Volume Calculations in GeoSurvey

1. Volume Between Surfaces – Gives Cut/Fill quantities between two surfaces
2. Volume to a Base Level - provides ‘bulk fill’ volume of a single model or overall difference between two surfaces
3. Stockpile Volume – provides ‘bulk fill’ volume of a single model

1. Max Tri Length restriction should be BLANK (Triangle Parameters).
2. Use no-contour/no-tri and boundary strings to restrict triangulation instead of setting the Max Tri Length.
   
3. ALWAYS compute volumes using more than one independent method. Consider doing
   
these in different software. Don’t forget the simple common-sense approach such as calculating surface area x average height to get a rough appreciation of what to expect.

4. General rule – cut/fill interpretation:
   Cut = the amount of material that has to be removed for the base surface to equal the comparison (“Top”) surface.
   Fill = the amount of material that has to be added for the base surface to equal the comparison (“Top”) surface.
5. Nett = Cut minus Fill quantity.
6. “Volume to a Base Level” is generally understood to be the most accurate method.
7. Stockpile volume reports in GeoSurvey do not provide cut/fill quantities.
8. Adding a Boundary:
   (a) Append a Boundary with no heights from another job.
   (b) Change it to a Discon
   (c) Interpolate heights for its points from the existing triangulation surface
   (d) Revert the string to a Boundary
   (e) Run final triangulation on the model
9. General rule - interpolation must be done from an entire model’s triangulation surface and not at the model fringes, otherwise incorrect heights may be obtained.