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. Pick the Edit button to bring up the Utility Profile editor. This profile editor is similar to the Road Profile Editor which is documented in the Roads chapter. This Utility Profile editor has a couple special functions.
Set Depth can be used to make the utility profile a fixed depth from the reference surface. This function has an option to add stations in the utility profile at each grade break in the surface so that the utility profile can exactly follow the surface.
Reduce removes profile data points without changing the profile elevations more than the specified cutoff tolerance.
Translate is used to change the elevation of a profile by inputting a range of stations and the elevation value.
Setup calls the Road Profile Settings dialog box.
Edit Profile at Crossing allows for editing the profile when it must pass over or under another utility and brings up the Edit Profile dialog. Choose the Station to Edit.  Choose if the profile is to pass over or under the crossing.  Input the Angle Tie to Pipe to drop or rise.  Input the Bottom Width of the crossing excavation (flat after drop or rise).  Input the Depth From Crossing (clearance)

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.


Add From Points allows the user to add connections by importing coordinate file points by range or group.

For the Insert 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 Delete 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 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.  Use Load to load an existing Utility Network Settings file (.UNS).  Use Save As to save the current Utility Network Settings to a .UNS file for later use.


The Text and Symbol Size Scalers and Text Style are used for the Draw Plan View function.



On the Pipe Labels tab, you can choose different pipe labeling functionality by Utility Type.  Choose the Type using the dropdown arrow.  Available labels appear on the left.  Click Add to select label information wanted in the drawing, Remove to not display this information, Setup to add a Prefix and.or Suffix to the label.  Use the green arrows to reorder the Used Labels list.  Label Location lets you place the label at Ends of the pipe, at an Interval, Both the Ends and at an Interval, or None.  Fill in the desired interval in the Label Interval box. Choose End Label Style as Parallel, Horizontal or using MLeader arrow and text box.  Choose a Labels Above Symbol number from 0 - 9.  The labels equal to and less than the number selected are placed above the symbol, the remaining labels below when using Horizontal or Parallel Styles. 

On the Connection Labels tab you can control how Connection Labels are placed.  Available labels appear on the left.  Click Add to select label information wanted in the drawing, Remove to not display this information, Setup to add a Prefix and.or Suffix to the label. Use the green arrows to reorder the Used Labels list. Type in a layer name or choose an existing drawing layer with the Set button.  Choose Label Style as Parallel, Horizontal or using MLeader arrow and text box.  Choose a Labels Above Symbol number from 0 - 9.  The labels equal to and less than the number selected are placed above the symbol, the remaining labels below when using Parallel or Horizontal Styles.  Use Load to load an existing Utility Network Settings file (.UNS).  Use Save As to save the current Utility Network Settings to a .UNS file for later use.



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 attributes can be specified by Utility Type.  Select the Utility Type using the dropdown arrow then type in Attributes, one per line.  Use the Insert to insert another Attribute between existing entries, use Delete to remove an entry.  Available Attribute Types are Gas, Water, Sanitary, Storm, Electric, Communication, Irrigation, Fire, Utility Duct, Other and Connection.


Using the Crossings tab, you may set up your Utility Network to automatically check to see if any utility entities cross over another by clicking the Check Crossings box.  Additionally, you can check other Utility Networks for crossing the current network.  Add these networks to the check by clicking the Add File button, then browsing to the desired .util file.  Remove these additional networks with the Remove File button.  Disable Check Crossings by unchecking the box.


The Defaults tab has default a symbol and model to use when adding connections.
The Draw button has four functions:

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 Draw Profile function draws the profile for the currently highlighted utility. Any symbols defined on the Connection List for the utility will be drawn on the profile. Besides picking the Draw button, you can also run Draw Profile by picking the utility in the list, right-click and pick Draw Profile.

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