rotate Views with Keyboard strokesKeyboard strokes

More Keyboard RotationMore Keyboard Rotation

More Keyboard RotationMore Keyboard Rotation

You May Want to Create Your You May Want to Create Your Own Directory or FilesOwn Directory or Files

Select the root directory byHighlighting and Right clicking

Drop Down the Menu and Pick Drop Down the Menu and Pick New and then FolderNew and then Folder

It Asks You For the Name of the It Asks You For the Name of the FolderFolder

I typed experiments

I will then click Ok

The New Folder Name AppearsThe New Folder Name Appears

Now Select the Experiments Now Select the Experiments FolderFolder

Drop down the menu

Pick new

On the submenu pick newGeometry object (a file thatContains geometricInformation).

It Asks the Name of the It Asks the Name of the Geometry ObjectGeometry Object

Type it in and click Ok

The New Geometry Object The New Geometry Object Appears in the Lower Part of the Appears in the Lower Part of the Data ManagerData Manager

In Order to Draw Things in the In Order to Draw Things in the Geometry File I Need to Put it Geometry File I Need to Put it Into Edit ModeInto Edit Mode

Highlight the geometryobject (put the curser overIt and right click)

Now left click the menuDrops down

Move the curser toHighlight Edit

Left click to go into EditMode.

The Geometry Object is Now The Geometry Object is Now Marked With a Gold Open BoxMarked With a Gold Open Box

What you draw will go into thatGeometry object.

The X BoxThe X BoxThe little redX box closesThings.

You can closeThe “WindowsExplorer” likeData Manager

You can close a 3DVisualizationwindow

You can close theWhole program

General Quirks and General Quirks and ObservationsObservations

• MineSight ® does not have an “escape” key functionMineSight ® does not have an “escape” key function• You right click to finish a function which gets you out of it (but might also You right click to finish a function which gets you out of it (but might also

finish a goof)finish a goof)• MineSight® has a more enforced save structureMineSight® has a more enforced save structure

• Some drawing functions will not let you move on until you save you last Some drawing functions will not let you move on until you save you last “group” of edits“group” of edits

• It is not consistent in when this happens but if the program stops taking It is not consistent in when this happens but if the program stops taking orders a right click to finish what ever it thinks your doing and then a save is orders a right click to finish what ever it thinks your doing and then a save is a good guess.a good guess.

• MineSight® has limited “Undo” functionalityMineSight® has limited “Undo” functionality• You can save the last set of edits and then go back and undo it.You can save the last set of edits and then go back and undo it.• It does not keep a step by step undo list that lets you go back and undo It does not keep a step by step undo list that lets you go back and undo

the last 20 things one at a timethe last 20 things one at a time• Undo function often requires you to save before it becomes availableUndo function often requires you to save before it becomes available• If you really goof it keeps back-up copies of everything and you can go If you really goof it keeps back-up copies of everything and you can go

in and fetch a back up copy of what you screwed up.in and fetch a back up copy of what you screwed up.

Some Rigidity in Menu and Icon Some Rigidity in Menu and Icon StructureStructure• Microsoft Office allows you to pick groups of Microsoft Office allows you to pick groups of

icons, call them toolbars and “dock” your icons, call them toolbars and “dock” your favorites in a certain positionfavorites in a certain position• Vulcan has created some tool bar dockabilityVulcan has created some tool bar dockability• MineSight ® has notMineSight ® has not

• MineSight ® does allow you to right click MineSight ® does allow you to right click and pull up an on the spot menu of recently and pull up an on the spot menu of recently used and custom chosen functionsused and custom chosen functions

So Why Should I Learn So Why Should I Learn MineSight®MineSight®• CAD like mine design packages are rapidly CAD like mine design packages are rapidly

becoming an industry standard – knowing one becoming an industry standard – knowing one increases your marketabilityincreases your marketability

• There is enough similarity in packages that There is enough similarity in packages that knowing one will allow you to learn any other knowing one will allow you to learn any other with greater ease (in case your employer didn’t with greater ease (in case your employer didn’t make the same choice for basic package as we make the same choice for basic package as we did – or if your employer changes his/her mind did – or if your employer changes his/her mind later).later).

• We are using it in this class and you don’t want We are using it in this class and you don’t want to even think about life without it.to even think about life without it.

A Term You Need to Know for A Term You Need to Know for HomeworkHomework

• Screen ShotScreen Shot

• You can copy the screen to the You can copy the screen to the clipboard withclipboard with• Control-Print ScreenControl-Print Screen

• You can paste the “screen shot” into a You can paste the “screen shot” into a word document.word document.

Assignment #1Assignment #1

• Get a copy of a starter file from the websiteGet a copy of a starter file from the website• Take a screen shot of you selecting the Take a screen shot of you selecting the

starter file from your thumb drive as you open starter file from your thumb drive as you open MineSightMineSight

• Open Geometry Object Topo SurfaceOpen Geometry Object Topo Surface• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

• Zoom out on objectZoom out on object• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

Assignment #1 ContinuedAssignment #1 Continued

• Zoom in on objectZoom in on object• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

• Zoom back to a convenient viewZoom back to a convenient view• Take 3 screen shots of different rotated positionTake 3 screen shots of different rotated position

• Close Topo SurfaceClose Topo Surface• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

• Create a geometry object called shapesCreate a geometry object called shapes• Take screen shots of creating itTake screen shots of creating it• Take a screen shot for putting it in edit modeTake a screen shot for putting it in edit mode

• Draw a lineDraw a line• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

• Draw a circleDraw a circle• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot

• Draw a 6 sided closed polygonDraw a 6 sided closed polygon• Take a screen shotTake a screen shot