PROGRAMA DIPS

http://www.rocscience.com/products/Dips.asp#features

Minimum Requirements Suggested Requirements

 1 GHz Pentium Processor  3 GHz Pentium Processor

 Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003  Windows 2000/XP/2003
 100MB of free hard disk space  80 GB hard Disk
 256MB memory (RAM)  1GB memory (RAM)

Graphical and Statistical Analysis of Orientation Data

Dips is designed for the interactive analysis of orientation based geological data. The program is capable
of many applications and is designed for the novice or occasional user, and for the accomplished user of
stereographic projection who wishes to utilize more advanced tools in the analysis of geological data.

Dips allows the user to analyze and visualize structural data following the same techniques used in manual
stereonets. In addition, it has many computational features, such as statistical contouring of orientation
clustering (illustrated below), mean orientation and confidence calculation, cluster variability, and
qualitative and quantitative feature attribute analysis.

Dips is designed for the analysis of features related to the engineering analysis of rock structures,
however, the free format of the Dips data file permits the analysis of any orientation-based data.

Input Data: Spreadsheet for Data Entry

Dips has an integrated spreadsheet interface, which simplifies data entry if the user is familiar with
common spreadsheet operations. The Dips spreadsheet is also called the Grid View.

Integrated spreadsheet for Dips data entry

 Input Data: Orientation Data Formats

Dips allows the user to toggle the format of the orientation coordinates with the Convention option under
the Setup menu.

Toggle the Convention under the Setup menu

If the convention is Pole Vector, the coordinates will be in Trend / Plunge format, and represent the cursor
(pole) location directly.
The cursor orientation displayed in the Status Bar

If the convention is Plane Vector, the coordinates will correspond to the Global Orientation Format of the
current document (ie. Dip/Dip Direction, Strike/DipRight, Strike/DipLeft), and represent the plane
corresponding to the cursor (pole) location.

The cursor orientation displayed in the Status Bar

The convention can also be switched in the Job Control Dialog. It lets the user to specify the Global
Orientation Format.

Switching Global Orientation Format in the Job Control Dialog

Input Data: Oriented Core (borehole) Data

Dips enables the user to analyze orientation data measured from the logging of core from a borehole.
Borehole data can be added by defining the Traverse Type as Borehole. 3 traverse orientations must be
given for borehole traverses. The following diagram illustrates the geometry of the required 3 parameters.

3 angles are required in the dips traverse information line to orient a borehole reference line
If the orientation data was measured from the logging of core from a borehole, then the data pair columns
must then contain the measurements of the "Alpha" and "Beta" angles. The definition of these orientations
are illustrated in the following diagram.

Orientation Parameters for Borehole Data - Alpha & Beta

Adding borehole data by defining the Traverse type to "Borehole"

Sample File consisting of Borehole Data

 Input Data: Clinorule Data

Dips enables the user to analyze joint orientations of magnetic orebodies measured with a device called
clinorule. Clinorule data can be added by defining the Traverse Type as Clinorule.

Adding clinorule data by defining the Traverse type to "Clinorule"

For Clinorule traverses, the azimuth of the reference line is input in the Traverse Information dialog as the
Orientation 1 of the traverse.

Traverse Information Dialog

Sample File consisting of Clinorule Data

Input Data: Mixed Orientation Data Formats

Dips allows the user to combine mixed orientation formats in the same document by modifying the
Traverse Orientation Format. Whenever the Traverse Orientation Format is different from the Global
Orientation Format, Dips will interpret the orientation data for the Traverse according to the Traverse
Orientation Format.

Include mixed orientation data formats by using different traverse orientation formats

Input Data: Traverses / Terzaghi Bias Correction

The Terzaghi Weighting option, available in the View menu and the View toolbar, can be applied to
Contour and Rosette plots, to account for the sampling bias introduced by orientation data collection along
Traverses.

