Survey Overview

A survey refers to the navigational positioning of a dataset. It defines the basic parameters (i.e. inline and crossline spacing) of where the volume sits on the earth. It is also the first file that you need when creating a new DUG Insight session.

A 3D survey defines the relationship between Inline/Crossline and X/Y. Insight uses the survey to position data in the correct location. All 3D volumes and horizons refer to a 3D survey. In the Map and 3D views, Insight draws the survey to be large enough to cover everything using it. If you add a new object, Insight will automatically extend the survey boundaries to include it.

A 2D survey is a collection of related 2D lines. Every line is defined by a set of tie points that link the common midpoint (CMP) to eastings and northings (X/Y).

Any given survey can be defined by an infinite number of orthogonal tie-point sets, so long as they define the same relationship in the conversion from IL/CL to X/Y. Different combinations of tie points can also give the same mathematical survey relationship, and Insight treats these as being the same survey. Insight will not let you load multiple separate surveys that are equivalent (see Why does SEG-Y Loader tell me I have a duplicate survey?).

Create a survey

A survey can be created by either defining an origin point and projecting it out in a direction and spacing specified, or by defining 3 tie points that define the relationship between IL/CL and X/Y (see Creating a Survey).

Surveys can also be created when loading data using the SEG-Y Loader, from tie-points, trace headers or navigation files. More information can also be found at Defining a 2D Survey and Defining a 3D Survey).

An arbitrary 3D survey can also be generated by defining the geometry in a text file and importing it into Insight. See Survey File Examples.

Load and import survey

Once you have a survey file (.survey format), load it into your session from the project database or import the survey into the project.

The survey file should be the first file that you load/import because it provides the navigational positioning of the project's dataset.

If the survey is loaded with a different CRS than the project CRS (for example, if you load it from a Kingdom project), you can convert it to the project CRS in just a few simple steps (see How do I change survey CRS to project CRS?).

Displaying and viewing survey

The details of a survey can be seen from the survey's Details Panel, including the colour of the survey lines or grid lines, the IL/CL spacing and orientation for 3D surveys, and details of every line in a 2D survey (see Defining Survey Details).

The survey can then be activated and displayed in the Map View (see Viewing Surveys in Map View) or 3D View.

Dealing with multi-survey data

If you have multiple surveys loaded in your session, each survey has its own independently-controllable inline (IL) and crossline (CL) slice in the 3D View.

Follow the steps in this FAQ to enable/disable the display of each survey data (i.e. seismic volumes or 2D lines).

Disabling the surveys in the Control Panel does NOT remove the survey data from the 3D View, it simply removes the survey grid lines.

Tip: In the Map View, the survey currently selected for display (in the IL/CL View or 3D View) has red navigation bars, and other surveys have grey navigation bars.

Exporting and replacing survey

Exporting a survey outputs the geometry (and not the seismic data) to a text file. This is useful for transferring the survey geometry to other users or projects (see Exporting a Survey). A survey is required before importing dugio volumes.

Insight also allows you to change the location of a survey in a session. All items that were loaded/created in the previous survey will be updated when the session is reloaded with the new survey (see Configuring a Survey). You can also import a survey file to redefine the survey coordinates.