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Carlson Mining 2007

Carlson Basic Mining 2007	$1000.00
Carlson Geology 2007	$2500.00
Carlson Underground Mining 2007	$2500.00
Carlson Surface Mining 2007	$2500.00

Four programs make up Carlson Mining 2007. They are:

- Carlson Geology 2007
- Carlson Underground Mining 2007
- Carlson Surface Mining 2007
- Carlson Basic Mining 2007

These Carlson Mining 2007 programs are unique applications that allow the user to perform mine engineering and geology, while running entirely inside AutoCAD.

The Carlson Mining 2007 programs are currently in use by hundreds of groups ranging from small engineering firms to huge coal companies and government agencies alike. To become the dominant product line in any software market requires extraordinary commitment to both advanced technology and customer service. The Carlson Mining 2007 programs have become the most widely used design and mapping software in the mining industry for just these reasons.

Whether the application is underground mining, surface mining, permitting or geologic mapping and reserve studies, Carlson Mining 2007 provides uniquely powerful automation combined with our trademark ease of use.

Geology Module

The Carlson Geology Module is a mining add-on to AutoCAD for the complete geologic modeling package. The process from importing drillholes, validating the data and modeling the ore to reserve calculation is seamless. Other factors such as 3D viewing of the drillholes and blocks, cross sections and queries are part of the process for the geologist to accurately represent the ore body for mining.

Drillholes: Drillholes may be imported for grid and/or block modeling. Drillholes can be stored in the dwg, or linked to an external database. The Geology Module can import nearly any known ASCII drillhole format, as well as almost 30 fixed drillhole formats from other companies and programs, utilizing almost any type of data.

Queries, reports, and parameter compliance filters start the modeling process for accurate model representation. Quality attribute equations of unlimited parameters coupled with unlimited grid sizes and resolutions produce a detailed model of any size. Drillholes can be stored in the drawing database, or linked to an external database of choice such as Microsoft Access or even Excel.

Drillholes can be both angled and vertical, and inspected real-time with the drillhole inspector, which displays chosen values as the cursor is moved from hole to hole. Drillhole correlation and fence diagrams are readily developed with automated macros to update the strata names. Strata within several geologic columns can be selected, named and correlated leading to dynamic updating of the corresponding drillholes in the database. Even when you post drillhole text in plan view, the labels are user-defined. Drilling can be updated with a powerful drillhole datasheet Ð a data management spreadsheet, which allows the user to encode collar, strata and bed data along with lithologic information and unlimited quality parameters. Not only can strata within beds be composited for quality, but beds can be subdivided. A 20m ore body or coal seam, for example, can be automatically divided into many different beds based on elevations, quality analysis or gridded surfaces, allowing for composited qualities for each bed. This is useful for analysis of bench-based reserves, where ore quality is calculated by bench or 3D block, not by association with a strata or bed.

Strata or lithologic units can be designated as Key (ore) or Non-key (waste) during setup and can later be edited to further detail the geologic model. The popular "Ferm Code" designation is available, which will associate the proper hatch pattern with each Ferm Code in geologic columns and fence diagrams. The routine also supports user-defined "horizon codes" on individual strata which can be used to select or deselect specific data for modeling. Individual drillholes can be selected from the screen for straight forward edits or updates. Queries on drillholes for various statistics can be reported quickly and easily. Interrogation of the geologic model is facilitated with 2D or 3D diagrams. The 3D view option allows the geologist to see the drillhole lithology and downhole data displayed from any desired viewpoint. Likewise, triangulated, contoured or gridded surfaces can be displayed in 3D to compare against the geological columns. Fence diagrams, or geologic cross sections, can be constructed between a series of holes to investigate correlation.

The Geology Module includes a wide range of features that have specialized application: "Split Bed" allows for division of large coal, limestone and ore seams into beds defined by elevation, thickness or quality and/or grid surfaces, leading to compositing of qualities and tonnage calculations for each bed zone. In this way, three or four vertically-defined benches within the same pit can be differentiated by quality and tonnage. "Parameter Compliance" will "quick" analyze drillholes for compliance against parameter specifications for ore attributes, highlighting drillholes that pass. Compliance zones will be defined by closed polylines or hatched, as an option. Ore bodies can be broken down into types of ore based on filtering raw drillhole data through parameter compliance files that are associated with specific ore characteristics. Using this technique, for example, a clay seam may be defined as "medical filler" or "paper grade" based on passing the parameter compliance test, leading to mapping of grades of ore.

