MapInfo Discover 3D 2015 Tutorials

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MapInfo Discover 3D Tutorials

Table of Contents
1

Introduction ............................................................................................ 1

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images ................................................. 5

Drape Vectors Over Surface ................................................................. 17

Display Point and Line Data.................................................................. 21

Display Vector Objects in 3D ................................................................ 31

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D ............................................................... 37

Display Drillhole Sections in 3D ............................................................ 49

Create 3D Object from Section Boundary ............................................. 53

Display Downhole Logs in 3D ............................................................... 57

10

Display Georeferenced Image Slice ...................................................... 60

11

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D .......................................................... 64

Introduction

Introduction
This series of tutorials take you through the steps required to produce a variety
of three dimensional displays with MapInfo Discover 3D. The assorted tutorials
use example data that is installed when the 3D tutorial files are loaded onto
your computer.
The contained example data is derived from actual exploration and mine sites,
providing a realistic dataset and examples of use in the three dimensional
environment.
Data types contained in the tutorial include:

Topographic DEM surfaces

Airphotos

Geological

Drillhole

Geophysical grids

Subsurface geophysical data

Three dimensional DXF mine development, orebody and fault plane

objects

3D inversion and 3D Voxel models

Introduction

Example MapInfo Discover 3D display.

Tutorial Data Installation
The tutorial dataset is installed into the following location:
.\ProgramData\Encom\Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial
All references to the dataset locations in the tutorial exercises ignore the
pathing up to ...\Discover 3D.
Within the Discover 3D Tutorial folder are a series of sub-folders named to
reflect the data contents.
These sub-folders include:

Drilling Data Collar, survey, assay and lithology tables.

Example Sessions and Workspaces MapInfo Pro and MapInfo

Discover 3D workspace and session files.

Geochem Soil geochemistry survey files with point samples.

Geology Surface mapping data plus subsurface interpretations.

Geophysics Magnetic 3D inversion data.

Introduction

Orebody Models Orebody subsurface and surface outlines, structural

fault interpretations and mine development data.

Sections MapInfo Discover drillhole sections and logs.

Topography Elevation, topographic, airphoto and infrastructure

MapInfo Pro tables.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Display 3D Surface and Draped

Images
This tutorial describes how to display a map created in MapInfo Pro into
MapInfo Discover 3D.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open Workspace

1.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, choose File>Open selecting Files of
Type Workspace (*.wor) from the Open dialog. Navigate to the following
folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following workspace file:
Tutorial - Surface Display.WOR

Step 2 Display 3D Surface

Numerous methods are available for transferring data into the 3D environment.
2.

In MapInfo Pro, navigate to Discover 3D>View Surface in 3D. Select

the Topography_RL surface file to display in 3D, click OK.

Transfer surface into MapInfo Discover 3D.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Display surface in MapInfo Discover 3D.

Step 3 Navigate in MapInfo Discover 3D

MapInfo Discover 3D is divided into the following components:

Main menu

Dockable toolbars

Workspace Tree Window

3D Display Window

Information Windows

Status Bar

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Components of the MapInfo Discover 3D window.

3.

Two cursor control options are available for navigating or selecting view
positions and movement. Navigate around the 3D window using each
option.

4.

The Select/Navigate control is used to make windows active, navigate

in 3D, select and edit objects and list items. Control of the 3D view is
based on the cursor location. It allows the 3D display to spin around a
horizontal axis if the cursor is moved vertically (with the left mouse
button depressed); or in a circular movement around an axis into the
screen when the cursor is moved horizontally.

5.

The 3D Navigation control is used to provide greater control of 3D

display manipulation. It is used in conjunction with the mouse cursor
buttons. After clicking the Select/Navigate button, move the cursor to
the 3D display window or by positioning the cursor in the 3D view, click
the right mouse button and select the Navigate 3D menu option.
Sensitivity and speed of movement is controlled by the cursors distance
from the centre point of the 3D window. The following mouse button and
cursor sequences allow 3D navigation and flight movement:

Left mouse button depressed with vertical movement rotates the

image about a horizontal axis

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Left mouse button depressed with horizontal movement rotates

the image about a vertical axis

Right mouse button with vertical movement zooms the image in or

out of the display. Horizontal movement does nothing.

Left and Right buttons depressed with horizontal cursor

movement pans the view left or right.

Left and Right buttons depressed with vertical cursor movement

produces a fly-through operation. Combining this movement with
a horizontal cursor movement allows a directional fly-through of
an image.

Keyboard entries with mouse manipulation can also be used to control 3D

display operation. Available combinations include:

SHIFT key plus pressed left mouse button repositions image view by
panning vertically or horizontally (this only operates in 3D Navigation
mode). Nearing the centre of the view reduces the speed of panning.

CTRL key plus pressed left mouse button repositions image view by
rotation about the horizontal and vertical axes. This can result in the
image rotating as well as panning (this only operates in 3D Navigation
mode). With the CTRL key pressed, the 3D cursor functionality moves
the focus of the eye such that you can rotate the view about your current
eye position. Nearing the centre of the view reduces the speed of
panning.

