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
Clicking the Add button displays the Add Utility
dialog box. Choose Centerline File and browse for the desired
.CL file. Choose the Screen Pick Polyline button to convert a
single polyline to a Utility. Choose the Multiple Polylines
button to select multiple polylines for conversion to
Utilities. Once a polyline and/or a centerline file has been
selected, or multiple polylines and centerlines, you can
automatically set the depths.
Once the Utility has been added, the Edit Utility dialog is
displayed. Finish the addition by defining the Utility.
If adding multiple polylines, these will be named (Utility Name)1,
(Utility Name)2, etc. Once Utilities are created by any
manner, all will appear in the Utility Network discreetly and may
then be further edited individually if desired.
The Utility Name is simply the name of the utility line.
Each name must be unique in the utility network.
The Description is an optional setting that is used in
reports and can be labeled in the Draw Profile and Draw Sections
commands.
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 and Max Cover is the minimum and
maximum depths for the utility profile. These values are used to
create the profile and keep it below the reference surface. Also,
the Report function has a report for checking the min/max
cover.
The Layer and Linetype 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.
The Min Depth Streamlined method uses fewer profile grade breaks to
keep the profile below the Min Depth and won't follow the surface
up for short bumps. The Min/Max Streamlined is similar with the
addition of keeping the profile above the specified Max Depth. The
Min Length controls the shortest distance between profile grade
breaks. The Transition Depth Between Stations method linearly
transitions the depth between two depths set at two stations.
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
Connection report includes the parameters for all the connections.
The Laterals report includes the parameters from the laterals. The
Min/Max Cover report checks each utility profile and reports Min
Cover Setting, Average Cover, Min Cover Station and Depth, Max
Cover Station and Depth. 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.
Redraw Profiles When Network Changed dropdown allows the
user to automatically redraw changed profiles, prompt for redraw,
or not redraw automatically. 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. Click the
Draw Easements to automatically draw easements for pipes
based on depth Zones. Set the maximum depth for the
first Zone and the Easement Width, then continue to set maximum
depths for the Next Zone and the Easement Width. Easements
need to be wider for deeper ditches for safety of workers.
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