The German Mining Museum is mainly working on the exploration and examination of ancient mining. There for it is important that a precise map is drawn up where the results of e.g. an excavation or the ancient working traces are documented. Sometimes there is already a 2D plan and one wants to "add" or improve more information to the plan. Very soon a plan becomes confusing e.g. when passages intersect on different levels or (interesting) parts are hidden by others in the respective projection.
In this article possible workflows will be shown, starting with the measuring of cross sections with various equipment (optical, electro optical). Further more different possibilities of how to orientate the single sections are discussed and the construction of the 3D model is revealed by using AutoCAD and 3D Studio MAX. Finally leading up to the following article, an example of an information system, built in 1999 will be demonstrated as well as some visualisations are examined.
Keywords: mining, cross section, 3D modelling, virtual reality, information system