Note

The numeric keys 1 -> 0 can be used to control the speed of rotation and
zoom, where 1 & 2 are the slowest and 9 & 0 the fastest. This is particularly
useful when navigating at high zoom through large datasets.

Step 4 Drape Geology Layer over Surface

Map window data can be displayed as a draped image to provide relief and
accurate representation of the surface topography.
6.

Within MapInfo Pro, using the Layer Control, make sure the
Surface_Geology layer visible and ordered above the Topography_RL
layer.

7.

With both tables displayed in the mapper, use either the right mouse click
View in 3D... or, select Discover 3D>View Map in 3D... menu item.
Specify the Surface_Geology layer to drape over the Topography_RL
surface.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Drape geology layer over surface topography.

Note

The Save Permanently option will save a copy of the draped map as an
.EGB (Encom Georeferenced Bitmap) file. If this option is not selected a
temporary table will be created and cannot be referenced in the future.
8.

To enable the display of the geology drape disable the visibility of the
Surface object in the Workspace Tree.

By default the white background of the geology is transparent; navigate to the

Images Properties dialog by right clicking on the Images object in the
Workspace Tree. Select the Image tab and uncheck the Specify transparent
colour option to display the white background.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Disable colour transparency.

Draped geology layer on surface topography.

10

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

11

Step 5 Drape Air Photo over Surface

The same procedure used for the surface geology can be applied to an
airphoto.
9.

Within MapInfo Pro, using the layer control, make sure the Airphoto
layer visible and ordered above the Topography_RL layer.
With both tables displayed in the mapper, use either the right mouse click
View in 3D... or, select Discover 3D>View Map in 3D... menu item.
Specify the Airphoto layer to drape over the Topography_RL surface.
To enable the display of the airphoto drape disable the visibility of the
Surface object and geology drape Images object in the Workspace
Tree.
Navigate to the Images Properties dialog by right mouse clicking on the
Images object in the Workspace Tree. Select the Transparency tab and
move the Transparency slider to 30%. This will alter the display to
provide the drape airphoto with a transparency.

Airphoto draped over the surface topography.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

12

Step 6 Offset layers in 3D

From the previous exercises three objects are present in the 3D Display
Window, as they were derived from the same surface layer all layers are
overlapping. To display all objects it may be necessary to display the layers with
an offset.
10.

Navigate to the Images Properties dialog for the airphoto drape by right
mouse clicking on the Images object in the Workspace Tree. Select the
Transform tab, enter an Offset Z value of 50.

11.

Navigate to the Surface Properties dialog by right mouse clicking on the

Surface object in the Workspace Tree. Select the Surface layer, enter
an Offset value of -50.

Specify offset value for surface layer.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

13

Surface layers offset in 3D.

Step 7 Modify Vertical Scale

12.

To control the map vertical scaling navigate to the Scale tab of the 3D
Map branch properties dialog. The slider associated with the Z Scale
controls the vertical exaggeration. Set a Z scale of 2; note the scaling is
applied to all datasets within the 3D view.

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

3D Map Properties dialog controlling vertical exaggeration.

Surface layers offset and rescaled in 3D.

14

Display 3D Surface and Draped Images

Note

15

In most cases, when using the properties dialogs for modifying display
controls, you will need to click the Apply button at the base of the dialog
before any re-display of the view takes place.
Under certain tabs an Auto Apply option is available that allows the screen
view to update as changes are made in the Properties dialog.

13.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Drape Vectors Over Surface

17

Drape Vectors Over Surface

This tutorial details steps required to drape vector layers over an elevation
surface.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open Workspace

1.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, choose File>Open selecting Files of
Type Workspace (*.wor) from the Open dialog. Navigate to the following
folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following workspace file:
Tutorial - Drape Vectors.WOR

Step 2 Display Draped Airphoto in 3D

2.

Navigate to Discover 3D>View Map in 3D..., from the View Map in 3D

dialog select the mapper to view and the Grid file Topography_RL as
the draping surface.

Drape Vectors Over Surface

Drape airphoto in 3D.

Airphoto draped over topographic surface.

18

Drape Vectors Over Surface

3.

19

Navigate back to MapInfo Pro and make the vector layers visible using
layer control.
Vector layer to make visible include:
Roads
Fences
Streams
Navigate to Discover 3D>View Objects in 3D... menu. On the View
objects in 3D dialog select the Roads, Fences and Streams tables and
Assign a Z value from the grid Topography_RL. This will create
separate vector objects in 3D which are draped over the selected
surface.

View objects in 3D vector drape.

Drape Vectors Over Surface

20

Vector objects draped in 3D window.

4.

If the vector layers are located below the draped airphoto, right click on
the Images branch and move to the top of the Workspace Tree or left
mouse click and hold on the object and drag to the appropriate location in
the Workspace Tree.
Alternatively, navigate to the Images Properties dialog for the airphoto
drape by right mouse clicking on the Images object in the Workspace
Tree. Select the Transform tab, enter an Offset Z value of -1
Within MapInfo Discover 3D, you can toggle the display of the vectors
from the Workspace Tree by simply unchecking the vectors you wish not
to view.

