Knowledgebase
ARD and Watercom Drains - About Multiple Networks and Adding Extra Pits #
Posted by Shane O'Rorke on 13 March 2020 04:44 PM

Multiple Networks Across to Drains

It is common to have multiple networks that are required in Drains.  One scenario for this would be a pipe network that leads to a detention basis, which then flows out to another series of pipes in a second pipe network.

Here is a process for moving the data to and from DRAINS:

  • Firstly use Advanced Road Design to create multiple pipe networks.  Each network should have at least one catchment added, and Bypass routes added.  Each network must also have Branch Sequencing applied and it is recommended to consider using the tool to rename pits and pipes based on the branch sequencing.
  • It is vital that every pit and pipe is uniquely named in ARD.
  • When you use the Export to DRAINS command, you do it once for each network.  This creates a named .xml file - it will be the name of the Drainage Network from which it came.  Do not change this name.  You must replace this same file after editing in DRAINS.
  • In DRAINS, you use the Import Advanced Road Design command, once for each network.  All the pipes and pits will be added
  • In DRAINS, undertake analysis to establish pipe sizes, edit pit types and determine flows in the pipe and pit system
  • In DRAINS, use the Export to Advanced Road Design command to export the edited files.  NOTE: DRAINS will put ALL the files in the export - it is vital that you run the export once for each 'network' from Advanced Road Design and you overwrite each named .xml file that ARD produced
  • In ARD you run the Import Drains command to import the changed pipes and pits onto each network.

 

Managing Additional Pipes and Pits, or Relocation of Pipes and Pits

You might find that additional pipes/pits are required once you start analysis in DRAINS.  The recommended process is to:

  • Add the pipe/s and pit/s to the ARD pipe network using Advanced Road Design (back in the drawing)
  • Resequence the network (so it assigns a 'name' to the pit). You are best to see if you can ensure that the original pit and pipe names are unchanged. 
  • Export the edited network from ARD. 
  • In Drains, you are probably best to firstly cut out the changed pipes because DRAINS doesn't delete any pipes and pits you already have in there, unless the names are the same
  • In Drains, run the ARD import. Only the catchments, pits, pipes and overland flow paths will be replaced.

The Drains import only affects pits, pipes, catchments and overland flow paths that have matching 'names' from ARD (these are the names you give the pits after doing a branch sequence - make sure they are unique across all networks).

Channels, basins, weirs, orifice outlet controls and other DRAINS items are unaffected by the re import of ARD pipe and pit data,   Drains doesn't wipe the whole model when you import from ARD - it just replaces pits, pipes and catchments with the same names, and adds new items.

 

About Catchments and Overland Flow Paths

 Each catchment in ARD can be given a Description.  Assigning a description of PA sets the areas as Paved, GR assigns the area as Grassed and Sup assigns the area as Supplementary. ARD will sum up the areas of 1 paved, 1 grassed and 1 supplementary catchment added to an ARD pit to make a single catchment in Drains.

You can set in ARD where the assumed overland flow goes (we call it Bypass). There is a command to set the bypass pit/s to send flow to. ARD auto assumes flow to the next downstream pit, but you can change that. Drains should respect this.  In DRAINS, you must have an overland flow path template named ARD, otherwise the import may fail.

 

Starting a network in DRAINS and importing into ARD

This is not supported - you must first create the pipes and pit network in Advanced Road Design, then send it to DRAINS.

 

More Information

The data exchange process map in the ARD help system is useful to give an overview of the steps required - in the help system expand Pipes > Process Maps > Data Exchange Workflow. This sums up the above steps to happiness.

There is a Youtube video which gives a good assessment of the main setups required: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InpqCNOMvwc

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