Two separate programs can complement the Geology Module. Drillholes can be stored in the powerful Hole Manager database program where queries and reports can be generated. Quality compositing is seamless resulting in color coded entries for quick verification. If there are electronic logs, or E-Log files, such as the common FAS file, these can also be batch-imported in the Hole Manager. Standard picks for values such as gamma, resistivity, density and caliper are available, as are any customizable parameter and range for different rock types. Electronic drillholes are then added to the database for modeling and comparison with the core and drillers log.

Isopach Maps: After the drillholes are correlated and validated, various modeling routines utilize the data. Isopach maps can be generated from a grid file or drillholes on screen. There are Auto-Run Isopach macros to generate an isopach map, each with its own hatching, in a separate drawing. Geological maps of the surface topography may be drawn illustrating the outcropping geology on a 3D surface. Custom colors and naming are utilized and hatched using the predefined strata and beds.

Steps such as fence and block diagramming can be conducted from stored models or directly from screen-selected drillholes. Seam conformance, pinchout, faults, outcrops, sub-crops, splitting and parting logic are an intrinsic part of all of the major modeling techniques. Geologists can assert control over raw drillhole data by specifying strata limit lines for subcrops and outcrops, and by designating "3D polylines" for strata thickness or elevations. In this way, highwall, pit and underground mine survey information can be translated into more accurate structure modeling. The geologic model accepts pit or channel samples and outcrop samples. Auto-Run Grid macros will update entire sets of grid files when new drillholes are added from new drilling programs. Grid statistics and history are accessible for review as necessary. Grid inspectors allow real-time verification of the grid values with the cursor as grid values display at the cursor location.
Gridding: All of the major geological modeling techniques are supported, such as triangulation, inverse distance, kriging, polynomial and least squares. Calculate Residuals, with automation, will analyze all of the modeling methods for each specific variable and report the amount of error associated with each method, giving the user a recommendation on which method is better suited for the attribute gridded. Grid file utilities, also with macros, allow quick and flexible modification of gridded surfaces within defined areas, including grid-to-grid algebraic operations, merging, nulling, extrapolating, and changing resolutions. There are routines to composite structure grids based on quality analysis and to convert quality grids to as delivered.

Block Models: Block modeling can be by 3D inverse distance, Kriging or discrete. This creates a block model that can be further analyzed and displayed through user entered grade parameter files, viewed in 3D and cross sections and used for reserve calculations of the different grades.

Reserves: Once the drillholes and model are checked and validated, Surface or Underground Mine Reserves and volumes can be calculated from drillholes on the fly, from a strata based grid model, or from a block models. Block model reserves will be calculated using the grade parameter fileÑvolumes within certain quality ranges are automatically calculated. For example, in Pit 24, there are 5020 tons above 90% calcium; 10440 tons from 80%-90% calcium, etc.; not only in plan view but in 3D. Carlson offers advanced polyline logic that can process reserve results for any combination of complex inclusion perimeters and interior "exclusion" perimeters. For example, if an area contains previously mined underground works, these can be "excluded" from the reserve calculation.

Reserving has many options for dilution, parting thickness, separable recovery factors and densities and strip ratio. Surface mines can utilize highwall slopes, and even an ultimate pit shell for overall sloped reserves, even between a defined top and bottom elevation. Also as an option, the "Surface History Report" creates a new surface for each bench and pit. This report can be selected to calculate the reserve for each pit and bench instantly. The command Reserve Classification calculates "measured, indicated and inferred" quantities for a site and outputs it in a custom report, with optional GIS links. Reports are user-defined for all reserve calculations and schedules; that can include such items as tonnage, overburden, strip ratio, area mined, qualities, periods, equipment and cost. Report formats are easily constructed and then saved and recalled for specific applications or different mine sites. The reports can be directly linked and exported to Microsoft Excel or Access for spreadsheet and database presentation from within Carlson Mining and AutoCAD.