5.

If the vector lines are not thick enough access the properties of the vector
layers and modify the line style from within the Surface tab.

6.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Point and Line Data

21

Display Point and Line Data

This tutorial describes how to display geochemical point data and modify colour
based on element values in MapInfo Discover 3D.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open Workspace

1.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, choose File>Open selecting Files of
Type Workspace (*.wor) from the Open dialog. Navigate to the following
folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following workspace file:
Tutorial - Line Data Display.WOR

Note

The coverage of the geochemical survey extends beyond the air photo.

Soil geochemical points displayed over the airphoto.

Display Point and Line Data

22

Step 2 Display Geochemical Dataset in 3D

2.

Note

Display the Airphoto image draped over the Topography_RL surface

into the 3D display, navigate to Discover 3D>3D Utilities>Overlay
Image on Grid.... This will create an EGB file called Airphoto.egb, drop
and drag this file into the 3D Display Window from the \Discover 3D
Tutorial \Topography folder. Open the 3D Window by navigating to
Discover 3D>Open 3D Window.
Displaying an image draped over a surface with Overlay Image on Grid tool
will maintain the full image quality.

3.

To create 3D lines navigate to Discover 3D>Create 3D Lines... to view

in 3D. Alternatively to view 3D points navigate to Discover 3D>Create
3D Points... option. The only difference in the 3D view is the 3D points
option displays the individual sample points as symbols in MapInfo
Discover 3D, whereas the 3D Lines option joins the sample points as
discrete lines. Create 3D Lines and select the Soil_Geochemistry table
to display from the Show 3D Lines dialog.

Select table to create line data.

4.

All point data will be imported as lines into the 3D display. Several
regional data points should be removed from the display to reduce the
visual clutter. To remove lines, right mouse click the Lines item from the
Workspace Tree and select Properties. Navigate to the Lines tab, and
ensure all lines prefixed with Regional Line are moved to the Hide pane
for the Line Selection. Click Apply to commit the change, MapInfo
Discover 3D view updates to include only the survey coverage in the
vicinity of the airphoto.

Display Point and Line Data

23

Remove the regional lines using the Lines Properties dialog.

Step 3 Modifying Line Appearance

Numerous options are present to control the appearance of lines and point data;
including style, colour and thickness.
5.

Display the Properties dialog of the Lines branch of the Workspace

Tree and select the Appearance tab. Click the Line Style button; the
dialog presented will allow modification of the line thickness, select
weight of 3.5. Click the Apply button to update the display.

Display Point and Line Data

24

Modify Line thickness.

6.

7.

Within the survey area, copper is of significant interest. To modulate the

line colour based on copper values, navigate to the Colour tab on the
Lines Properties dialog, enable the Colour option. From the pull-down
list, select Cu. Click the Apply button to display a colour modulated line
based on copper values.
Further colour enhancement can be performed using the colour
modulation table accessed via the Edit colour scale button. The data
lines reflect the changing copper values along the sampled lines.

Display Point and Line Data

25

Modulate line colour based on Cu values.

Step 4 View Points from Line Data

Note

8.

To view point data associated with the linework navigate to

Display>Points to create a new Point object in the Workspace Tree.
Display the properties dialog for the Points object (double click, or right
mouse click and select Properties from the menu). From the Lines tab
show all lines excluding those with a Regional Line prefix.

9.

Select the symbology to use from the Symbol tab. Uncheck the Fast
Symbol option and select symbol type to view.
Fast Symbols are best when viewing large amounts of data, as they require
little processing memory to display.

The size of the points can be modulated based on a size value. Check
the Size option and specify the data field, Cu. The size of symbols can
range between a minimum to maximum that can be defined and these
values are used to scale the data range for sizing determined by the
copper data values. Set this range between 3 and 15.

Display Point and Line Data

26

Modulate point size by Cu value.

Step 5 Colour Modulate Points

10.

11.

To highlight copper values colour modulate the points based on copper

values. Navigate to the Colour tab and enable the Colour option. From
the pull-down list, select Cu. Click the Apply button to display a colour
modulated line based on copper vales.
Further colour enhancement can be performed using the colour
modulation table accessed via the Edit colour scale button. The points
reflect the changing copper values along the sampled lines.

Display Point and Line Data

27

Modulate points by Cu colour.

Step 6 Offset Point and Line Data

Geochemical trends can be observed in the point and line datasets with
modulated colour vales, however, it can be difficult to observe when obscured
by the air photo. To overcome, the individual data lines and points can be offset
to highlight the value ranges clearly.
12.

Note

Navigate to the Fields tab on the Lines Properties dialog. Activate the
Offset option and select the Cu data field from the pull-down list. Click
the Apply button to offset the lines.

Observe how the lines move up and down depending on the copper data
value.
13.

Repeat this procedure on the Points Properties dialog, activate the

Offset option and select the Cu data field from the pull-down list. For
each point, the copper value is added to the Z or elevation and
repositioned accordingly.

