Networkr Usage Guide

Networkr is a haulage profile generator based off surface topology. It exists as an unsupported utility, and as such can be found under the unsupported utilities toolbar. It is intended to be used adjunctly to Micromine Spry's vector logic-based haulage. Please read this guide carefully to understand the Networkr usage process.

Usage

To generate haulage using Networkr, there are three main steps to follow:

  1. Generate periodic topological grids.

  2. Generate haulage strings.

  3. Apply haulage strings to schedule.

Step 1. Generate periodic topological grids

Generating grids can be done via the exporting grids method in an animation context. Ensure the following:

  • Output a single grid per period,

  • Output grids to a specific grid folder,

  • Ensure grids are named with the periods start date as the suffix, in the format YYYY MM DD

It is highly encouraged to use a relaxed grid spacing (30 m is recommended). Note that reductions in grid spacing result in exponential increases in calculation time. It is also encouraged to mask the grids to just the areas involved, again to reduce redundant calculations.

Step 2. Generate haulage strings

To generate haulage strings, open the Networkr unsupported utility dialog and select the Run Stage dropdown Road Generation option.

The previously generated periodic topological grids folder must be specified in the Inputs->Grids Folder input.

Once accepted the processing will begin, this could take some time based on model size and parameters given.

Once completed, computed haulage strings will be written to a Network Layer under a Networkr folder in the case.

Step 3. Apply haulage strings to schedule

To apply generated haulage strings to a case's schedule, open the Networkr unsupported utility dialog and select the Run Stage dropdown Schedule Application option.

When applying generated haulage strings, all shapes under the Networkr folder are considered. Each string is matched to a schedule step, if there are multiple strings, the first string in lexiographic layer order is chosen.

The Application Precedence option controls how strings are applied if there are potential haulage strings contending for the schedule step.

Geofencing

A network layer can be specified which contains polygons for which haulage is forbidden to enter. The polygons can have a start date and/or an end date. These polygons can be used to 'geofence' the haulage.

Remarks

If no haulage profiles are being generated where they would be expected to, it is important to note how Networkr is filtering schedule steps. Networkr will only attempt to generate a road if a schedule step:

  • is a productive process

  • the process is inside the supplied set

  • has a source and destination node

  • is inside the date range for the grid

  • the source and destination nodes are inside the supplied ranges

  • has non-null centroids for both source and destination nodes

  • the equipment has Simulate Haulage checked on for the process

If all checks are passed, Networkr will use the source and destination centroids and try to generate a road between them. This is not guaranteed to succeed, it is dependent on the parameters.

Suggestions

  • Test parameters over small sets to understand what obtains the best haulage.

  • Run road generation twice, once with tight parameters, again with looser parameters. Ensure the output layer is named to give the tighter parameters' priority over the looser ones.

  • Mask grids to avoid unnecessary extraneous calculations.