Planning the creation of a model and initial model construction

Once all the critical factors necessary to build a model in InfoWater Pro have been considered, the planning steps can begin. However, there is some prep work to be done before actually creating the model.

1. Collect all information necessary to build the model.
2. Create a system schematic if one does not exist—can be built using maps and the system’s GIS (or create by hand).
3. Begin preliminary construction of InfoWater Pro model.
4. Construct water facilities such as wells, pump stations, and tanks in the model.

• • Use record drawings of every facility for views of every pump station and reservoir / tank site.
  • Make an actual site visit, if possible, to understand how piping is connected and configured.
  • Consider using client’s GIS, if well built and maintained, although it may not be at a practical scale to import directly into the model.

5. Input facility information:

• • Well, pump, and clear well elevations
  • Elevated and ground storage tank geometry
  • Number of pumps
  • Variable speed pump control data, as applicable
  • Pump curve data—use record shop drawings of pump manufacturers for greatest accuracy, to minimize interpolation

6. Obtain good elevation data to enter into the model.

• • Usually readily available in the form of aerial photography, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data
  • Key to accurate pressure data

7. Establish pressure zones, once model is fully constructed—Pressure Zone Manager (PZM) can identify hydraulic zones based on boundary conditions of the model.

8. Perform quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC):

• • Check how pressure zones are assigned by examining elements in each pressure zone polygon—remember that data is not perfectly accurate.
  • Verify connectivity—use InfoWater Pro’s connectivity tools to locate issues, such as nodes in close proximity which can be merged, diameter discrepancies, and pipes which cross but should intersect.
  • Important step to ensure that model represents actual system conditions to maximum extent practicable.

9. Decide whether model will have a one-to-one match with GIS, or will be a skeletonized representation of distribution system, with client input.