Display Point and Line Data

28

Modulate point elevation by CU value.

Step 7 Display Point Information

Within the 3D interface information can be dynamically displayed for individual
objects.
14.

From the Workspace Tree make the Points object selectable by

activating the Select control.
From the Workspace Tree make the Points object browsable by
activating the Browse control.
Ensure the Select/Navigate control is activated.
Ensure the Data Window is open and display in 3D by enabling this
control from the Main toolbar.

15.

Slowly mouse the mouse cursor over point objects in the 3D Display
Window, when the mouse hovers over a point, information about that
point is displayed in the Data Window.
The Data Window fields can be customised by right mouse clicking in
the Data Window and selecting Customise.

Display Point and Line Data

16.

29

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Vector Objects in 3D

31

Display Vector Objects in 3D

This tutorial shows you how to add various 3D objects into the 3D display.
Typically, objects are created in third-party software such as modelling
programs, mine planning packages or systems capable of producing 3D output.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover
3D environment is assumed. For additional information on MapInfo Pro and
MapInfo Discover, refer to both the MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo
Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open Dataset

1.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, choose File>Open selecting Files of
Type Workspace (*.wor) from the Open dialog. Navigate to the following
folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following workspace file:
Tutorial - Display DXF Vectors.WOR

Orebody outline displayed on airphoto.

Display Vector Objects in 3D

32

Step 2 Display Draped Map in 3D

2.

Navigate to Discover 3D>View Map in 3D..., from the View Map in 3D

dialog select the mapper to view and the Grid file Topography_RL as
the draping surface.

Step 3 Load DXF in 3D

The most common and versatile 3D data format is the AutoCad DXF 3D format
file. This file type is supported by MapInfo Discover 3D, in some cases and
where appropriate the DXF format files can also be displayed in MapInfo Pro
and MapInfo Discover.
3.

Two methods are available to import a DXF file directly into MapInfo
Discover 3D.
Select the Display>3D Vector item from the main menu or
Drop-and-Drag the DXF file into MapInfo Discover 3D from Windows
Explorer.

4.

Create a new 3D Vector object using Display>3D Vector option. Right

mouse click the Vectors item from the Workspace Tree and select
Properties. Navigate to the File tab, use the Browse button to specify a
3D DXF file. Navigate to the Orebody Models folder and select the
Skarn_Orebody.DXF file.
Click the Apply button after selection to display the orebody.

Display Vector Objects in 3D

33

Skarn orebody displayed in 3D.

Step 4 Modify DXF Appearance

MapInfo Discover 3D provides a number of controls to modify the appearance
of displayed DXF files. These controls are located on the Vector Properties
dialog.
5.

Modify the DXF appearance by adjusting the various property controls

The geometry of the shape can be smoothed by checking the

Smooth Surface option on the File tab.

The native fill colour of the object can be overridden by modifying

the Fill Colour on the Surface tab.

The vertices of the DXF object can be joined by a wireframe to

assist in viewing the smoothness of the object. Check the
Wireframe option on the Surface tab to enable.

The transparency of the object can be altered to permit other items

such as drillholes of other 3D objects to become visible. On the
Transparency tab move the slider to the desired transparency
level.

Display Vector Objects in 3D

To prevent self see through of a transparent object check the

Prevent seeing an object through itself option on the
Transparency tab.

Modified DXF orebody object.

Step 5 Display Additional DXF Objects

6.

Navigate to the following folder:

Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Orebody Models
From Windows Explorer Drop-and-Drag the following DXF files into the
3D Display Window:
Shaft.DXF
Fault_1.DXF
Development.DXF

34

Display Vector Objects in 3D

35

3D DXF files displayed in MapInfo Discover 3D.

7.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

37

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

This tutorial demonstrates the ability of MapInfo Discover 3D to visualise and
interrogate drillhole data in three dimensions. This has obvious and significant
advantages over simply viewing maps and data sections.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on how to create, import and display drillhole data, refer
to the Drillhole Display section of the MapInfo Discover User Guide. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session... menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Drillhole Surface Drape.EGS

Step 2 Import Drillhole Project

2.

Navigate to the Drillhole menu item in MapInfo Discover to open a

supplementary Drillholes menu. Select Drillholes>Project
Manager>Import/Export. Navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Drilling Data\Drillhole Project
Import the following drillhole project file:
Example Drilling.setup.xml
When prompted by MapInfo Discover import the project and accept the
default name Example Drilling. Click OK.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

38

Import MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project.

From Drillholes menu navigate to Drillholes>Project Manager... and
select the Example Drilling project. Click Open.

Open MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project.

A mapper window containing the Drillhole_Collar table and
TOPOGRAPHY_RL grid will open with the project. The other required
project tables Drillhole_LITH, Drillhole_SURVEYS, Drillhole_ASSAYS
will open in the background.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

39

Step 3 Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

3.

Navigate to the Discover 3D>View Drillholes... option. Select all the

drillholes by clicking the Select All button on the 3D Drillhole Wizard
dialog.

