Project Management

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Project setup and data management
Project Management

Create, save, load, import, slice, trim, and export project data in Slope Optimiser.

1 Create Projects Start a new project using the menu, shortcut, or toolbar button. 2 Save and Load Save project files and open existing Slope Optimiser project data. 3 Import Data Import stratigraphy, sections, water surfaces, and boundary surfaces. 4 Create Sections Generate cross-sections from selected 3D shapes using slicing. 5 Trim Sections Use boundary surfaces to trim sections to excavation or pushback limits. 6 Export Data Export shapes, project geometry, and cross-section simulation data.
Project creation

Creating a Project

Create an empty OptimalSlope project before importing geometry or defining simulation properties.

An empty project can be created using one of the following methods:

Keyboard shortcut Press Ctrl + N.
File menu Open the file menu and click New.
Toolbar button Click the create project button.
Create project
Create Empty Project Creates an empty project.
Project files

Saving and Loading Projects

Save project data to disk and open existing OptimalSlope project files.

Saving options
  1. To save using a specified file name, open the file menu and select Save as.
  2. To save updates to the current working project, open the file menu and select Save.
Loading an existing project
  • Open an existing project in .cbf format by clicking Open Project in the file menu.
  • An import operation in progress is indicated by the loading symbol in the status bar.
  • Loading larger files can take longer than a minute depending on the machine and project size.

OptimalSlope project data is stored in a binary format: .cbf.

Import data

Importing Data

Import 3D stratigraphy, section geometry, water surfaces, and boundary surfaces into the project.

Importing Stratigraphy

Import 3D stratigraphies to the project from the file menu:

  • Select Import Stratigraphy > required file format.
Importing Section

Sections generated using third-party software can be imported directly without requiring section generation through the slicing tool.

  • Select Import Section > required file format.
Importing Water Surface

A water surface can be imported and used to generate a water table boundary when creating a section. It can be used as a reference boundary when drawing the water table.

  • Select Import Surface > Phreatic > required file format.
Importing Boundary Surface

A pit boundary surface can be imported and used to generate a trimmed version of a section so that it reflects an existing pushback of an open pit mine.

  • Select Import Surface > Boundary > required file format.

Define layer names and colours when generating model files. Otherwise, layer names and colours can be set manually in the Slope Optimiser interface.

Supported import file formats
Format Description File extension
DXF Autodesk drawing exchange format .dxf
Cross-sections

Creating Sections

Use the slicing tool to create cross-sections from selected 3D shapes or stratigraphy models.

The Slicing tool is used to create cross-sections from selected 3D shapes or stratigraphy models. It creates sections by cutting the selected geometry with a defined cutting plane.

Cross-sections can be created using one of the following cutting planes:

  • XY
  • XZ
  • YZ

The section location is controlled by the global plane position coordinate, in metres. While the tool is open, the selected models are clipped in the visualiser so the proposed section can be checked before it is created.

For vertical cutting planes, such as XZ and YZ, the slicing tool also supports defining an azimuth angle. This allows vertical cross-sections to be created in different orientations.

Slicing tool
Slicing Tool Opens the slicing tool for creating cross-sections.
  • Cross-sections automatically inherit properties from their 3D parent stratigraphy.
  • If properties are not defined before slicing, they can be added later at either the 3D model level or the individual section level.
  • It is recommended to define bench properties and the strength model before creating cross-sections.
Usage

To create a section:

  1. Display the 3D models that should be included in the section.
  2. Click the Slicing button on the toolbar, or right-click a model and choose the cross-section option.
  3. In Model Selection, click Select visible models. The status below the button confirms how many visible models are selected.
  4. Select the plane direction: XY, XZ, or YZ.
  5. Position the live clipping plane:
    • enter a value under Clipping Settings, or
    • drag the arrow handle in the visualiser to move the plane.
  6. For an XZ or YZ plane, enter the required azimuth or drag the circular rotation handle in the visualiser to rotate the plane and change its azimuth.
  7. Review the clipped preview and click Slice.

Click Close to leave the tool without creating a section. If the visible-model selection changes while the tool is open, select the required visible models again before slicing.

Clipping-plane controls

The animation below demonstrates selecting the visible models, rotating a vertical clipping plane with the circular handle, and moving the plane with the arrow handle.

Clipping-plane controls
Boundary trimming

Trim Section to Boundary Surface

Use a boundary surface to constrain or trim a section so it reflects current or planned excavation limits.

Boundary Surface

A boundary surface is a closed and continuous surface used to constrain or trim a section. In geological and mining workflows, a boundary surface may represent features such as:

  • the edge of an open pit,
  • a pushback surface,
  • excavation limits,
  • fault surfaces,
  • model extents.

Boundary surfaces can be imported into the project and used to create a trimmed version of an existing section. This is useful when the original 3D stratigraphy model is available, but the section needs to reflect the current or planned excavation limits.

Trimming at the section level is often faster and simpler than modifying the entire 3D model. It allows the cross-section to better represent real-world mining conditions while keeping the workflow efficient.

Example
boundary_surface
Usage

To trim a section using a boundary surface:

  1. Select the required cross-section in the left project panel.
  2. Make sure the boundary surface has already been imported into the project.
  3. In the right properties panel, click Trim Slice.
  4. Review the updated section geometry after trimming.
Before Trimming
before_trimming

This example shows a section created from the original stratigraphy model.

After Trimming
after_trimming

The resulting section is updated using the boundary surface, so the section better reflects the excavation or pushback limits.

Export data

Exporting Project Data

Export selected geometry or cross-section data for downstream modelling and simulation workflows.

Exporting 2D/3D shapes

Selected shapes in the visualiser can be exported by clicking Export in the file menu.

Supported export file formats
Format Description File extension
DXF Autodesk drawing exchange format .dxf
STL Stereolithography mesh .stl
VRML VRML Web 3D format .vrml
IMAGE Image format .bmp
Exporting cross-section data

A project can contain multiple cross-sections. Each cross-section can be considered an individual simulation project containing the properties required for the simulation.

Properties describing an individual slice and its layers can be exported in JSON format:

  1. Select a cross-section.
  2. In the Properties panel, select Export under the tools section.
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