ABSTRACT
The Echographic control system (ECS) was designed for computer aided measuring and representation of the cavities resulting during the underground salt dissolution process. Cavity measurement was performed with a Polish USMS or with an EDO WESTERN sonar. The ECS system contains three modules, namely:
The measuring module contains the software dedicated to the data acquisition from the measuring process. The data acquisition function is done by a serial interface, between sonar and an IBM PC compatible computer, which sends data to the computer with a speed of 115.200 bauds. Actually, there are three different interfaces (two for the polish sonar and another for the EDO Western one). For each of them, a program performs the task of processing the signals, plotting them on the laptop’s display in an intuitive form and saving them into a date base. The right upper corner of the display shows the measured signals, as they are seen during the measuring process. The scale is maximal, at the resolution of the measurement, the resolution being about 6 cm. This data, saved in a temporary InterBase database (Inprise), are later imported, from the laptop to the main database on a more powerful PC, which has better capabilities to hold the entire database and to plot the required images. Beside this task, the measuring module contains the program that is responsible to provide deviation measurement results in a tabular form, for insertion in the main database.
The interpretation module performs two tasks: optionally, it performs the filtration of the signal and, respectively, the calculation of the most probable contour, at each depth of measurement. In the case of measurements with the Polish USMS sonar, it was necessary to develop sophisticated methods to discriminate depth of measurement signal from the adjacent depth signal. It is noted that this type of sonar has inappropriate characteristics for this type of measurement. Finally, this module is useful for the operator to do his own interpretation.
398 The representation module makes it possible to obtain various geometric representations of a single cavity or of a set of cavities, for example sections, 2D and 3D representation of 3D surfaces. In use it is possible to see the same cavity, at two different moments, in horizontal/vertical sections and to plot the images of two cavities, at the same time (in 2D or 3D). This module also permits the plotting of the results of deviation measuring. This is very important for the correct positioning in the space of the plotted cavities. This module is also responsible for performing other tasks, for example: loading text concerning cavities, maintaining the database in a proper state, and printing various reports concerning the cavities (distances, areas, volumes, etc.).
The modules described reside in two programs, one for the first module, another for the next two. They run under Windows 3.1, respectively Windows95/98. The measuring data and all the other data concerning the cavities (including other types of measurements) are located in a single Interbase database file. As for hardware, the system needs a laptop (running Windows 3.1), another IBM PC compatible computer (running Windows95/98) in standard configuration, and an A3/A4 printer or a plotter (optional).