Block Model

On the Block Model tab of the Assign Block Model form, you can choose to:

  • assign attributes to blocks that are completely or partially above or below a DTM;
  • assign a code to blocks considered to be outside of the DTM, based on an outside cutoff value;
  • delete data outside of the chosen assign region

Calculate Block factor

If you select the Calculate Block Factor option, a Block Factor is used to define the portion of each block that falls within the assign region you have defined.

Above and Below block factor fields

Double-click (or click on the List icon) to select Above and Below block factor fields. The portion of each block that falls above and below the assign region are written to this field.

Clear block factor field

The Block factor field can be cleared of all values before the function makes any assignments.

Assign attributes for partial blocks

Select this option when you are working with a block model and want to assign attributes to blocks that are only partially above or below the DTM.

Minimum block factor value

Optionally enter a minimum value for the block factor. For example, you may only want to assign values when at least 20% of the block is above or below the DTM.

Attributes are assigned if the factor value for the selected assign region is greater than or equal to the specified minimum value.

Note: If no minimum block factor value is specified, the attributes are assigned whenever the factor value is greater than zero. In other words, attributes will be assigned to any blocks which even slightly intersect a wireframe.

Outside classification block factor

If blocks that are partially outside the assign region are to be coded as outside, specify an outside classification block factor value less than 1. The default is 1. In other words, a block must be fully outside of the assign region before it is classified as outside.

Create sub-blocks

Sub-blocks East, North, Z

If you select Create Sub-blocks as the sub-blocking method, enter the number of sub-blocks, into which the block will be subdivided in each direction. The number of sub-blocks must not exceed 25 in each direction.

The more sub-blocks there are, the more accurate the assignment will be - at the expense of processing speed.

Block Size fields will typically be of type DOUBLE and have enough precision to accurately store the sub-block data. In the case of Numeric fields, numerical rounding may cause block overlaps and other inconsistencies in the data.

Define 3D Direction

The Define 3D Direction option allow you to choose a non-plan reference plane which will provide better results when assigning blocks to dipping or vertical surfaces.

Specify an Orthogonal (LOOKING WEST, LOOKING NORTH, PLAN) or Transform reference plane that will determine the direction in which the blocks are projected onto the DTM.

Orthogonal

In Orthogonal mode, the Code value prompts on the Assign tab will change to reflect which blocks are assigned relative to the DTM.

For non-orthogonal mode, "above" means above the plane, unless the plane is vertical, in which case "above" is to the north. However, if the plane is a vertical north-south plane, "above" is to the east.

Transform

In Transform mode, Dip and Dip Direction transform parameters are taken from the screen plane orientation (on the 3D View tab of the Display Limits form). Auto Calculate (DTM) will set these parameters to match the mean normal of the surface.

Auto calculate best fit plane from input

Select this option to calculate the best plane of fit from the input data.

For more information, see: Defining the 3D direction

Use block model orientation

Select this option if you want the 3D Direction of the DTM to be calculated from the orientation of the block model.

Assign