Import drillholes into MapInfo Discover 3D.

Note

For very large datasets or for lower-end computers, it is advisable to import

only a subset of the drillhole dataset into the 3D window. To do this, tick the
Load Subset based on selected option at the bottom of the dialog, ensure
that only the drillholes to be imported are listed under the Selected column.
Initially, drillhole traces are displayed as grey 3D tubes. The collar
positions of the drillholes coincide with the topographic surface that has
the Airphoto draped over it.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

40

Drillhole traces displayed in MapInfo Discover 3D.

Step 4 - Selecting Drillholes in MapInfo Discover 3D

4.

Right mouse click on the Drillholes object on the Workspace Tree

and select the Properties option. Navigate to the Holes tab, click the
Drillhole Selection button.
From the Drillhole Selection dialog use the Selection Tools to select
a subset of the drillholes to display in 3D. Click Apply, only the
selected holes will be displayed.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

41

Subset drillholes from the Drillhole Selection dialog.

Step 5 - Modify Drillhole Appearance

5.

From the Drillholes Properties dialog navigate to the Appearance tab.

Three options are available for trace style:
Line
3D Tube
3D Rose
When large numbers of drillholes are displayed, the Line format is
advisable for rapid 3D display. Both the 3D Tube and 3D Rose option
allows more comprehensive 3D displays.
Select the 3D Tube option and increase the Thickness value to 3.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

42

Appearance tab for modulating trace style.

6.

To assist with visual interpretation it may be necessary to display drillhole

collars and end of holes labels. This is especially useful when a surface
(such as an airphoto) is draped over the collar positions. Enable the
Collar Label, Bottom Label and Collar Symbol options and configure
as required on the Symbols tab.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

43

Modify Drillhole labels and symbols.

Step 6 - Modulate Drillhole Thickness

7.

Navigate to the Appearance tab and select 3D Rose drillhole style. The
Petals button controls the display thickness of the drill trace based on
selected downhole attributes such as assay values. Select this option to
display the Petal Channels dialog. The colour, size and data fields
displayed are controlled from this dialog.
The Petal Channels dialog controls the tube thickness of drillholes as
either discs or enlarged tubes. Check the Show box to activate a field to
display, specify a Field to control the drillhole diameter. Select the
Drillhole_ASSAYS_AU_AVG from the Field pull-down list. Ensure both
the Enhance and Global options are checked to modulate the thickness.
Click the Apply button, note how the displayed drillhole diameters alter.
Multiple data channels can be selected to control thickness with multiple
drillhole diameters relative to the data channels selected. Experiment with
modulation of the drillhole traces using multiple assay fields.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

Modulate trace thickness by assay value.

44

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

45

Modulated drillhole thickness by Drillhole_ASSAYS_CU and

Drillhole_ASSAY_AU_AVG.
Note

Performance degradation may be experienced when visualising drill traces

as 3D Rose Petals. For faster navigation speed use either 3D Tube or Line
trace styles.

Step 7 - Modulate Drillhole Colour

8.

Ensure the drill trace is thickness modulated only by the

Drillhole_ASSAYS_AU_AVG field. Navigate to the Colour tab and
check the Colour box. This feature allows the colour of the drillholes to
change depending on values contained within a data field. For example,
drillhole assays or lithology can be used to alter not only the colour, but
also the patterns of display of the drillholes.

9.

Select the Drillhole_ASSAYS_AU_AVG from the pull-down list. To

select a specific colour scheme or legend to colour or attribute the
drillhole traces, click the Apply button.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

46

The colour applied to the drill traces is relatively uniform; this is due to
the presence of null assay values expressed as -1 value. To display a
colour scheme which reflects the data better select the Edit Colour
Mapping button. Check the Apply bandpass cutoff box and type in a
lower and upper value of 5% and 95% respectively. Click OK to
commit the change.

Colour Mapping with cut-off applied to upper and lower data values.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

47

Modulated drillhole thicknesses by thickness and colour.

Extensive control is provided over the selection and appearance of the available
look-up tables and legends that provide colours or patterns to the drillholes,
custom LUT tables and legends can be constructed. A range of look-up tables
are supplied with MapInfo Discover 3D as well as a powerful Colour Lookup
Editor (refer to the MapInfo Discover 3D User Guide).
Look-up tables control the colours used in modulating the drillhole data, in
addition, patterns can be used instead. Patterns use available Legends also
supplied with the software, or you can use the Legend Editor to create and edit
these (refer to the Legend Editor in the MapInfo Discover 3D User Guide).
10.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Drillhole Traces in 3D

Example drill trace modulation.

Drill trace modulated by lithology.