Illustration of Terzaghi weighting - unweighted (top) and weighted (bottom) contours of sample
data
 Input Data: Declination Correction

The Declination in the Job Control dialog can be used for azimuth correction. This is typically used to
correct for magnetic declination, but can be used to adjust to grid north.
 Input Data: Extra Columns

In Dips, any columns after the two mandatory Orientation Columns, and the optional Quantity and
Traverse Columns, are referred to as Extra Columns. Extra Columns can be used to store any other
"quantitative" or "qualitative" data, such as information about data type, discontinuity spacing, joint
roughness, or seismic velocity.

Dips document with 4 basic columns and 3 implemented extra columns

Stereonet Plots: General

The main forms of data visualization in Dips are the various Plot options available in the View menu and
View toolbar: Pole, Scatter, Contour, Rosette, and Major Planes Plots. The Contour Plot can also be
viewed overlaid with one of the other plots.

Various plot options under View menu

Stereonet Plots: Pole Plots

A Pole Plot is the most basic representation of the orientation data (ie. the orientation data pairs in the first
two columns of a Dips file). On a pole plot, points are plotted on a stereonet that correspond to the
orientation of either (1) linear features or (2) poles representing planes.

A sample Pole Plot

Stereonet Plots: Scatter Plots

A Scatter Plot permits visual analysis of pole distribution by plotting symbols representing the number of
approximately coincident poles at a given orientation. Symbols on this plot correspond to actual grid
locations, and the quantities represented are the numbers of poles within a half grid spacing of the grid
point. These grid locations, will not, in general, correspond exactly to the locations of poles plotted in the
Pole Plot.

A sample Scatter Plot

Stereonet Plots: Contour Plots

A Contour Plot is the main tool in Dips for analyzing mean and / or maximum pole concentrations. It is
used to visualize the clustering of orientation data not immediately evident from a Pole Plot or a Scatter
Plot. The contours represent statistical pole concentrations, calculated using the distribution method
(Fisher or Schmidt) specified in the Stereonet Options dialog. A Terzaghi Weighting can be applied to a
Contour Plot to correct sampling bias from data collection and to generate a weighted contour plot if the
Dips file contains Traverse information.

A sample Contour Plot

Stereonet Plots: Major Planes Plot

The Major Planes Plot option in Dips allows the user to view planes only on a clean stereonet, without
poles or contours. In addition, a listing of plane orientations is displayed in the legend, in the format
governed by the current Convention.

A sample Major Planes plot

Stereonet Plots: Overlay Contours

A Contour Plot can be overlaid on Pole, Scatter, or Major Planes plots, with the Overlay Contours option.

A sample Pole Plot overlaid with Unweighted Contour Plot

Projections

In the Stereonet Options dialog, the user can select the preferred projection method.

The Stereonet Options Dialog

Dips allows the user to analyze orientation data with two different spherical projections: "equal angle" and
"equal area".

Contour Plots of "equal angle" and "equal area" projections

Dips also offers two different means of traces of planes and poles to represent a horizontal stereonet
projections: "lower hemisphere" and "upper hemisphere".

Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Stereonet Overlay

The Stereonet Overlay option in the Tools menu allows the user to overlay a full stereonet grid (Polar,
Equatorial or Custom axis) on top of Pole, Scatter, Contour or Major Planes plots.

Stereonet Overlay option under Tools toolbar

Stereonet Overlay Dialog

Polar Stereonet Overlay

Equatorial Stereonet Overlay

Custom Stereonet Overlay with Trend = 0 / Plunge = 45
 Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: User Defined
Trend/Strike Reference Line

The azimuth direction is taken as a relative angle with respect to a reference line. This line is usually the
axis of a drift of tunnel but can be any reference direction that is known (accurate measure of this
reference azimuth should be taken from level plans). Depending on the convention setting, the azimuth to
the reference line is described as either the trend or the strike angle.

The Declination in the Job Control dialog can be used for azimuth correction. This is typically used to
correct for magnetic declination, but can be used to adjust to grid north.

