Using the Fill Pipe Connectivity and Append Nodes tools

Step-by-step guide

In its simplest form, an InfoWater Pro model consists of reservoirs, pipes and nodes. When building an InfoWater Pro model from GIS, the pipes are typically imported first using InfoWater Pro’s tools. A node must be created at the endpoint of each pipe. If the endpoints of two connected pipes do not coincide, the software will create nodes at each pipe endpoint, and the two pipes will not be connected.

InfoWater Pro’s Fill Pipe Connectivity tool is used to repair such conditions before creating nodes at pipe endpoints.

1. From the Model Explorer, switch to the Command Center tab.
2. Expand the Utilities and Connectivity folders.
3. Right-click Fill Pipe Connectivity and select Run.

4. In the Fill Pipe Connectivity dialog box, select a Searching Distance (typically half the length of the shortest pipe).
5. Select a search Method (typically Effective Neighborhood Search: Fill One End Node at a Time).
6. Click Fill to adjust the pipe segments.

The Append Nodes tool in InfoWater Pro is used to create nodes at the endpoint of each pipe segment. This tool identifies existing nodes, including the start and end nodes on the pipes, and any missing nodes that may need to be created.

7. From the Model Explorer, Command Center tab, expand the Exchange folder.
8. Right-click Append Nodes and select Run.

In the Append Nodes dialog box, Junction is the Node Type most commonly selected.

The Searching Distance can be set to the GIS tolerance, or to half the size of the shortest pipe, but no smaller than 6 inches (150 mm).

Automatic Mode names the new nodes according to the ID and Description settings in the project Preferences.

9. Click Append to start the Append Nodes process.
10. From the Command Center, use the Connectivity and Network Review/Fix utilities to verify that there are no orphaned pipes or nodes.
11. Repeat the Append Nodes process, adjusting the Searching Distance as necessary.