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Installation Information Gemini Terrain

Here you will find information about installation and how to get started with Gemini Terrain. Please read these instructions before using Gemini Terrain. Release information for Gemini 3D Field can be found here: Gemini 3D Field.

System Requirements for Gemini Terrain

Gemini Terrain uses standard hardware. The list below shows minimum requirements and recommendations.

Operating System

  • Minimum: Windows 11 Professional

RAM

  • Minimum: 4 GB
  • Recommended: As much as possible (16 GB or more), especially for drawings with large amounts of data

CPU

  • Minimum: Processor supporting Intel X86-64 (most Intel and AMD processors from the last ten years)
  • Recommended: Multi-core Intel Core i5/i7. Gemini Terrain performs best on processors with high clock speed, but some tasks use parallel processing and benefit from multiple cores

Examples of tasks using parallel processing:

  • Reading application layers and SFI/EFI/XFI models when opening a drawing
  • Grid calculation from point cloud
  • Generating cross-sections from point cloud
  • AutoSave/restore
  • File synchronization with Gemini Connected
  • 3D triangulation
  • Geometric control of point cloud
  • Noise reduction of point cloud
  • New method for lowest blasting level from grid
  • Snap lines to triangle net in application layer
  • Cutting/splitting triangle net
  • Terrain analysis

Hard Disk

  • Minimum: 2 GB free disk space
  • Recommended: SSD

Graphics Card

  • Recommended: OpenGL support from NVIDIA or AMD
  • Laptops should have a dedicated graphics card with its own graphics memory

Display

  • Minimum: Screen resolution 1024x768
  • Recommended: Screen resolution 1920x1080

Mouse

  • 3-button mouse with scroll wheel

Other Software

  • Microsoft Excel via Microsoft 365. Gemini SiteSurvey requires Excel in Microsoft 365
  • Web browser

Why is Microsoft Excel required?

Gemini Terrain uses Microsoft Excel to present reports. Macros in the program generate reports directly in Excel.

Internet

  • When using Gemini Terrain, you must be connected to the internet for license access
  • When using Gemini Connected, internet access is required for data synchronization

Software Versions

Gemini software is continuously developed, and new versions are published regularly. We use semantic versioning (major.minor.patch.build) and date. Normally, there is one major release per year, followed by minor and service releases. A minor release includes new features, while a service release (patch) mainly contains bug fixes.

The latest official versions are available for download at https://www.volue.com/support/construction-support-download, which is also accessible via the customer portal.

After installation, you will find the programs under available apps in Gemini Software.

In the program, you can check if you have the current version installed under Help – Check for updates. You will be guided to the download page if newer versions are available.

Version information can be found in the program under Help – About**

Properties in Windows Explorer also show this information

Old, Existing, and Ongoing Projects

Always evaluate project by project whether to use a new version or finish in the existing version. Review what is new, such as new building rules, and check if they affect you. Contact support if anything is unclear. When switching to a new major version, we always recommend backing up the project before working on it in the new version.

Remember to copy any user-defined files, such as MetadataUserNor.json, from the previous version's User folder to the new version's User folder after installation.

See the user manual under the section Old project files for using older project data in a new version.

Uninstalling Programs

You can uninstall Gemini software using the built-in Add or Remove Programs in Uninstall a program in Windows.

This option removes everything installed by the installer, while project files and user customizations created later remain untouched. Note that some folders may remain and must be removed manually if needed.

All major releases have different suggestions for standard folder structure. You can run different major versions in parallel and do not need to uninstall old versions.

When upgrading, you may experience differences in storage formats that require data conversion or changes in building and calculation methods that produce different results. For example, the storage structure for standard application layers was changed in version 20, when triangle nets and point clouds were split into two different geometry types. This may mean you cannot directly compare results from two different versions.

Read more about this under the chapter Old project files in the program's help text.

Standard Installation of Gemini Terrain

Both Gemini Terrain and Gemini 3D Field are installed from GeminiTerrain-<version number>.msi. The installer starts automatically when you double-click the MSI file in Windows Explorer.

When the installation starts, the wizard guides you through the process step by step.

During first-time installation, you must make the following choices:

  1. Language and market
  2. License agreement
  3. Folder structure
  4. Shortcuts

After installation, the license content determines whether you have access to one or both programs, and which modules are available.