Change the declination in the Job Control Dialog

With traverse orientation, the azimuth of the reference line is input in the Traverse Information dialog as
the "orientation 1" of the traverse. This value is added to the dipdirection or strike (depending on the
convention setting) data measured on the traverse and recorded in the orientation columns.

Orientation 1 of the traverse acts as the azimuth of the reference line

Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Add Planes

The Add Plane option allows the user to graphically add a pole / plane to a stereonet plot (Pole, Scatter,
Contour or Major Planes plots).

The Add Plane option under Select menu

It is very easy to add a plane in Dips. After the Add Plane option is selected, the user will see an interactive
rubber plane as the mouse cursor moves around the stereonet. The status bar at the lower right will also
display the current orientations of the plane.

Rubber plane for interactive data analysis

Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Add Cone

The Add Cone option allows the user to add cone traces or "small circles" on the stereonet. The cones can
be centered about any axis, and may represent friction circles, toppling bounds, etc. While using the Add
Cone function, "cancel", "line" and "pole snap" are available in the right click menu. Line displays a moving
line through the center of the stereonet, which follows the cursor. Pole Snap will "snap" the cone axis to
the pole nearest to the cursor location. It is only applicable on a Pole Plot.

The Add Cone option under Tools Menu

Pole Snap is available in the right click menu when adding a cone

The Add Cone Dialog

Pole Plot with the added cone (Trend = 225, Plunge = 0, Angle = 60, in dark green)
 Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Daylight Envelope

Daylight envelopes corresponding to planes can be displayed using the checkboxes provided in the Edit
Planes or Edit Sets dialogs.

Select Daylight Envelope in the Edit Sets Dialog

Daylight envelopes are used primarily in slope stability analysis work. It is kinematically feasible for any
poles that plot within a daylight envelope to slide. To determine the stability of such poles, you must also
consider the frictional strength of the planes. Friction cones can be added to the stereonet using the Add
Cone option.

Pole Plot showing daylight envelope for sliding analysis

 Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Onscreen Pole
Identification

Dips allows the user to do personal labeling with onscreen text and onscreen arrow functions in the Tools
menu.

Add Text and Add Arrow options under Tools menu

Pole Plots with extensive labeling using onscreen texts and onscreen arrows
 Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Onscreen Angle
Measurement

The Measure Angle option allows the user to calculate the angle between any two points on the stereonet.

Measure Angle option under Tools menu

Result is displayed in a Measure Angle Dialog

 Enhanced Stereonet Tool Kit: Data Rotation

The Rotate Data option allows the user to rotate data about some arbitrary axis. This option can be used
to adjust structural data in a folded domain, or to create "inclined" hemisphere projections.

Rotate Data option under Select menu

Rotate Data Dialog

Data Before Rotation

Data After Rotation (Trend = 45, Angle of Rotation = 45)

Feature Attribute Analysis: Query Data

The Query Data option allows the user to create a query to search for any subset of data in a Dips file. If
the query is successful, a new Dips file will immediately be generated, and a new Grid View will display the
selected data.

Query Data option under Select

Query Data Dialog

Note that the rows of the new subset file will be exactly as found in the original file, and all of the Job
Control information will also be preserved (ie. Global Orientation Format, Declination, Traverse Information
etc.)

Original file (top) versus new query file (bottom)

Feature Attribute Analysis: Chart Data

Histograms, Line Charts or Pie Charts can be created based on the data in any column of a Dips file.

Chart option under Select menu

Chart Dialog

Sample Histogram, Line, and Pie charts

 Feature Attribute Analysis: Symbolic Pole Plot

A Pole Plot is capable of displaying feature attribute information, in the form of color-coded / symbolic
plots, using the Symbolic Pole Plot option.

Symbolic Pole Plot option in the right-click pop-out menu in a Pole Plot view

Symbolic Pole Plot Dialog

Symbolic Pole Plot of data in the "Type" column

Statistical Analysis: Statistical Contouring

A Contour Plot is the main tool in Dips for analyzing mean and / or maximum pole concentrations. It is
used to visualize the clustering of orientation data not immediately evident from a Pole Plot or a Scatter
Plot. The contours represent statistical pole concentrations, calculated using the distribution method
(Fisher or Schmidt) specified in the Stereonet Options dialog.

