UNIVERSIT DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO

FACOLT DI SCIENZE MATEMATICHE FISICHE E NATURALI

DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE DELLA TERRA ARDITO DESIO

TUTORIAL MOVE 2009.1:

3D MODEL CONSTRUCTION FROM SURFACE
GEOLOGICAL DATA

Tutorial by :

Alessandra Maria Lotteri, Silvia Sosio de Rosa, Chiara Ravasio,

Christian Tiboni, Fabio Vergara

MSc in Geology, University of Milan

Thesis coordinator: Fabrizio Berra and Michele Zucali
Contact: fabrizio.berra@unimi.it

This tutorial derives from the experience of a group of MSc theses at the Universit degli Studi di
Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terrra A. Desio in the frame of the Field Mapping Initiative of
Midland Valley Exploration Ltd, Glasgow. The described procedure have been followed to obtain 3D
models from surface geological data.

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DTM IMPORT
File: adf
Module 4D MOVE: file insert data choose the gis data-vector files format
in file type open select grid in the importation toolbox load
1.1 IMPORT OF GEOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES
File: shp
Module 4DMOVE: file insert data choose the gis data-vector files format
in file type open select import as object next if you insert attributes in the GIS
database, you can import them directly in Move: you can read the attributes selecting the
column of the attribute table (e.g. you can attribute different colours to the limits according
to the attribute NAME OF THE COLUMN (i.e. BASE OF) if you stored it in the GIS:
in preview select use attribute to colour object and select the attribute NAME OF THE
COLUMN)

NB With this procedure is the program itself that match automatically the colours with the
limits; to change the colours select Colour table.

load
1.2 FIELD (DIP) DATA IMPORT
File: ascii (txt)
The data table must be composed of at least 4 columns: X, Y, DIP, DIP AZIMUTH.
To obtain X &Y coordinates from ESRI GIS you can use this 2 different ways:

Arc View:
Create two new columns called X and Y in the attribute table select Calculate
Write:
Shape.getX in the X column
Shape.getY in the Y column
Arc Map:
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Create two new columns called X and Y in the attribute table right click on the column
heading Calculate geometry Property, choose X or Y

How to convert GIS table in a format that can be imported in Move

EXCEL: open dbf file related to the shp saved in GIS save as delimited tabulation txt
in 2D MOVE: file insert ASCII file choose dip data, select elevation and choose
3D as type in the same window click on data type delimited click on set (open the
table) give the names: X, Y, DIP, DIP AZIMUTH to the right column right click on
the column heading Ok Ok
1.3 DATA PROJECTION ON DTM
File: mve (Move format)
3DMOVE: Restoration (un)fold to target inclined shear choose restore to target
in the popup menu select the DTM like target bed and the data to be projected as
template beds; you should load them with the multiple selection leave the other fields
unchanged Apply.
1.5 DIGITAL DRAWING OF GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTION
File: mve
3DMOVE: operation contour slicer.
When opened, a green slicer plane and a red arrow normal to the plane appear in the main
graphic window. The slicer plane can be oriented either by adjusting the azimuth and dip of
the normal or by snapping the plane to a map EW or NS orientation.
In the window:
Slice plane normal: orient normal to slicer plane
Reference point: translate the slicer plane from the point of intersection between the normal
and the slicer plane;
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Application mode: toggle between cross section contour and slicer mode
Plane snap: Snaps Slicer Plane to horizontal or vertical orientation
Chop plan: controls range of contours (Auto give the same interval as the kilometrical grid
Manual: you can choose the interval value (if you want to built only one section this value
must be 0).
Contour by: Num steps: controls the number of contours
Interval: you can choose the distance between sections

Apply. Click the right below arrow to visualize the sections and save in mve format or
export them in 2DMove (in this way you have to save them in 2d move!).
1.6 HOW TO TRANSFER CROSS SECTION IN 2D MOVE
File: mve
2DMove: file insert select the file of the saved section.
The section is visualized as a black line. Right click on it and select fit section trace a red
line will appear superimposed on the black one. In this way the line became a section.
To visualize the topographic profile you should click on the line with the right click and
select view section.
1.7 COLLECT INTERSECTIONS
file: mve (section and limits)
2D Move: click right on the section collect intersections; the software visualize the cross
(intersection between section and limits) on the profile.
1.8 FIELD DIP DATA INSERT
file: mve (section and field (dip) data)
2D Move: Tools projection
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projection toolbox opens:

In Projection: specify the way you want to project the field (dip) data (es. along strike,
along dip); select section trace that you want and click add.
In Auto options: specify field (dip) data. In distance: insert the widest ( maximum) distance
of the values to be projected on the section. Finally click apply in auto options.
After this job you can visualize the topographic profile, the dip data and intersections at the
same time. Then you can print the sections.
1.9 PRINT OF THE CROSS SECTIONS
File: mve
The geological cross sections have been drawn on paper, starting from the profiles produced
in 2DMove and collecting/projecting data on them. The manual drawing on paper resulted
to be the most precise way to produce precise geological cross sections.
2D MOVE: file page setup (to specify the scale)
Select use set scale (1:) and insert the scale in the X and Y fields.
Right click on the section view section file print
Set up the sheet size save as pdf and print.
1.10 PROJECTION OF THE GEOLOGICAL MAP ON THE DTM (RASTER)
File: TIFF (from ArcMap click on export image and save as TIFF)
3D MOVE: file load image, insert the edge coordinates (from Arc Map) to fit the image
in the right position; properties: select DTM the georeferenziate imagine will be
projected on the topography.
1.11 DRAWING OF THE GEOLOGICAL MAPS
Draw sections by hands; scan them and import them in the software.
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1.12 IMPORT OF THE HAND-DRAWN GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTIONS

File: (JPEG)
2D MOVE, vertical view
file insert image
in position select world and insert the edge coordinates of the image apply.
1.13 DIGITALIZATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTIONS
file: mve
2D MOVE: vertical view: draw section with the following tools
Line: draw lines
Tidy: extend the selected line to the nearest line intersection
Edit: move nodes on the line
Join: put together 2 segments
Split: separate a line
Move: move objects
Clicking right on the line editing you can add or remove nodes (Add Node, Remove Node).
More uses of the software:
Operations Construct beds to create parallel bedding:
Select the reference line and insert it in Bed (click Add);
in Bed Height insert the thickness in meters of the bed you are creating;
select Construct Above if you want to create the line above the reference one,
otherwise select Construct Below.

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Select Interactive Mode Create;

you can define the angle between the reference line and the one to be created:
Select Create at Angle and insert the value in degrees () Create.
Restoration Restore to bring the beds to the pre-deformation condition:
Template Line is the line to be restored to the reference line or to a certain high
(insert the high in the field Elevation); select the line Add;
insert the other lines to be restored together with the Template Line in Other Objects
Add;
1.14 SURFACE CONSTRUCTION WITH 3D MOVE
File: mve
3D MOVE: Create Create Surface From Points
Select the lines you want to construct the surface with Collect in Template Beds click
Create Surface
You can mitigate the possible irregularity of the surface:
Edit Retessallate (to recalculate the triangulation)
Tools Rugosity Filter (select the surface click Collect select the options
Rugosity wavelength or density to smooth the surface; you can choose the smoothing
percentage changing the value of Interpolation parameter % Apply.
Tools Model Building allow to work with the surfaces:
To cut surfaces: Mode Cutting Surfaces; Options Cut Surface using Surface;
select the surface to be cut click Collect in Collect surface to be cut; select the
blade surface click Pick in Surface Apply. You can cut surfaces also using
the tool Mode Separating Surfaces .

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 To extend surfaces: Mode Extending surface; Options Snap Surfaces to

Surface; select the surface to be extended click Collect in Collect the surfaces to
snap; select the reference surface click Pick in Surface Apply. With the option
Extend Surface to UTM boundary you can also extend surfaces to the edge of the
grid.
You can extend surfaces also with the tool Create Snap to Surface: select the surface to
be extended click Pick in Surface to Snap; select the reference surface click Collect in
Target Surfaces.

To join surfaces: Edit Group; the surfaces belonging to the same group can be joined:
Edit Fuse Patches.

To project surfaces from lines:

Create Project Surface From Line; select the Source Line (the line from which you want
to project the surface) and click on Collect. Insert the projection direction value (Azimuth)
and the angle to the horizontal value (Dip) Apply.

In this way you can construct vertical surfaces with which you can cut lines to obtain
smaller surfaces:
Tools Model Building
Mode: Working with Lines
Options: Lines Cut using Surface
Select the lines to be cut and click on Collect; select the surface (created with Project
Surface From Line) and click Pick Apply.

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