Just a thought. Has anybody attempted to create a 3D model of a mine using a computer program?

Have a look at http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/arb/surveying/software.html  or Google cave survey program

Dave

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/E/extremearchaeology/prog_parys.html 
has VRML of parys

Thanks Davel and mountainpenguin for pointing me in the right direction. I might have guessed there programs out there. Been looking at them. Plenty of scope for a retirement project!

Just a thought. Has anybody attempted to create a 3D model of a mine using a computer program?

I am working on something related. I have started taking photos for it already. I am hoping to have it done by August.

Dr Keith Russ a graduate of CSM (Camborne School of Mines)
has done some sterling work in this area which formed a large part of his PhD. He is responsible for producing the survey of Old Millclose Mine in Derbyshire and i have seen a running protoype of the East Pool Mine, with the ability to navigate tunnels, a bit like Quake 😮 But without the nasty surprises 😉
He has also produced a working model, computer generated, of a cornish beam engine that you can 'fly' around and inspect every working part in action. The valve gear is particularly good with cams and lifters and all manner of engineering working like a real one. you can even folow the rod into the shaft. :thumbsup: 😎 😎

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I would probably kill to get either... I would love the beam engine. Sounds incredible!

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Lynn Willies did a talk at last year's PDMHS October Barmote event, which included a demonstration of laser surveying in a stone mine down South somewhere (I'll have to dig out the newsletter with the running order in to find out which one). I'd imagine this would be similar to some of the stuff the extreme archaeology lot did at Parys, you could move around the virtual mine to a limited extent.

I suppose this does open up the possibility of feeding 3D mine surveys of this sort into a games engine like Quake, anyone for multiplayer massacre in Box mine or seek and destroy in Smallcleugh? 😉

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Hey without sounding geeky you could even develop a mining game like Sim City, but call it something like Sim Miner.... the possibilities are endless. You could randomly generate geology then get the choice on what era of mining you start with and with what funds... shaft sinking, diamond drilling , beam engines....... God I'm on this thing enough.... I'd never ever be off it.

It could be called "Manic Miner II... But this time its for real"
:thumbsup:

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Why do you think Simon is working on that funny helmet thing? :blink:

Oh dear! :thumbsup:

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Not a fan of pc/ps2 or whichever games much myself, but that is a nice idea... 😉

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sorry 4 late reply..... you know it would be a brilliant game.... just imagine selecting the era, steam, electric,...... geology, hard easy etc. I'd be first in queue. :thumbsup:

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I would like to thank Roy M for his kind words.

If anyone would like to know more about 3D computer mine models I would be quite happy to share any knowledge.

Most of them are Cornish based, unless someone gives me data to play with ... 😉

Some place I do have or did have a VRML model of West Mine, Alderly Edge - Not very detailed. Not like the one of East Pool or the Beam Engine - Trying to make time to update it.

A work in progress is Consols, United, Wellington and Wheal Jane. I would really like to do a slate mine... :smartass: I know that many would be interested in what Cornish Mines look like, but Nenthead would be rather fun too.

Although I have not tried on a large scale it would be possible to translate much of the survey data into Quake, Doom etc. Perhaps I will give it a go sometime. If it works could create over 100 actual miles of underground passages in Cornish mines. What a thought walking round Wheal Jane avoiding Scooptrams etc. Then all those on this site could spent time exporing whilst adding to the forum 😮 and all without leaving the warmth and comfort of home 😉

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Sounds great Ag, Will you be able to switch the monsters on an off? 😮 😮 😮
Could you imagine stepping out the cage on 380 and being ambushed by a Scrag at the crusher station? and think what you could do once you reached the magazine 😉 😉 😉
The possibilities are indeed endless. You could go into the next mine and sabotage the pumps, then scuttle back and close the water doors so your mine makes pots more money!
Adit patrols could be REAL fun :guns: :guns:

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Not underground, I know but there is some guy on 28dayslater, who is collating photographs of cane hill asylum to convert into a counterstrike level.

When I finally get some motivation, I am working on an html based point and click explore for a local small mine.
I may need somewhere to host it when finished. (hint hint)

This thread has been dormant a while but you may be interested to see what we've been up to in the far west of Cornwall, there are a couple of sample models on the second page.

You'll need a vrml viewer to be able to see the models.
http://www.tinmining.co.uk/survey 

Some very clever 3D plans of Cwmorthin here- http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Cwmorthin_226/Cwmorthin_18952.pdf 

Very clever they are too, really helps to conjur an understaning of how the place lies

[tweak]Download link made clickable - vanoord[/tweak]

all interesting stuff.

I had the opportunity to visit Keith at WUM and was shown part of his work at S Crofty, very complex stuff including the thorny issue of correlating the various survey grids used by different mines over time, always a problem with this kind of historic data.

the Combe Down project produced a fly-through of the workings, a maze of worked-out flats covering about 45 acres with innumerable entrances. This was mainly done using scanning. I did have some later involvement in detail scanning in some of the last sections of the back-filling, mainly as a comparison of the development of the technique over the duration of the project. A lot of the voids in the Church Road area in particular, were assessed using laser scanners inserted via boreholes. I'll try and find something fit to post.

I was intrigued with the St Just survey. I remember doing something of the sort years ago, using a string-line drawn taut and offset dimensions measured around it using a tape measure.

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http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/grass_stroker/Img_4_1024.jpg 

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/grass_stroker/Img_3_1027.jpg 

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/grass_stroker/Img_3_1024.jpg 

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/grass_stroker/Img_2_1024.jpg 

some individual frames from the scanning at Combe Down

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