Data Settings - Field Treatments

To access this screen:

On the Scheduling Setup screen, select Data Settings >> Field Treatments.

The Scheduling Setup screen is used to load and save project settings, define the various scheduling data objects, set how fields are treated, and define bench settings.

Each tab on the left of the screen displays a categorized set of tools used to define how your schedule will be calculated. What is initially displayed depends on how the screen is opened.

The Field Treatments screen is used to define the way in which fields (data columns) are treated in calculations during scheduling.

Fields are gathered from the reserves file, which you have defined on the Select Data screen. They are presented as a list on the left of the screen. Selecting an attribute or field updates the screen to reflect that field’s current settings.

You can also choose options for Abbreviation, Add block attribute and Is Product.

An abbreviation can be added to the value in the string, which can then be used for display. Is Product is used by the Auto Scheduler as part of cost-based solving.

Activity steps:

Display the Data Settings - Field Treatments screen.
Select a field name from the Fields list.
In Treatment, choose how the selected field is handled in schedule calculations:
- Select Accumulated to accumulate the selected field values. Use this for rate-type fields used by activities such as drilling or blasting.
- Select Copied to treat the selected field as copied. Use this for informational fields such as identification.
- Select Weighted to weight the selected field by the field specified in Weighted by.
- In Weighted by, select a field to use as a weighting for the selected field. Use this for fields such as grades.
To copy the selected attribute value from the reserves table to the outlines object for annotation or legends, select Add block attribute.

While selected, this value is updated by the Reserves object. If you want to add the attribute column but prevent further updates so you can compare old and new values in the reserves table, add the attribute column and then cancel it.
To remove a previously added attribute from the outlines file (without affecting the reserves file), select Delete block attribute.
To accept the default abbreviation or define a custom short description for the selected field, update Abbreviation.
To define the last period in which a defined price is used (to allow variable prices over time), update the End Period table.

Note: Define field treatment settings for all relevant scheduling fields (data columns). As an example, grades are typically weighted, whereas tonnes and volume are accumulated. Generally, the screen’s default selection will be appropriate. If you wish to report tonnes, volume, metres or any other attribute that is used as the rate field for a Machine, you must ensure that the settings in Field Treatments are set to Accumulated. If they are set to Weighted or Copied then the accumulated quantity will not be shown in the Crosstab report for Machines in DTS. It is possible to enter a negative product price in the End Period table, for example to capture penalties associated with product impurities.

Accumulated, Copied Or Weighted Field Treatment?

The field treatment defined for each of the listed fields determines how each field is to be used, or how each field can potentially be used, within the scheduling process. For example, fields can be used when defining the rated capacity for Machine Classes (material mass for loading, drill and blast metres for drilling and charging), when defining global or destination targets or constraints, and as descriptive or qualitative attributes for mined material.

Mineral grade or material quality fields are typically treated as weighted (this is the default setting in Studio OP). For example, gold grades stored in the field AU (units, g/t or %) would be weighted using the material mass field TONNES. Alternatively, they can be treated as accumulated, for example gold content stored in the field AU_CONT (g). These can be used to define material constraints (minimum and maximum allowable values) for destinations. Both weighted and accumulated grade fields are stored in the schedule for both stockpiles and mining blocks.

Accumulated values (such as volume, tonnes, drill metres and metal content) that are not used as a driving property when setting up machines can also be used when defining a stockpile’s supply and saving a stockpile model’s current state. These values are also stored in the schedule and displayed in the Stockpiles control bar.