48

Display Drillhole Sections in 3D

49

Display Drillhole Sections in 3D

This tutorial illustrates how interpreted drillhole sections can be displayed in a
3D view with the associated drillhole information. From drillhole data, logs, rock
type or assay data interpretations can be created within MapInfo Discover 3D.
When these interpretations are displayed in three dimensions their relationships
can become significantly more meaningful.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on how to create, import and display drillhole data, refer
to the Drillhole Display section of the MapInfo Discover User Guide. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session... menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Drillhole Section Display.EGS

Step 2 Open MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project

2.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, navigate to

Discover>Drillholes>Project Manager.... From the Project Manager
select the project Example Drilling to open. If this project is not visible
you will need to import as described in the Display Drillhole Traces in 3D
tutorial.

3.

Navigate to Drillholes>Section Manager... and open the three

previously created sections; Section_1, Section_2 and Section_3. From
the Section Manager dialog, select all three available sections and then
click the Open button. The digitized polygon represents a lithology layer
consisting of a Lava unit.

Display Drillhole Sections in 3D

50

Display drillhole sections in MapInfo Pro.

Step 3 Display Sections in 3D

4.

Navigate to Discover 3D>View Sections... to export the open section

into 3D. Highlight all three sections on the Export located bitmap dialog
and click OK. Ensure only the sections are highlighted since other
windows such as the collar map are inappropriate to display as sections.

Export Drillhole sections to MapInfo Discover 3D.

Display Drillhole Sections in 3D

51

Drillholes sections display in MapInfo Discover 3D.

5.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Create 3D Object from Section Boundary

53

Create 3D Object from Section

Boundary
This tutorial illustrates how to create a 3D solid object from a series of digitized
drillhole section boundary layers.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover
3D environment is assumed. For additional information on MapInfo Pro and
MapInfo Discover, refer to both the MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo
Discover User Guide.
What are Feature Objects and Feature Database?
The feature database provides a powerful utility for the creation and storage of
3D Feature Objects. Feature Objects are points, lines or polygonal regions that
represent entities such as geological/ore boundaries, structural/fault
intersections or other general features of interest in the 3D environment. These
objects can be created in MapInfo Discover 3D, exported from MapInfo Pro or
imported from third party software.
Feature Objects are stored in a Feature Database. A Feature Database
contains a Feature Dataset, e.g. supergene ore boundaries or interpreted fault
lines. Attribute data can be added to these objects as seamless in MapInfo Pro.
Feature objects can also be queried for volume and 3D solid bodies created.

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session... menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Drillhole Create Solid.EGS

Step 2 Open MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project

2.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, navigate to

Discover>Drillholes>Project Manager.... From the Project Manager
select the project Example Drilling to open. If this project is not visible
you will need to import as described in the Display Drillhole Traces in 3D
tutorial.

Create 3D Object from Section Boundary

3.

54

Navigate to Drillholes>Section Manager... and open the three

previously created sections; Section_1, Section_2 and Section_3. From
the Section Manager dialog, select all three available sections and then
click the Open button. The digitized polygon represents a lithology layer
consisting of a Lava unit. We are going to create a solid object from these
digitized boundaries to display in 3D.

Step 3 Display Section Boundaries in 3D

4.

Navigate to Discover 3D>View Section Layers... to export the open

section boundaries into 3D. Highlight all three sections on the Export
Boundary to 3D Feature dialog. Under Output click the Save button
and rename the Feature Database to Section Layers, click OK. This will
create a Feature Database with all the section boundaries.

5.

The Features Properties dialogue will appear. It is possible to colour

code features determined by feature type. This function relies on the user
populating the Feature Code column when the boundaries are digitised
in MapInfo Pro. Navigate to MapInfo Pro and open the Browser of the
section table Section_1B. Feature Code information such as boundary
details can be entered. If desired enter information for all three sections
and re-import to display colour by this field.

Digitized boundaries imported into 3D.

Create 3D Object from Section Boundary

55

Step 4 Create Solid Object

6.

Navigate to Utilities>3D Solid Generator.... Select Section Boundaries

from the Sections drop down menu. Choose a surface colour from the
Surface Colour drop down menu and select Smooth from the End
Capping Style drop down menu. Click Apply, in the 3D preview window
the generated 3D object can be viewed. A report containing the
calculated body volume is also created. If the interpolation between the
Feature Objects is not satisfactory then tie lines can be added to aid the
interpolation process. Click Close.
The 3D Feature Solid is displayed as a 3D DXF file, and represents the
Lava lithological unit.

7.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

3D solid created with the 3D Solid Generator.

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

57

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

The objective of this tutorial is to display downhole log plot in 3D.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the 3D environment is required. For
additional information on how to create, import and display drillhole data, refer
to the Drillhole Display section of the MapInfo Discover User Guide. For
additional information on MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover, refer to both the
MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo Discover User Guide.

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session... menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Drillhole Log Display.EGS

Step 2 Open MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project and logs

2.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, navigate to

Discover>Drillholes>Project Manager.... From the Project Manager
select the project Example Drilling to open. If this project is not visible
you will need to import as described in the Display Drillhole Sections in
3D tutorial.

3.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, choose File>Open selecting Files of
Type Workspace (*.wor) from the Open dialog. Navigate to the following
folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following workspace file:
Tutorial - Drillhole Logs.WOR

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

58

Step 3 Display Logs in 3D

4.

