Dips FAQs: Traverses / Terzaghi Weighting

Below are answers to Traverses / Terzaghi Weighting FAQs for Dips. Click on the question to read the answer.

1. What is the purpose of defining Linear or Planar traverses in Dips? For a Borehole traverse, I understand that the orientation data defining the geometry of the borehole and its reference line is necessary to compute the orientation of the fracture planes from alpha and beta. It is not as clear how the orientation data for the Linear and Planar traverses are used given that the fracture orientations are input directly.

   For Linear or Planar traverses, the traverse orientation is used if the Terzaghi Weighting option is applied to contour or rosette plots. See the Terzaghi Weighting topic for information about the significance and use of the Terzaghi Weighting option. The weighting is also used in the calculation of weighted mean vectors, when Sets are created.

   The traverse orientation has no effect on UNWEIGHTED plots of your data, for Linear or Planar traverses.

   For borehole traverses, the borehole traverse orientation is essential for converting the alpha / beta measurements into dip/dipdirection or strike/dip data. The borehole traverse orientation is also used in the Terzaghi Weighting computation, for which purpose it is treated as a linear traverse (since it is in fact a linear traverse).

2. I have difficulty getting the Terzaghi Weighting to come up every time. What can I do?

   The Terzaghi Weighting option is only available if you have defined traverses in your Dips file. If you are not using traverses, then the Terzaghi Weighting option is not applicable and will not be available. See the Terzaghi Weighting topic for more information.

   Furthermore, the Terzaghi Weighting option is only applicable on Contour plots and Rosette Plots. It is not applicable if you are viewing Pole or Scatter Plots.

3. Can the column labeled "Traverse" be moved to the first column position?

   The Traverse column cannot be moved. The Orientation columns are always the first two columns in the Dips spreadsheet, followed by the Quantity column (if present), and then the Traverse column. The user cannot move any of these columns.

4. For a Linear traverse, what is the orientation format of the Orient1 and Orient2 values in the Traverse Information dialog?

   For a Linear traverse, the Orient1 and Orient2 values in the Traverse Information dialog, ALWAYS represent the Trend/Plunge of the Linear traverse. This is true regardless of the Global Orientation Format or the Traverse Orientation Format (e.g. even if the Orientation Format of the data collected on the Linear traverse is Dip/DipDirection or Strike/Dip, the Linear traverse Orient1 and Orient2 values in the Traverse Information dialog are always in Trend/Plunge format).