HI. Blocks Exercises

Owned by iarmstrong
Last updated: Oct 12, 2023
6 min read

The following exercises focus on managing blocks, connecting them to the network and applying on-bench travel rules.

Blocks Panel

The Blocks panel is where blocks can be selected, hidden, and centred in the viewport.

To use the blocks panel:

  1. Primary block visibility can be controlled using the eye icon in the Display panel on the right.

  2. Open the Blocks panel in the bottom left of the Network tab.

  3. Expand the block tree.

  4. When you highlight a row in the tree, that row should be temporarily visible in the viewport.

  5. When you toggle the eye on a row in the tree, that row should be permanently visible in the viewport.

  6. When you double click a row, it should centre those blocks in the viewport.

  7. Toggle all blocks with the top eye icons.

  8. Change the tree order with the blue arrow icons.

  9. Remove a row with the single red minus icon. (This cannot be undone!)

  10. Remove all blocks with the double red minus icon. (This cannot be undone!)

  11. Import or export joins to the ".blockJoins" file by selecting the appropriate import/export options.

  12. Press the cog icon to open the Setup Blocks menu.

    1. Enter different values for the travel level, travel alignment, and block type.

    2. Press OK to accept.

Show Blocks and manage them in Blocks panel

Block Joins

The distance travelled between a block and the network is called the "auto-join". Blocks automatically connect to the network at the same elevation within the auto-join distance of the bench. Users can then deselect auto-joins as required, or add their own manual joins. 

Auto-join distance can be set and changed at any time in the Setup tab > Settings step > Bench Settings fields.

Setup tab > Settings step > Bench Settings > Auto Join Distance filed

Bench Level Pathfinding

When you import blocks into Haul Infinity, you will be asked to set a Travel Level in Tree for each root record. The travel level needs to be set to the bench level.

Haul Infinity will create a network of centroids of the blocks to pathfind to the nearest ramp exit/entry point. 

Blocks automatically connect to to the network at the same elevation within the auto join distance of the bench. If the user wants to limit what connections are taken, then they must edit the bench connections manually.

Isolated Blocks

After schedule blocks have been imported, go to the Blocks panel to check if they are all connected to the haul network. A red exclamation mark will show beside isolated blocks.

Auto Join Distance

Blocks may connect to any road that passes within the auto-join distance of the bench. This allows trucks to "jump the gap" between the bench and a nearby road. To use this function select "Join Interaction Mode".

The auto join distance should be set as low as possible to reduce the number of shortcuts taken by trucks. 

Editing Joins

Blocks will automatically connect to any road that passes within the auto-join distance of the bench. Users can then deselect auto-joins as required, or add their own manual joins. 

To change the auto join distance:

  1. Open SampleModelWithBlocks.hinf.

  2. Press the Blocks button and select "Join Interaction Mode" option.

  3. Go to the Blocks panel at the bottom left and select the 1204 bench.

  4. Click on a block. You should see a connection to the ramp.

  1. Go toSetup > Settings > Bench Settings and change the Auto Join Distance to 200. This means that blocks will be able to connect to any road that passes through their elevation with 200 metres.

  1. Run project to accept and go back to the Network tab. You should now see two connections to the network.

To select and deselect joins:

  • To choose the closest join, right click on the block and select "Choose Joins" > "Use Closest Auto Joins" > "Use Closest Join", as shown below. This should deactivate the longer connection.

  • To select and deselect auto joins, right click on the block and select "Choose Joins" > "Select Auto Joins". This will open a list of the available joins, which you can activate or deactivate.

To create new joins:

  1. Right click on the block and select "Choose Joins" > "Add Manual Join".

  2. Click a point on the network to connect to. A new join should appear.

  1. To remove a manual join right click on the block and select "Choose Joins" > "Select Manual Joins" > deselect the manual join. The manual join should disappear.

  2. To restore the default joins, right click on the blocks and select "Choose Joins" > "Add All Auto Joins".

Assign Joins Based on Segment Names

  • All blocks in Reserves may connect to a road named "Reserves".

  • All blocks in Reserves\Mine1\Pit1 may connect to a road named "Reserves\Mine1\Pit1".

  • All blocks in Reserves\Mine1\Pit1\Stage1\630 may connect to a road named "Reserves\Mine1\Pit1\Stage1\630".

Applying joins using named segments can be done in 2 ways:

  1. Automatically Use Segment Names to Choose Joins

    1. Setup > Settings > Join Mode - Having this ticked on, means HI will always attempt to make joins based on segment names.

 

  1. Extensions top toolbar tab > "Assign Joins Based on Segment Names" option. This function is calculated once and must be manually updated if you make changes to the network.

To apply joins based on segment names:

  1. Open SampleModelWithBlocks.hinf.

  2. Double click the ramp in the pit.

  3. Go to the Properties panel and rename the ramp to "Deposit\P1".

  4. Double click the ramp to the dump.

  5. Go to the Properties panel and rename the ramp to "Dumps".

  6. Go to Extensions tab > "Assign Joins Based On Segment Names" option.

  7. Expand the Blocks menu in the bottom left of the screen.

  8. The pit benches 1030 to 1120 should be green, and all the dump should be green.

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