Underground Mine Design: Levels, Ramps & Excavation Networks

The underground design module in K-MINE provides a parametric environment for creating and validating underground mine development geometry. It supports the design of levels, ramps, drifts, crosscuts, raises, and stope boundaries with full control over geometric parameters and engineering constraints. All development elements are built in 3D and directly linked to geological models, block models, and stope optimization results, ensuring spatial and technical consistency throughout the mine planning process.

The module includes tools for constraint-based design, clash detection, volume and tonnage calculation, and design validation. This integrated workflow helps engineers evaluate alternative layouts, verify design feasibility, and prepare accurate engineering data for scheduling, ventilation, and operational planning.

The excavation network design feature allows users to quickly create projects for horizontal underground workings at selected levels. Initial data is sourced from stopping blocks previously generated during stope optimization. Users begin by selecting the levels they want to work with, whether all available levels or just one. The next step is defining the access point, or shaft location. The system can automatically determine its position, or users can specify it manually if a shaft already exists.

After setting the access point, users define the excavation direction. The algorithm proposes several options, and in most cases the appropriate direction appears among the first few suggestions. The project is then adjusted according to the selected mining system and equipment. Users can also adjust offsets, define conditions for splitting and merging workings, and set entry angles. Fine-tuning additional parameters ensures the project aligns precisely with operational requirements.

Elements generated automatically from stope optimization results form the basis for designing ramps between levels. Users design the entry point on the level and set the direction of the future ramp directly in the workspace using snapping tools or through the parameter table. Ramp design proceeds using segments, where each segment can be straight, curved, or completed using the snap-to-point function. Key parameters for every segment include azimuth, radius, gradient in degrees, percentage or per mille, length, and turning direction.

A key feature of this tool is the dynamic mode. Any modification, such as changing the radius of a curved segment or adjusting the gradient, automatically recalculates the entire ramp geometry including all subsequent segments. This allows quick testing of different configurations while respecting gradient limits and ore body geometry. In the demonstrated example, straight segments are created, a curved segment is added, and the ramp is completed by snapping to the lower level.

After applying the design, the system generates a complete tunnel with a specified profile, in this case an arch section measuring 4x3 meters. If additional development is needed, there is no need to restart the task. Most parameters remain valid, allowing a new entry point to be defined and the dynamic mode to be reused. The final tunnel solid is generated and connected to the rest of the underground infrastructure, making the updated layout immediately available for further design and analysis.