Specifying Distribution Method in the Stereonet Options Dialog

Statistical Analysis: User Defined Set Windows for Joint

Sets

Add Set Window allows the user to draw windows around data clusters on the stereonet, for the purpose
of obtaining mean orientations of data (poles) within the windows. The mean orientations can be plotted as
poles and/or planes on the stereonet, and set statistics (confidence and variability cones) can be plotted
(Edit Sets option) or listed (Info Viewer option).

Add Set Window option under Sets menu

Mean orientations of Sets 1, 2 and 3 plotted as poles on the stereonet

Plot Confidence and Variability Cones in Edit Sets Dialog

Pole Plot with Confidence and Variability Cones

Set Statistics listed in InfoViewer
Rosette Plots

Another widely used technique for representing orientations is called the Rosette. The conventional rosette
begins with a horizontal plane, represented by the equatorial (outer) circle of the stereonet. A radial
histogram (with arc segments instead of bars) is overlain on this circle, indicating the density of planes
intersecting this horizontal surface. The radial orientation limits (azimuth) of the arc segments correspond
to the range of strike of the plane or group of planes being represented by the segment. In other words,
the rosette diagram is a radial histogram of strike density or frequency.

Note: Dips has removed the requirement that the base plane of the rosette be horizontal. The plane can
be oriented at any orientation in space. The rosette then represents the apparent orientation of the lines of
intersection between the base plane of the rosette and the planes in the data set.

A sample Rosette Plot

Rosette Options Dialog

Display Options

Virtually all Dips display options are customizable by the user. The user can customize: Stereonet options,
Contour Options, Symbols (for symbolic pole plot), display options, and representation and labeling of
planes (great circles and poles).

Display Options Dialog

Favorite display options can also be saved, allowing the user to create their own customized version of
Dips.

Stereonet, Contour, and Display Options are customizable and can be saved
Symbol Editor Dialog for Symbolic Pole Plots

Show Planes option under Select menu lets the user toggle the visibility of planes
The Edit Planes Dialog allows the user to modify the representation and labeling of planes

Graphical Output: Grayscale Option

The Grayscale option allows the user to convert the entire view to grayscale (black and white) with a single
mouse click.

Effect of Grayscale in a Contour Plot

Output Files: Save Processed Data Files

The Save Processed option in the File menu allows the user to save a processed version of the current
Dips file. Also, the new files created by Query Data are not processed files. If the user wishes to save
processed Dips files, they must use the Save Processed option in the Files menu.

The Save Processed option under the File menu

The Processed Dips File Dialog

 Output Files: Save Planes File

The Save Planes option in the File menu allows the user to save all added planes and all set windows and
mean planes in the current document to a .DWP file, which stands for Dips Windows and Planes file. A
.DWP file can be read back into Dips at a later time, with the Open Planes File option.

The Save Planes option under the File menu

.DWP files can also be imported into Swedge and Unwedge. This allows the user to import planes from
Dips for use as input data in Swedge or Unwedge.

Utilities: JTDist

JTDist is a utility program for creating user-defined synthetic joint sets, and saving the data as a Dips file.
JTDist is installed along with Dips in your Dips installation folder.

JTDist interface
The user can define up to five distinct joint sets (by entering a mean dip and dip direction, standard
deviation, and joint quantity for each set), create a random background of joint data, and apply error to the
generated joint set data (normal, uniform, or roundoff).

After entering the parameters, select Save File in the JTDist dialog. This will generate the synthetic data
and allow you to save it as a Dips file (a file with a .dip extension readable by Dips).

A tutorial for the JTDist program is available by selecting the Help button in the JTDist dialog, and then
selecting the Tutorial button. The tutorial is also available by double-clicking on the jtdisttut.pdf file in your
Dips installation folder.