tcpMDT
Calculate volumes between surfaces
Calculates the cut and fill volumes between two MDT surface files using the grid difference method. It compares the second surface against the first (surface_2 − surface_1): where the difference is negative there is cut (excavation), where it is positive there is fill.
Returns volumes in m³, cut and fill areas in m², the net volume, and the cell size used in the calculation.
Compatible surface formats: .sup (triangulated TIN) and .mde (raster grid).
Prerequisites: Both surface files must exist on disk and be accessible from the specified paths. Use Query active surface information to obtain the full path of the active file.
Parameters
Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| text (path) | Yes | — | Full path to the base or original surface file. Example: |
| text (path) | Yes | — | Full path to the projected or final surface file. Example: |
| number (m) | No | 1.0 | Calculation grid cell size. Smaller values give more precision at the cost of more time. |
Result
Results table with: cut (m³), fill (m³), net volume, cut area (m²), fill area (m²), zero-volume area (m²) and number of processed cells.
Tip: First use Query active surface information to obtain the exact path of the active .sup file. The second surface can be created with Create triangulated surface (TIN) before running this calculation.
Example prompts
You can ask the assistant things like:
Calculate the volume between the original and projected surfaces located in D:\Project\
How much cut and fill is there between files original.sup and project.sup?
Calculate volumes between D:\Site\base.sup and D:\Site\final.sup with a cell size of 0.5 metres
Compare surfaces natural.sup and grade.sup and tell me the net volume