Underground Mining Module

The Carlson Underground Mining Module provides all the tools for designing and scheduling the mine projections and for mapping the mine as it is surveyed. The strong mine projection commands also contribute to the precise and verifiable mine scheduling and equipment timing.

Mine Projections and Layout: Complete mine projections and ventilation can be created in seconds instead of hours. Set a few parameters and our routines will generate hundreds of breaks and projections with projected pillars and optionally rooms, beltline and ventilation directions. Create angled crosscuts for continuous haulage situations, or station the crosscuts for advance. If you want rounded pillars, or punch-outs along the rib line, or bracketed pillars to indicate future mining, the options are there. For ventilation, you control the type of air in each entry and you can automatically place stops, man-doors and escape ways. It even handles splits in ventilation using three rows of stoppings.

A full array of mine symbols may be used to create the final map from the Mine Symbol Library. Mine symbols may also be user-defined. Mine survey notes can be entered by azimuth at the command line or in a spreadsheet type dialog that resembles a field book. Offset notes to locate pillars and rib lines can be entered by a variety of flexible methods based on industry conventions (distance up and left/right to corners). For example, distance up can be based on stationing versus actual distance, and distances can be entered from the face, rather than forward. The style of note entry can be configured and set as default.

The Underground Module has the power for drafting the mine. It has the feature everyone wants; we draw the mine automatically from the note entry. Two methods are available. 1-the coding of the offsets can be saved to file and the mine will draw according to the coded offsets and 2-the program will auto-detect pillar corners within projection lines and connect them on the basis of the screen graphics. The second method is more tolerant of mine note entry conducted in different work sessions. Of course, the user can complete the map quickly, using AutoCAD snap, to connect the points. All features are layerized for selective freezing and thawing. Pillars, for example are automatically placed in the Pillars layer. The program will search for that layer for certain commands.

Quantities: There are several methods to quickly generate volumes. For coal applications, the Coal Sections representing channel samples can be user-defined to include items such as coal, rock and bone, entered and repeated in any sequence. When windowed along with the mine workings, tonnage reports are generated. The symbol representing the sample point is placed at the correct "Z" elevation of the coal thickness, and can be used to create coal thickness isopach maps in conjunction with or independent of drillhole data. Coal sections can combine with drillhole data for more accurate coal thickness modeling. Tonnages are computed by either average or grid based methods. Because of intelligent layering, the user simply selects all objects, and the program auto-detects perimeter, pillars and coal sections, leading to the tonnage reports. The area of mining is hatched as a check on the accuracy of the selection set. If a pillar mistakenly gets hatched, it means there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Boundaries can be automatically divided by property or lease ownership and used to separate the tonnages. The mine pillars and perimeter are automatically divided by ownership in unique polyline processing.

Pillars: Any pattern of pillar cut can be defined and added to a display of pillar cut icon templates. Any selected icon can be used to cut pillars for retreat mining. Two methods of cutting are available. 1-Draw the closed cut perimeter for volumes and leave the pillar intact, or 2-cut the pillar out and show only the remaining pillar stumps. Pillars can be further modified by user-defined corner chamfers. Companies that do not survey every pillar corner can map deep mines by use of the Advanced Projections command followed by chamfering of the notched pillar corners.

The Underground Mine Reserves command contains features similar to the Surface Mine Reserves. Drillholes, channel samples or pre-modeled grid files of the seams are used for calculation. Quality attributes, thickness, and grades are calculated and displayed in the reports. Reports are user-defined for all reserve calculations and schedules; that can include such items as tonnage, overburden, strip ratio, area mined, qualities, periods, equipment and cost.

Report formats are easily constructed and then saved and recalled for specific applications or different mine sites. The reports can be directly linked and exported to Microsoft Excel or Access for spreadsheet and database presentation from within Carlson Mining and AutoCAD.

