Export 3D View to OMF

Use the 3D view > Export 3D View to OMF menu option (geogxnet.dll(Geosoft.GX.GEO3DV.Export3DVToOMF;Run)*) to create a new OMF file from selected datasets in the current 3D view. Once an OMF file has been created, it can be shared with a variety of other mining and geoscience software applications.

This tool can also be accessed from:

• The Export > OMF File menu option in the 3D Viewer

• The Export to OMF context menu option in the Project Explorer

Export 3DV to OMF dialog options

Output OMF file	Specify the name of the output OMF file. By default, the file will inherit the name of your current 3D view; however, you can override th default setting.
Coordinate system	The coordinate system saved with your 3D view parameters is displayed. All selected datasets to be exported will be "reprojected on the fly" to this coordinate system (see Application Notes). A warning appears to the right of the field if any of the selected datasets do not have a defined coordinate system.
Coordinate system units	The length units of the current coordinate system are displayed.
Title	Enter a title for the OMF file metadata. By default, the title will inherit the name of your current 3D view; however, you can override this setting.
Description	Enter a description for the OMF file metadata. This field is optional.
Items to export	The tree list displays all datasets contained in the current 3D view. Change the data to be exported by selecting or deselecting individual datasets. Hold down the Shift key to select or deselect multiple datasets simultaneously. At the bottom of the window, you can use the Select All or Select None buttons to manage your selections efficiently. OMF files support a variety of 3D geospatial datasets, including: Points Lines Drillholes 3D triangulated meshes (surfaces) 2D rasters (grids, images) 3D rasters (block models, voxels) Any data layers displayed without a checkbox and in grey text are not currently supported for export to OMF.
[Regrid Voxels]	If the selected voxels are rotated or have variable cell sizes, you may need to resample them before exporting to your destination software. Click this button to open the Regrid Voxels for OMF Export dialog, where you can adjust the regridding parameters for the selected voxels. The tooltip beside the button provides information about the number of cells and dimensions of the selected voxels, as well as the resulting number of cells in the OMF file before and after applying regridding for "non-uniform" voxels (refer to Regrid a Voxel for additional details).

Application Notes

What is OMF?

The Open Mining Format (OMF) is an open geoscience exchange format for sharing 3D geospatial data within the mining industry. OMF provides a standardized file format for mining software, enabling files to be easily imported or exported between programs. It is specifically designed to represent spatial objects, including drillholes, block models, and surfaces.

OMF offers:

• The ability to easily share data between software packages.
• The capacity for companies to seamlessly share data internally or externally.
• A streamlined and efficient approach that eliminates manual or convoluted transfer processes.

When a new OMF file is created, it contains the selected datasets from the input 3D view. Once the OMF file is generated, you can share it with colleagues and stakeholders, allowing the entire 3D view to be shared as a single, cohesive package.

Reprojection

3D spatial datasets displayed in Oasis montaj or Target may have a different coordinate system from the 3D view in which they are displayed. As long as both the dataset and the 3D view have defined coordinate systems, the data will be "reprojected on the fly" and will be located correctly in 3D space. However, care should be taken not to mix datasets without defined coordinate systems, as this could result in mislocated datasets.

When exporting a 3D view to an OMF file, all datasets will be reprojected to a single coordinate system – the coordinate system of the 3D view. All data in the OMF file will adopt this one coordinate system.

Unsupported Data Types

While the OMF export supports most data types that can be displayed in 3D views, a few exceptions exist. Any layers that are not currently supported for OMF export are displayed in light grey text without a checkbox in the Items to export list.

Some of the datasets that are not currently supported for OMF export:

• Raster layers, such as:
• Images draped on elevation grids
• "Pixel plots" of section grids
• Azure Maps layers
• 2D and 3D vector datasets, such as:
• Drillholes
• Legacy vector layers, such as isosurfaces
• 2D and 3D ArcGIS Layer files (.LYR)
• Geostrings

OMF and the Global Mining Guidelines Group

The initial release of OMF in 2017 included support for basic structures, including points, lines, surfaces, meshes, and volumes. The subsequent version expanded functionality to incorporate block models.

OMF is a collaborative initiative developed under the guidance of the Global Mining Guidelines group (GMG). The GMG aims to foster broad industry engagement, which is crucial to the success of this endeavor. To support this goal, GMG has launched a global outreach program, including a sub-committee comprised of representatives from software vendors and mining companies. Together, they are shaping the future direction of the format.

For more information, go to:

• https://gmggroup.org/projects/
• https://omf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Which software vendors and applications can create and/or import OMF files?

Several software vendors have already adopted, or are in the process of adopting, OMF as a standard format for exchanging mining datasets. These vendors include:

Vendor	Software
Deswik	Deswik.CAD 2019
Dassault Systèmes	GEOVIA Surpac 2019 MineSched 2019
Micromine	Micromine 2020
Seequent (formerly Geosoft)	Oasis montaj 9.7+ Target 9.7+
Seequent (formerly Aranz Geo)	Leapfrog Geo 4.2+