Select the Discover 3D>View Logs... menu item to display logs in 3D.
Check the Best Fit option, the will locate the lending edge of the log
adjacent to the drill trace, otherwise the log may appear separated from
the drill trace. Click OK to display logs in 3D.

Export drillhole logs to MapInfo Discover 3D.

To reduce the display clutter navigate to the Holes tab on the Drillholes
Properties dialog and only select the following holes to display; AN3069,
AN3141, AN3142 and AN3159

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

59

Display of drillholes and associated logs.

Step 4 Modifying Appearance of Logs

5.

From the Drillholes Properties dialog navigate to the Image tab.

Experiment with the various options for the log display, increase the
image quality, transparency etc.
Adjust the Azimuth and Scale (horizontal) using the provided slider bars.
Note that the purpose of the azimuth and scale controls is to allow for
rotation of the 3D display. To optimally view the logs, rotate them towards
a uniform azimuth; enable the Uniform Azimuth option and then use the
Azimuth slider to control their orientation.

6.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

10

60

Display Georeferenced Image Slice

This tutorial describes how to export a geo-located image from 3D into MapInfo
Pro.
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover
3D environment is assumed. For additional information on MapInfo Pro and
MapInfo Discover, refer to both the MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo
Discover User Guide.
This is a powerful way to capture slices through a dataset (e.g. Voxel models,
.DXF solid models) as georeferenced images.
Georeferenced images can used in the following ways:

Display in other software applications (e.g. PowerPoint or Word).

Efficient display in MapInfo Discover 3D of more complex and memoryintensive datasets (e.g. displaying a Voxel model as a series of image
slices).

Export to associated MapInfo Discover drillhole cross-sections for

detailed data comparison and interpretation.

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Display Section in 2D.EGS

Step 2 Open MapInfo Discover Drillhole Project

2.

From the MapInfo Pro menu bar, navigate to

Discover>Drillholes>Project Manager.... From the Project Manager
select the project Example Drilling to open. If this project is not visible
you will need to import as described in the Display Drillhole Traces in 3D
tutorial.

3.

Navigate to Drillholes>Section Manager... and open the three

previously created sections; Section_1, Section_2 and Section_3. From

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

61

the Section Manager dialog, select all three available sections and then
click the Open button.

Step 3 Display Sections in 3D

4.

Navigate to Discover 3D>View Sections... to export the open section

into 3D. Highlight all three sections on the Export located bitmap dialog
and click OK. Ensure only the sections are highlighted since other
windows such as the collar map are inappropriate to display as sections.

5.

Navigate to the following folder

Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Orebody Models
Open the following DXF files into 3D:
Shaft.DXF
Skarn_Orebody.DXF
Development.DXF

Step 4 Export Georeferenced Image from 3D

6.

From MapInfo Discover 3D navigate to Tools>Georeferenced Image

Export.... From the Locate image using dropdown select Discover
Section. From Discover Section dropdown select Section_1. Change
the Clip option to Slice with a Width (total) of 100. Set the Resolution
(Pixels): to 2048. Click the Preview button to display the selected
settings. Click Apply to create image.

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

62

Georeferenced Image Exporter dialog.

Step 5 View Geolocated Image in MapInfo Discover & MapInfo

Discover 3D
7.

Close the Georeferenced Image Exporter dialog. Navigate to MapInfo

Pro, choose cross section window containing the Section_1 section as
the front mapper window, the georeferenced image is automatically
added to the appropriate section window.

8.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.

Display Downhole Logs in 3D

63

MapInfo Discover cross section with georeferenced Image of a Skarn orebody

and aerial image exported from the MapInfo Discover 3D window.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

11

64

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

This tutorial illustrates the capability of MapInfo Discover 3D to display complex
3D objects that are constructed from Voxels (volume elements). This type of
object is complex and is available from only a few specialist simulation and
modelling packages (such as Vulcan, Gemcom, Surpac and DataMine).
A prior level of knowledge navigating in the MapInfo Pro and MapInfo Discover
3D environment is assumed. For additional information on MapInfo Pro and
MapInfo Discover, refer to both the MapInfo Pro User Guide and the MapInfo
Discover User Guide.
What are voxel models?
The term Voxel refers to a volume element and is the three dimensional
equivalent of the two dimensional pixel. As used in mine planning and
geophysical modelling, Voxel models represent volumes of the earth which are
subdivided in a regular way into sub-volumes, or cells. Each cell, created from
six sides contains an earth volume of uniform property attribute. Such properties
as rock type, magnetic susceptibility, gravity density, conductivity or IP property
(e.g. chargeability or phase) can be used.
Individual cell volumes for display in MapInfo Discover 3D are prismatic in
shape but Voxel models need not be. For example, complex mesh designs are
possible whereby individual cell dimensions vary for each of their 12 side
lengths.

Example Voxel model.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

65

Step 1 Open 3D Dataset

1.

From the Discover 3D menu in MapInfo Pro navigate to Discover

3D>Open 3D Window. Select the File>Open Session... menu item and
navigate to the following folder:
Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Example Sessions and
Workspaces
Open the following session file:
Tutorial - Display Voxel.EGS

Step 2 Load Voxel Model in 3D

The Voxel Model to be used in this tutorial uses the UBC standard format. The
model is defined by two files. The first is a descriptive header file (called a MSH
file) that specifies the number of rows, columns and branches plus the origin
and Voxel sizes.
A second file (called a data file) contains the property values associated with
each of the Voxel cells making up the model.
2.

Within MapInfo Discover 3D either click the Display Voxel Model button
or select the Display>Voxel Model... menu item. A new Voxel Model
branch is added to the Workspace Tree of MapInfo Discover 3D. Display
the Voxel Model properties dialog by right mouse clicking and selecting
Properties. Navigate to the File tab and click the Load Model Wizard
button. Select the UBC 3D (University of British Columbia) voxel format to
import.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

66

Load UBC Voxel Model in MapInfo Discover 3D.

3.

The two required files are contained in folder Discover 3D\Discover 3D

Tutorial\Geophysics. The model is the result of a geophysical inversion
program that builds a 3D Voxel model and computes the magnetic
susceptibility property for each cell. The data files required are:
Mesh.msh (Mesh file)
Maginv3d.sus (Data file)
Select Finish and Apply to display the Voxel model.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

67

UBC Voxel model display in MapInfo Discover 3D.

Step 3 Modify Voxel Model Appearance

Many operations can be performed on the Voxel model to view the internal
structure and properties of the volume.
Available operations include:

Thresholding

Isosurfacing

Offsetting

Colour filling

Clipping

Slice display

4.

From the Colour tab on the Voxel Model Properties dialog select the
Edit Colour Scale button. On the Colour Scale dialog select the LookUp Table option, select a couple of the LUT colour schemes to highlight
various inversion values.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

68

Colour Voxel model by LUT.

Step 4 Clip Voxel Model

Surrounding the model are cells that can be eliminated from the view which can
be done using the Clipping operation. The clipping can also be used to view
properties within the 3D volume.
5.

Ensuring the Voxel Model Properties dialog is open, navigate to the

Clipping tab. Enable the clipping by turning on the Clip model outside
specified extents option. Portions of the Voxel model can be clipped
along the three principal orthogonal axes. Adjust the slider bars for the
Easting, Northing and Elevation Extents to observe the clipping. Use
the Auto Apply option to visualise the clipping.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

69

Clip Voxel Model along 3 principle axes.

Another method of clipping the model is called Chair Clipping. This operation
can clip in all three principal axis directions at once to display internal structure.
6.

Select the Chair Clipping tab, enable the Chair clipping by turning on the
Clip model with specified extents Front and Back standard cuts =>
option. Click one of the Top Left (TL), Top Right (TR) etc buttons to
initiate the chair clipping and then use the sliders to cut through different
directions of the model.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

70

Chair Clipping the Voxel Model to reveal internal structure.

Step 5 Threshold Voxel Model

A useful method of visualising a volume is to display only those cells that have a
data property above or within a specific data range. This process is referred to
as thresholding.
7.

Disable the Clipping and Chair Clipping options to revert back to a

display with all cells that are not clipped. Navigate to the Threshold tab
and enable the Threshold option by Maginv3d.sus property. Ensure
the Auto Apply option is enabled.

8.

Set the Transparency slider bar to approximately 30%; this controls the
transparency of the displayed thresholded data. Slide the Accept Voxel
Range sliders at the base of the dialog, cells within the upper and lower
range will only be visible. Set the upper and lower ranges to be about
0.03 to 0.05 for optimal anomaly viewing.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

71

Voxel Model Thresholded to reveal anomaly.

Step 6 View Voxel Model as Isosurface

An alternative to displaying each individual thresholded cell is to combine the
cells to form a surface (called an isosurface). This presentation forms a surface
based on creation of a surface where a single data value is specified.
9.

Navigate to the Appearance tab and disable the Render thresholded

Voxel model option. Both thresholded and isosurface can be displayed
together, for clarity only display the isosurface. Navigate to the
Isosurface tab, from the pull-down list, select the Maginv3d.sus data to
base the isosurface presentation on. Click the select button to add the
Maginv3d.sus to the available list. Additional isosurfaces can be
displayed if available.
In the Isosurface value entry box, type the required value of 0.04.
Ensure the Auto Apply option is enabled.

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

Display Voxel Model Isosurface

Step 7 View the Voxel Model with Other Objects

10.

Navigate to the following folder

Discover 3D\Discover 3D Tutorial\Orebody Models
Open the following DXF files into 3D:
Shaft.DXF
Skarn_Orebody.DXF
Development.DXF
Within the 3D window toggle the visibility and colour of the various
objects present in the Workspace Tree to visualise the data
interrelationships.

72

Display Voxel Block Model in 3D

73

Isosurface Voxel Model

11.

Complete this step of the tutorial by closing all layers in the MapInfo
Discover 3D display using the File>Close All menu item. Close all open
tables in MapInfo Pro using File>Close All.