Underground Mine Timing: Underground mines can be designed schematically as centerlines with associated dimensions, or can be laid out formally using the Advanced Projections command, complete with pillars and perimeters (outer rib lines). If a complete layout approach is used, the program will detect extraction ratios using the non recovered pillars. Precedence becomes critical in underground mining where, for example the longwall cannot proceed before the surrounding room and pillar advances are completed. The timing routines can lead to unexpected and valuable information on idled equipment, production rates and qualities, and may even reveal portions of the mine that are cut-off from mining altogether by an illogical equipment assignment. The mine planner can reassign equipment, alter layout elements and precedence, and try a new "what-if" timing scenario. Retreat mining may be part of the schedule, splitting the panels by advance and retreat. Equipment definition is straight forward for each unit, with underground mining rates based on tonnage, linear advance (entries and crosscuts), or forward distance. Equipment calendars determine when each unit is down or working, shift by shift and day by day.

Reporting and Graphics: The ease of use and ability to export to Excel is one of the feature highlights during a demonstration. Multiple equipment sets can be put in motion, with final results reported in a report formatter that exports to Excel or Access, and displays graphically as colorized zones. Zones of mining can be user-defined with any color scheme in the form of solid fill or hatching. Detailed reports are produced from most every Mining routine. These reports can be modified by the user and expanded to include derived output values. Report formats can be named, saved and recalled. Likewise, drawings and dialog boxes can be incorporated into documents with simple cut and paste methods. The superior compatibility with PC based software, working within the Windows environment, streamlines mine planning from start to finish.

Surface Mining Module

The Carlson Surface Mining Module contains the necessary tools for complex surface mine design and scheduling with equipment timing. The typical progression of the steps would be to create and layout pits, calculate reserves, then schedule the mine. Other design factors come into play, such as cross-sectional design with dragline range diagrams and 3D pit and fill design routines.

Pits: The Carlson Surface Mining Module includes many intelligent routines for complex surface mining techniques and design. Pit design and layout uses several pit layout algorithms to represent actual mine pits or simply to subdivide reserves into smaller production blocks for reserves or scheduling. The layout can be of any shape and extremely complex using commands such as Pit Matrix Layout and Layout by Advance. Pits can be further subdivided and identified by ownership automatically for instant lease and royalty calculations by owner using the property lines.

Reserves and Scheduling: The Surface Mining Module includes the same Surface Mine Reserves command described in the Geology Module section. After the reserves are calculated, the mine planning and scheduling begin. Production equipment fleets for overburden and the ore is defined based on shift and hourly rates. Maintenance and availability factors can be added for rate variations. De-rating by date, bench thickness or bench number is an advanced setting for each unit. Surface mining rates can be based on overburden removal or ore tonnage. Advanced equipment options allow for de-rating by time of year, thickness or bench number. Rehandle tables can be applied to thickness of the benches for each piece of equipment. Equipment calendars can be applied to individual or collective equipment fleets. Equipment scheduled hours/days can be reviewed graphically and even edited graphically. Equipment and period reports are instant. Multiple calendars may be created for "what if" scenarios. Calendar reports are instantly produced by year or each piece. In the pit based Production Timing, color coded blocks will highlight the production timing and production statistics. "Pre-scheduler" runs report the production by time period to give an initial starting point. Equipment will mine through single pits or predefined directional attributes associated with the pits.

Even in large single-pit examples, the equipment will detect the undulations of the material quantity and quality to produce distinct production values for each month or other user-defined mining period. Timing can be based on calendar periods or tonnages of coal or other mineral, or on volume of overburden. Customized production requirements can be set (such as: Jan-150,000 tons, Feb-180,000 tons, Mar-200,000 tons). Timing blocks can be stacked vertically as well as laid out horizontally, with precedence requirements (upper blocks must be mined before lower blocks in the same pit). Benches may be offset or staggered to mine in a "stair step" fashion. The benches may also be strata-based, elevation-based, or combined with a block model and mined by quality. Surfaces may be output for each pit and bench for graphical 3D representation of each period.

Reporting and Graphics: The ease of use and ability to export to Excel is one of the software highlights during a demonstration. Multiple equipment sets can be put in motion, with final results reported in a report formatter that exports to Excel or Access, and displays graphically as colorized zones. Zones of mining can be user-defined with any color scheme in the form of solid fill or hatching. Detailed reports are produced from most every Mining routine. These reports can be modified by the user and expanded to include derived output values. Report formats can be named, saved and recalled. Likewise, drawings and dialog boxes can be incorporated into documents with simple cut and paste methods. The superior compatibility with PC based software, working within the Windows environment, streamlines mine planning from start to finish.