Language

For a full installation, you must specify the language for market and user interface.

After installation, you can check and change language settings under Settings Gemini Terrain – Personal settings – Language and market.

During an update, your existing language settings will appear. Accept these and start the update.

User Interface

Program functions and any help texts can be displayed in the following languages:

  • English (under development)
  • Norwegian
  • Swedish

Market

The program includes templates and settings adapted to different markets:

  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • English (England/international)

License Agreement

Check I accept the terms in the License Agreement after reading and accepting the agreement. Then click Next to continue the installation.

Folder Structure

During an update, your existing folder structure will appear. Accept this and start the update.

Note

MSI installations have Major Upgrade functionality. You do not need to uninstall before installing a new update.

During first-time installation of Gemini Terrain, you must specify target folders for the program. You will be asked to choose a target folder for:

  • Program files

This also includes standard setup for:

  • User customizations (User folder)
  • Local projects (current project folder)
  • Cloud projects (local cache folder for cloud projects in Gemini Connected)

Select Custom setup to change the default folder structure.

The default setup for target folders in Windows 10/11 is as shown below, where XX is the version number. These folder structures follow Windows recommendations: the program should be under Program Files, and local projects under My Documents.

C:\Program Files\Gemini\TerXX\

C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Gemini\TerXX\Data

C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Gemini\TerXX\User

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Gemini\CloudCache\

Alternative Folder Structure

The program can be installed directly in the same root directory (for example, C:\TerXX, where XX is the version number) as in older versions. Just replace the suggested paths during installation.

Using Network Drives

As mentioned above, you can override target folders during installation.

User Folder

The User folder is the users' folder. In this folder, users can create templates to be available to everyone. It also contains the company's title fields and other standard figures. Users in a company can use the same User directory.

When activating Gemini Connected for the first time or moving from one major version to the next, you must activate a shared user folder for the organization.

Migrate user folder allows the user to choose which user folder the company should use during such a transition. You can choose between:

  • Previous version (for cloud projects)
    Relevant when moving from e.g. version 20 to 21
  • Copy from local folder
    Creates a shared user folder based on the local User folder
  • Create new
    Creates a completely new user folder for the organization's cloud projects

If you want to add files to the user folder later, you can do so via File - Include files in Gemini Connected user folder.

Data Folder

You will also specify the Data folder during installation. This choice is set to current project folder in ddsmain.ini [ProjectDir]. All projects under the current project folder are listed in the project menu.

Often, we want to place projects on a network drive so you can share projects with others and use internal backup routines. Just change the suggestion during installation.

You are free to create project folders anywhere, regardless of the current project folder. Many organizations also have a project folder structure that is not compatible with using the current project folder.

Example where the project folder "Gemini" is in a subfolder of the Data folder

CloudCache Folder

Here the local copy of cloud projects is stored (Gemini Terrain projects saved in Gemini Connected).

Shortcuts

Before starting the installation, you must check whether shortcuts should be created. If you do not use Gemini 3D Field, it is natural to omit these.

Installation on Citrix Server

Gemini Terrain has functionality that allows installation on a Citrix server with multiple simultaneous users. Note that installation is the same for both Citrix server and single-user machines.

When a new user starts the program, a local Ini folder is created for the user at C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Gemini\TerXX, where XX is the version number. The contents are copied from the shared Ini folder.

If the local Ini folder already exists when starting the program, nothing is done.

Note that these directories will be shared if you run both Gemini 3D Field and Gemini Terrain from the tablet. You can later check your folder structure in ddsmain.ini in the Ini directory. If you have both Gemini 3D Field and Gemini Terrain, you can check the folder structure under Settings Gemini Terrain – Personal settings – Installation folders.

Note

If the system administrator uninstalls the program and reinstalls it so that EXE/SYS/USER etc. end up elsewhere, problems may arise because many local Ini folders may point to incorrect EXE/SYS directories, etc. The user will be notified at startup that the program cannot be run. To fix this, each user must manually delete the local Ini folder to proceed.

After installation, you can check the folder structure under Settings Gemini Terrain – Personal settings – Installation folders.

Silent Installation of Gemini Terrain

Silent installation is supported. This means installation from the command line without using a graphical interface. Path selection, etc., is done using parameters. XX in the examples stands for the version number of Gemini Terrain.

Silent Installation - Standard

msiexec /quiet /package TerrainXX.msi /l*v <logfilename>

Silent Installation - Parameter Control

Example

msiexec /quiet /package TerrainXX.msi /l*v TerrainXX_log.txt P_DATADIR=C:\Users\mun\Documents\Gemini\TerXX\Data\ P_USERDIR=C:\Users\mun\Documents\ P_CLOUDDATADIR=C:\Users\mun\AppData\Local\Gemini\CloudCache\ P_MARKET=Swe P_LANGUAGE=Eng

Parameters:

  • P_DATADIR: Project data folder
  • P_CLOUDDATADIR: Cache data folder
  • P_USERDIR: User data folder
  • P_MARKET: Market (Nor or Swe)
  • P_LANGUAGE: Language (Eng, Nor, or Swe)

Installation for Multiple Users

If you want to install the software using an administrator account and then run the software for other users with only user access, there are some tools for this.

In the directory where Ini files are stored (normally C:\Program Files\Gemini\TerXX\Ini), a deploy.exe will also be placed. You can also get this file from our support if it is not installed. During first-time use of the software by a specific user, deploy.exe will be run. Deploy.exe will, after Ini files are copied to the local user's directory, be modified so that any environment variables are expanded.

Example

If you write this line in ddsmain.ini:

UserDir=C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Gemini\TerXX\User\

it will be changed to:

UserDir=C:\Users\ola\Documents\Gemini\TerXX\User\

if the environment variable USERNAME is ola

Silent Installation - Path Selection

If an older version of the program is already installed

Priority order for path selection:

  1. Old version will be uninstalled and the new one installed with the same setup as the old one.

New installation after uninstallation

Priority order for path selection:

  1. Command line parameters.
  2. Parameters from last installation.
  3. Default values.

First-time installation

Priority order for path selection:

  1. Command line parameters.
  2. Default values.

Uninstallation

Example

msiexec /uninstall TerrainXX.msi /quiet /l*v TerrainXX_log.txt

License System: 10Duke

From version 20 of Gemini Terrain, the new 10Duke license system is used. This system gives your company full insight into actual usage and needs, as well as the ability to manage access for end users.

The license contact in each company has received information about the system by email. More information can be found in the chapter License Information.

Gemini Terrain and Gemini 3D Field use the same license system.

Starting Gemini Terrain

After installation, you will find the shortcut Gemini Terrain XX in the Start menu under the program group Gemini Software, where XX is the version number.

The demo project Demo-Nor included with the installation opens the first time you start the program. On subsequent startups, the project that was last used will open.

Problem Descriptions

How to Select Graphics Card for Gemini Terrain

Many PCs have dedicated graphics cards for demanding programs, in addition to integrated graphics cards. Windows 10 usually switches automatically between graphics cards, but for best performance, you should set up the dedicated graphics card for Gemini Terrain.

You can do this directly from Settings in Windows or via the graphics card's own software (NVIDIA or AMD).

How to do it in NVIDIA Control Panel
  1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel to check which graphics card you have (the app can be downloaded from Microsoft Store).

  2. Go to Help – System Information in NVIDIA Control Panel.

  3. Go to the vendor's website https://www.nvidia.com/ and select Drivers (top right).

  4. Enter the information you found under System Information and click Search.

  5. Check the version number of the available driver and download if it is newer.

  6. Set Gemini Terrain to high performance in NVIDIA Control Panel.

How to do it in Windows 10

  1. Open graphics settings in Windows 10:

    Open Settings and select System.

    Click Display in the list on the left.

    Scroll down to Graphic settings on the right side.

  2. Select program type:

    For Gemini Terrain, select Desktop app in the dropdown menu.

  3. Select program:

    Click Browse.

    Find and select Ter.exe.

    Click Add.

  4. Select graphics card for the selected program:

    Click Options in the box for Gemini Terrain.

    Click High performance and then Save.

Mouse Problems

Gemini Terrain requires a mouse with three buttons.

All zooming in the model is done with the middle mouse button. For optimal function, it may be necessary to configure the driver. Since there are many different mice on the market, we do not have a general description.

Contact Gemini support if you cannot get the mouse to work as it should.