Holistic modeling and three-dimensional visualization of complex fields for underground mines

In terms of holistic digital modeling and three-dimensional (3D) visualization, an underground mine was treated as a dynamic field, named as the underground mine complex field, which includes various geometries, attributes, parameters, and states. By analyzing the geometric, distributive, directional, temporal and spatial characteristics of these field variables, this paper proposed a characterization method of these variables and their relations, and then built a holistic digital model of the complex field based voxelization. Specific techniques for building the holistic digital model were developed by voxelizing, quantifying, regionalizing, and integrating these field variables. A case study was used to implement the model and techniques. It is demonstrated that the holistic approach in the paper is effective for digital modeling and 3D visualization of the complex field, including geometric variables such as topography, faults and opennings, distributive variables such as ore grade, and directional variables such as air flows and mine fires.