Dragline Range Diagrams: The Surface Mining Module contains interactive Range Diagram options for detailing dragline sequences and associated volumes. Dragline height, reach and digging depth limits are set for control. The range diagram routines allow the user to specify cuts by picking, or with polyline boundaries and then places the cut in the spoil according to pre-designated swell factors and angles of repose. Spoil peaks can be flattened according to user-defined specifications with a single command. Rehandle and final place material are automatically accumulated according to equipment type, leading to production rates and costs. Automated long-range dragline planning is facilitated with routines that accumulate dragline quantities by pit according to user-defined schedules. Graphic output details the mining progression as the production and quality statistics are being compiled. Parameters for draglines can be precisely defined and used both in the 3D dragline simulation routine and in section view pit layouts. The mine engineer can seek out the most efficient mine design by testing layouts in plan, section and 3D view. Dozer push analysis can be combined with cast blasting, shovel and dragline analysis to obtain the optimal combination of equipment and mining sequencing.

3D Pit and Spoil Design: Design Bench Pit creates 3D pits with varied bench parameters on different sides of the pits. The slope, width and height of the benches can change as the pit advances through different material or depth. Pits can be designed to go down and in, or up and out from the starting baseline-very useful for quarry design. Pits and benches are stored in a history file for 3D viewing of the mine progression and 3D staggered and sloped volumes. 3D Spoil and stockpiles can be automatically sized with Design Spoil Pile and placed in a footprint based on a target size or volume. Options for varying the elevation or sliding a side to get to the targeted volume automate the process. Using Define Fill/Cut, 3D benched pits descend into the ore zone for pit optimization. Ramps are automatically carved into the pit, at the slope and starting location you select-Even with switchbacks! Using the Lerch-Grossman algorithm as an option, pit optimization placement and depth is obtained from the block models converted to cost models.

Surfaces, Roads and Ramps: Carlson integrates geologic and surface modeling with plan view, 3D view and section view mine layout routines. Engineering concepts and "what if" scenarios are easily converted into surface mine designs. All of these design options work from actual surface topography, geologic data and equipment parameters, leading to accurate calculations of overburden, ore quantities, strip ratios, rehandle and ultimately cost. Plan view designs include 3D view presentation options, and 3D and sectional layouts also produce the plan view. You can choose any design method and output format desired. Carlson "specializes" in modeling surfaces.

Any road centerline, dam, ditch centerline, building pad, pit, or other defined object can be converted into a final terrain by simply picking the feature and windowing the existing terrain. Roads in 3D, mine pits, ramps, diversion ditches, and embankment dams are all carved into existing terrain and ready for the next terrain model addition. The Carlson Civil Module contains many of the necessary commands for road and ramp design. By a process of cumulative design, any finished landform can be created from the initial contour map. Powerful Grid or TIN File Utilities allow for 3D viewing of "grid or TIN math" operations for instant model verification.

The Carlson Civil road template routine has explicit entries for multiple cut slopes with ditches (for benching) and berm placement subject to conditional fill requirements. Template entry is simplified through a graphic interface. Ramp templates may be applied to 3D polylines for instant ramp design and graphic output. A 3D polyline combined with a typical ramp cross-section is all that is needed to build a ramp into a high-wall.

Basic Mining Module

The Basic Mining Module had its start as part of the former program SurvCADD which began as a mine surveying package, with strong roots in the coal mining region of the U.S. Appalachians. Other modules have come and gone, yet this module still survives. It is the perfect AutoCAD mining add-on for a user who needs just the basics, at a low price. Features such as basic drillhole entry, reserves and fence diagrams (on-the-fly only, not from a stored model), underground mine mapping and layout and quantities are the essence of the module. Every command is also included somewhere in the other mining modules, Geology, Surface and Underground. For a user who has these three, the Basic Mining is not necessary. It is geared for the occasional " miner", someone who wants a low cost tool for simple mining practices within AutoCAD. At $1000, it is a definite bargain. It can be upgraded to any of the other Carlson Mining Modules at any time.