Things have been a bit hectic, and I have uploaded GEM4D updates without notice. I backdated this post to the date when Version 1.8.2.6 was published.
Most coding changes to Version 1.8.2.5 were made to prepare for major extensions and optimisations in future updates. These changes introduced bugs and Version 1.8.2.6 corrected the bugs, thanks to the feedback from many users. This post discusses the changes to both Versions 1.8.2.5 and 1.8.2.6, and a new version (1.8.3.0) will become available soon which will supports finger gestures on a tablet.
I have completed a work procedure to create geotechnical block models that is available from here, and also available from the GEM4D-website directly below the software download buttons.
New functionality
Multiple behind-the-scenes changes were made to Version 1.8.2.5 to prepare for future extensions and optimisations. These changes broke some of the existing functionality, and Version 1.8.2.6 consisted mainly of bug fixes.
Further improvements and extensions to the PPV-functionality "Top toolbar => Colour Palette 2 => Colour on PPV from coordinate":
Meshes can now be coloured on the PPV-values from many seismic or blast events. Load the seismic or blast events as Markers, and select the "Accept the variables, use loaded Marker data" - see Discussion 1 below.
Add the option to show transparent spheres that show the minimum and maximum distances, on the form under "PPV Range spheres".
The PPV-functionality support metric and imperial systems. Make sure the selected constants match the selected measurement system.
Changes
Change the extreme scalar values to lighter shades, the dark blue and red were too dark - see Discussion 2 below.
Allow bigger font sizes for the legend text for a cleaner view in reports under "Ribbon => Mesh/Marker/Mapping/Drillhole => Scalar bar settings => Text".
Bug fixes
Occasional issues occurred when colouring on vertical distance between meshes with "Top toolbar => Colour Palette 1 => Colour on vertical distance from mesh" - fixed.
Mouse double-clicking on images draped onto meshes, and warped surfaces created with "Markers/Mapping => Marker actions => Surface => Warped surface" caused crashes - fixed.
Image files were not always saved correctly when exporting OBJ-files with images - fixed.
Errors occurred when new columns were added to geotechnical drillholes, and the values then manually changed - fixed.
The last geotechnical line segment gets lost when building drillholes composites with "Ribbon => Drillhole => Other actions => Composites" - fixed.
Rubber band selections with "Top toolbar => Split & Delete => Delete poly inside/outside rubberband" caused errors - fixed.
Discussion 1: Calculate the PPV from many seismic or blast events
The maximum and cumulative PPV-values can be calculated on meshes from a seismic file as shown below. Remember that the resolution of mesh colouring is determined by the number of vertices in the mesh, and that the mesh colour could affect the scalar colour shading. It is thus often required to
subdivide the mesh to increase the vertice count, and changes the mesh colour to white for best results.
Load the meshes with "Ribbon => Mesh => Load and import different file formats => Load DXF", or drag-and-drop the files from Windows Explorer into the scene area.
Increase the mesh vertice count with "Top toolbar => Toolbox 1 => Sub-divide lines/polys => Split to size". In this example, a maximum triangle side length of 5 was selected.
Change the mesh colour to white with "Left panel => Bottom listbox => Select the colour column => Select the colour form the palette".
Load the seismic data file as Markers with "Ribbon => Marker => Load files => Text (CSV)", or drag-and-drop the files from Windows Explorer into the scene area and select "Yes" to import the CSV-file as Marker data.
Colour the meshes on PPV-values using "Top toolbar => Colour palette 2 => Colour on PPV from coordinate => Change the variables as required => Accept the variables, use loaded Marker data". Select "Yes" to display the maximum PPV at each mesh triangle, and "No" to display the cumulative PP-value from all events at each mesh triangle.
Discussion 2: Colours to represent values outside the selected range
The colours that represent the scalar values outside the selected ranges were changes from dark blue and red to light versions of the same colours as shown below. The dark colours resulted in poor visibility when large portions of the mesh were coloured in these dark colours. Please let me know if there is a downside to the light colours.
