Understanding Filtering

This section provides background information and key concepts to help you filtering block models in the Earth Materials and Volumes app.

Filtering a block model involves:

  • Selecting one or several attribute constraints to hide blocks.
  • Selecting a geometric constraint to hide blocks.

This page discusses:

See Also
Filtering a Block Model on the Fly
Creating a Geoscience Filter
Filtering a Block Model with a Geoscience Filter

Attribute Constraints

You can apply an attribute constraint to hide blocks from the block model representation. You can select attribute constraints to hide blocks that do not match the attribute criterion of the block model.

The attribute criterion of a block model consists of a Boolean combination of predicates. The blocks that satisfy the criteria are displayed; others are hidden. Each predicate consists of an attribute, an operator, and an operand (value).

Generic Filter Expression with a Constraint Attribute (Weathering)

The image shows generic filter expression for filtering a block model based on a constraint attribute (weathering).

Geometric Constraints

You can apply a surface constraint to hide blocks from the block model representation. The representation of a block model can be filtered to the blocks that satisfy a geometric constraint. A geometric constraint consists of a Boolean combination of predicates. The blocks that match the criteria are shown; others are hidden. Each predicate consists of a 3D Part and an operator. To filter a block model using geometric constraints, select either Surface/solid or XYZ Constraint , then specify geometric criteria to add to the filter query.

Generic Filter Expression Example for Filtering a Block Model

Geoscience Filter

You can quickly create complex queries on the block model so that you can quickly identify and interpret the parts of the block model you seek to analyze. Geoscience filters allow the mining engineer, geologist, civil engineer to create the geoscience filters to suit their individual study needs.

The Geoscience Filter is based on a generic filtering expression composed of inputs from large terrain features, open surfaces, closed surfaces and the block model attributes, logical operators and attribute values. You can save, name, reuse, and share geoscience filters to save time on your workflows. 

Geoscience Filter Example:

The image illustrates the creation of a new Filter Set with a filter specification for a geotechnical zone that can be used in later pit optimization and surface mine design.

 

Filter Example: A Block Model with Two Terrains Representations

Let us consider a block model representation—in black and two terrains — and in an open Earth Materials and Volumes session:

If you select Terrain , Below as geometric operator, and select Terrain and Above, only the blocks that match the defined criteria are shown; other blocks are hidden: