Create a 3D Drillhole Georeferenced Textured Mesh (*.obj) from your Images

Introduction

Imago Connect + Tools can be used to create a 3D mesh .obj format file which exports your images, managed by the Imago Portal, in 3D space. This import/export format is supported by the majority of mining/geological software packages such as Leapfrog, Surpac, Micromine and other geological modelling software packages.

Make sure you have the latest version of Imago Connect + Tools (Downloads Section).  To produce a 3D mesh file, you will need to provide Collar and Downhole Surveys either in CSV format or though a connection to an external database. These will be used for desurveying.

Open Imago Connect + Tools. and login to your account. The steps to obtain a list of images within a directory are: 

1. Open Imago Connect + Tools. then login to your account. 
2. Select 3D Drillhole, from the sidebar menu located on the left.
3. Load Defaults, if previous values have been saved.
4. Choose the Image Source, which images are to be exported.
5. Provide collar and downhole survey data (Drillhole Data).
6. Selectively filter Images (Filter Collars By). 
7. Define image size offset from the drillhole (3D Image Size and Position).
8. Select the Output Directory.
9. Save Defaults.
10. Click Generate.

Create a 3D Drillhole Georeferenced Textured Mesh File

1. Imago Source

Imagery Type

In the Imago Portal, images are grouped according to Imagery Types. For example, this could be 'Core Boxes' or 'Drillholes' or other such Imagery Types specific for your implementation.

Image Type

For the selected Imagery Type there will be one or more Image Types. For Example, for 'Core Boxes', this could be 'Wet', 'Dry' and other possibilities. Again these are specific for your implementation.

2. Drillhole Data

To prepare the 3D mesh, provide a Collar file and Downhole Survey file in CSV format or a connection to an external database.

The dialog provides the means to select the sources and, importantly, you will also map fields in the source to fields in the Imago Portal.

Depending on the dip convention used at your site, you can check Invert Dips if necessary.

3. Filter Collars By

This section of the dialog, provides the ability to filter images using a combination of Collection and/or Easting and/or Northing and/or Section Width.

4. 3D Image Size and Position

Looking Direction

This is the view direction for the 3D mesh. True Bearing, in addition to the four cardinal directions, is offered.

Wildcards are allowed. Hover you mouse over the Collection input area. Hover hints are also available for Looking Direction.

Image 3D Offset

This defines how far from the image will be positioned offset from the drillhole trace. Units are in respect of the image's defined units. For example, if metres, then the offset will be in metres.

Image 3D Width

Unless there is a need to use a Fixed width, Use Aspect Ratio is recommended. Aspect ratio preserves the images height/width ratio when scaling.

Resize to Width (Set Resolution)

This controls the the width of the image in pixels. 

For initial testing, especially to monitor download speed, set this to a low number such as 100. In Leapfrog more than one *.obj can be imported at the simultaneously by selecting all during import. Meshes for more than one drillhole can be created at a time by specifying them in the collar and downhole survey files. Imago Connect + Tools uses the raw tangent desurvey method. Use these settings when displaying your drillholes: http://help.leapfrog3d.com/Geo/4.2/en-GB/Content/drillholes/desurveying-options.htm

5. Output Directory

Select the local directory (folder) where the mesh file is to be exported to.

6. Load and Save Defaults

You can save the values entered for this task for future use. Choose a meaningful name.

Example

The following fmay be used to create a working example:

Collar.csv

Survey.csv

To review the imagery in the Imago Portal for this project use the following:

• User: ImagoDemo1
• Password: ImagoDemo1

Imagery can be found here. 

Use the following entries:

Using your geological/mining software's Import Mesh command you can import the resulting .obj file.

Here is the corresponding data so you can have some reference drillholes for Leapfrog: Demo_Data.zip