The appropriate profile of the solid model is very important for geologists to develop for geological resource modeling and resource estimation. After obtaining the wire-frame for solid modelling from exploration borehole sections, geologists then need to create the solid model by using various triangulation methods in Surpac, to obtain the proper shape of the solid model.
For very simple objects with no complexity, geologists can adopt the fully automatic triangulation method to produce the best and quickest results. For very complex deposits, they need to use the manual method of triangulation, considering each & every point in the segments to give a proper shape of the solid model.
In this blog, I illustrate the two triangulation methods
i) Fully Automatic method
ii) Manual method of triangulation.
i) Fully Automatic:
If you are working with digitized closed segments with increasing string/segment number order, you can create the solid model in a quick manner. The image below shows the digitized segments for solid model wire-frame in ascending string number:
Actually, the fully automatic solid creation is hidden. Use “Box select points” icon to select all points within the segments and drag the box to select all the points, then right click in the graphics and select “Select segments”:
Then right click on the graphics and select the function “Triangulate”; this will create the triangles automatically between the segments:
This is the easiest way to triangulate when there is little complexity in the solid model shape.
To proceed further, you can close both the ends by selecting Solids > Triangulate > Inside a segment to create a valid 3DM file.
ii) Manual Method:
As mentioned earlier, sometimes you may need to connect each points manually to give a proper shape to your complex solid model.
Select “Triangulate shape tool” icon , then click on a particular point on a segment and then move your cursor along the segment to highlight more points. Move your cursor to continue and go back to your original point. It will create the triangles within the selected points only. Use the same technique to complete the other portion.
While using this manual method of triangulation, you can change triangle object & trisolation properties through “Tool properties”:
