Utility Network

This command models utility networks such as cable, gas and water lines. This utility network is a separate model from the sewer network which calculates gravity flows. The utility network does not have any flow calculations or inlets. The utility network model is defined by horizontal and vertical alignments (centerlines and profiles) plus pipe sizes. The utility network has one or more utility lines. Files with a .util extension are used to store the utility network model. Profiles from the utility network can be drawn using the Draw Profile command which recognizes the utility network data to use for labeling. The utility network models can be used in the Collisions Conflict Check command along with sewer network models.

This command docks a dialog to the side of the drawing.
Both the Add button and Edit buttons lead to a dialog to define a utility line.
The Utility Name is simply the name of the utility line. Each name must be unique in the utility network.

The Type setting chooses the type of utility as gas, water, sanitary, storm, communication or other. The setting is used in reporting and used to set the default color for the linework.

The Pipe Size is the initial size for the utility line. When the size changes, use the Edit button to set the size at different stations along the line.

The Min Cover is the minimum depth for the utility profile. This value is used to create the profile and keep it below the reference surface. Also, the Report function has a report for checking the min cover.

The Plan View Linetype is used for drawing the utility line in the Draw Plan View function.

The Layer settings are used for drawing the utility line in the drawing.

The Profile Elevation Reference On Pipe controls the pipe position for the utility profile.

The Pipe Shape chooses the type of the utility line.

The Centerline defines the horizontal alignment for the utility line.

The Profile defines the vertical alignment for the utility line.

The Edit Connections is an optional list of stations along the utility line where you can set a name and symbol or model. The symbols are used to draw in plan and profile views. The Model is a 3D Solid such as a valve to draw with the Draw 3D Faces function.

For the Add function, the program first prompts for the centerline. You can either select an existing .CL file, or pick a polyline from the drawing. When you select a 3D polyline, this polyline is used both for the centerline and profile.

The Remove function removes the currently highlighted utility line from the network.

The Report function has three type of reports. The Data Files report includes the parameters for each utility line. The Min Cover report checks each utility profile and reports stations below the min cover as well as the average cover. The Quantities report includes the utility name, type, length, shape, pipe size and user-defined attributes.

The Edit Laterals is an optional list of laterals from the utility line. Each lateral is defined by a station at the connection along the utility line, the pipe size for the lateral and the cleanout coordinates. Use the Pick button to screen pick the connection and cleanout points, or to pick an existing line for the lateral. The Connection and Cleanout Symbols are used with drawing the utility network in plan view.

The Edit Attributes is an optional list of attribute names and values such as pipe material to assign to the utility. The list of available attributes are defined in the Settings function. These attributes are used in reporting. The attribute values are entered in a spreadsheet.
For the Settings function, the Reference Surface is a triangulation file that is used for the min cover and as a reference when editing the utility profile. The Text and Symbol Size Scalers are used for the Draw Plan View function. The Label Name option draws the utility name for the Draw Plan View function. The Auto Zoom To Current Selection and Highlight Current Centerline apply to highlighting utility names in the dialog list. When Auto Zoom is on, the program will zoom the drawing to show the highlighted utility line if it is not already visible in the current view. On the Color tab, set the default colors to use when creating the layers for drawing the utility network. On the Attributes tab, set the optional attribute names to assign to each utility line and used in the Report > Quantities function.




The Draw 3D Polylines function creates a 3D polyline for each utility line. These polylines are tagged with their pipe size in the same format as the Assign Pipe Data To Polyline command.

The Draw Plan View function draws a 2D polyline for each utility line and labels the utility name and connection points.

The Draw 3D Faces function draws each utility line as a 3D pipe using 3D faces. These 3D faces can then be used in the 3D Viewer commands.

The Save, SaveAs and Load/New functions are used to store and recall the utility network to .util files.

Pulldown Menu Location: Network
Keyboard Command: utilnet
Prerequisite: None