1999 Stormwater and Water Systems Modeling Visual Hydro: Merging the Engineering of SWMM to a Comprehensive Civil Engineering Design Software Package (CAiCE) Anthony Kuch, Robert Dickinson, Alan Akman and Jayant Keskar CAiCE Software Corporation February 18, 1999 1999 Stormwater and Water Systems Modeling Mississauga, ON

Current State of SWMM and SWMM Interfaces SWMM has a rich history, analyzing and optimizing combined and separate storm and wastewater networks 1990’s has seen the emergence of many GUIs for SWMM Windows SWMM, MIKE SWMM, SWMM Duet, PCSWMM, and XP-SWMM Interfaces increase productivity, usability, model understanding, creates DSS for SWMM

Is There Trouble in Paradise? Today’s popular SWMM interfaces do not integrate SWMM to the full scope of the design process Activities in the design process include: drafting, production of engineering drawings survey and right-of-way maps surface modeling watershed delineation pay item quantities (cost calculations) esthetics (visualization)

Barriers to SWMM Usage for Design Financial Obstacles model is free, but software cost not full cost Political Objections inertia to change to new models and methods Legal Considerations right-of-way, land acquisition Whole Product Deficiencies support, documentation Model Incapability not all processes modeled

Financial Considerations More data more money Longer run times Iterative design process Difficult to learn, troubleshoot and use Inefficient CUI or GUI for modeling alternatives and rerunning the model Other software required for design, GIS, CAD, database

Political Are the methods (SCS hydrology or SWMM Runoff) accepted by the client? Is the model accepted (some are moving to SWMM) FEMA acceptance of SWMM 4.3 vs. SWMM 4.4 All deliverables should be in the same model Switching to a new model (inertia to change) Existing guidelines and drainage manuals

Legal Considerations FEMA Right-of-way Lot Line, survey and parcel description Litigation and precedence Modeling confidence

Whole Product Concept Source for accurate, timely and comprehensive support Bug fixes (in-house programming) Current documentation 3rd Party complimentary products (GIS, WQ) Training materials and programs Case histories and testimonials Customization User community

Model Deficiencies Culvert and bridge algorithms Boundary conditions (rating curve) Layout of network (node coordinates, drawn conduit lengths, scaled layout) Pipe design (sizing and optimization) Alternate hydrology methods Import and export routines (GIS, asset management, other databases) No GUI (SWMM) or no GUI for design Interface to CAD (read and write) Database for SQL, report generation

Create CAiCE Objects from MicroStation & AutoCAD Drawing Elements

Display Ridges and Crests on the DTM Use Water Flow Path to Locate Inlets Create the drainage network from the water flow model.

Automated Watershed Catchment Delineation from the Triangulated Surface

Dynamic Catchment Delineation for Inlet Design and Location

Dialog and Spreadsheet Editing with the ACCESS database allows DDE and SQL

Export X-Sections to HEC2 and HECRAS

3D Visualization of Surfaces, Inundation, and Sewer Networks

Compose Plan and Profile Sheets

Inlet and Spread Analysis Use SWMM to model flows that enter the conduit system Dual Drainage Capabilities

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Create VBA Macros to automate a chain of functions to complete a task (Tugboats) Use VBA to link to Microsoft Office for report generation, data exchange and presentation Interface with GIS Exchange data with models Create custom functions and interaface

Example using VBA to map data from/to Visual Hydro and GIS

Other Graphical Tools & Capabilities Write Directly to DWG and DGN files Use vector and raster background images (map aerial photos to 3D surfaces) Modify the transparency of surfaces to see underground utilities and soil profiles Create, design and view river cross sections Merge open channel designs into existing surfaces

New Hydrology Capabilities Rational Formula with Partial Area Checking creates Triangular Hydrographs for input into SWMM Initial and Continuing and Proportional Losses for Infiltration Direct link of hydrology data (area, width, time of concentration) to hydrology method Creation of catchment data from automated delineation, slope, area, width Infiltration parameters based on feature codes

Hydraulic Features Inlet restriction by threshold value or rating of gutter vs. captured flow Conduit Design in the Hydraulics Layer (EXTRAN) Regulators, inflatable weirs and other RTC elements Rating Curve boundary conditions DWF, user defined format hydrographs in Hydraulics layer

Design Features of Visual Hydro Automated pipe layout by minimum grade and depth from survey and geometry data Default conduit and manhole geometry on layout Conduit grading and invert adjustment Automatic calculation of conduit lengths i.e. move the inlet obtain new conduit length and catchment properties Intelligent database unlike drafting

Visual Hydro Produces Reports and Drawings Current interfaces allow analysis and report generation Some systems are analyzed to death Engineers are designers and need to fix the problem SWMM output file has never stopped a flood Visual Hydro couples SWMM for analysis with expanded tools for design Result is a set of plans The design must be implemented The design is constructed from plans

Benefits of an Integrated System Pay Item Quantities and Estimates One software package for all activities Steep Learning Curve - Microsoft Interface Conservative design, optimal design - confidence in the modeling Same system for CAD and Modeling

Conclusions New software tools coupled with SWMM will bring benefits to designers Some of the future of SWMM lies in its integration with design tools Designers can move easily from current standards to more sophisticated and credible modeling within Visual Hydro