What's New with SewerCAD V8i SELECTseries 3?


Product(s):SewerCAD
Version(s):V8i SELECTseries 3 (08.11.03.77)
Area: N/A

 

 

 

Overview

The SELECTseries 3 release of SewerCAD includes many new features and improvements. Let's explore each of these in detail.
-Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems
-Unified schema and one common data file format
-Keyword search in property grid
-Selection based filtering in inflow and sanitary loading control centers
-More user control in DXF export
-i-model publishing support
-Bentley DTM support in TRex
-New Compute Center
-Enhanced element type support
-Low Impact Development (LID) Support
-Improvements to Element Symbology
-HEC-22 3rd Edition headloss
-Improvements to Calculation Options
-Improved model management

[Please see the video presentation on What’s New with SewerCAD SELECTseries 3 and other Storm and Sanitary products.]

Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems

SewerCAD now supports the following:

In addition, SewerCAD now offers support for interoperability with the latest releases of InRoads, GeoPAK, LandXML, and Bentley MX Drainage Note that in order to integate with 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2012 and 2013, SewerCAD will need to be installed as a 64-bit application as well. As with the previous release of SewerCAD this requires the either the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office be installed or no instance of Microsoft Office installed. MicroStation and ArcGIS are strictly 32-bit applications and do not require this for the integration to complete.

Unified Schema and One Common Data File Format

SewerCAD now uses file extension “.stsw” for new projects, and will automatically convert existing projects saved in earlier versions of SewerCAD that had used the old file extension (.swc). In addition to SewerCAD projects, users now have the ability to open other Bentley storm and sewer (CivilStom, SewerGEMS, StormCAD) projects within SewerCAD and save them in one common data file format. 

Keyword Search in Property Grid

Users can find the property they want quickly in the property grid using keyword search. To use this function, open the property grid for any element, by either double-clicking on the element or going to View > Properties. The new Property Search field is above the list of element properties. Simply start typing the word you are searching for and the property grid will dynamically filter to show any property field name that contains the phrase entered.

Recent searches are stored in the drop down selection. The search term is maintained even when selecting a different element or element type. To clear the selection, click the Clear button beside the drop down.

Selection-based filtering in inflow and sanitary loading control centers

Users can now filter the Inflow and Sanitary Load Control Centers based on the current selection of node elements. To use this function, highlight the elements you wish to view in the Inflow or Sanitary Load Control Center in the drawing pane. If you have a selection set or query to retrieve these elements, double click it to highlight them. Next, open the Inflow or Sanitary Load Control Center through the Tools pulldown. Select the Options button, then select Filter > Current Selection. Only the highlighted elements will be displayed. You can then perform actions such as global edit on the filtered list.

 

More user control in DXF export

SewerCAD offers more control over layer/level assignment during DXF export. When you use the Export command, you first specify the drive, directory, and file name of the DXF file to be saved. Then the Export to DXF Layer Settings window opens, allowing you specify the names of the DXF layers on a per-element type basis.

The Export to DXF Layer Settings dialog is divided into tabs for Link Layers, Node Layers, and Polygon Layers.

Each tab contains a table that allows you to specify a prefix and suffix for the associated DXF layer. The Preview field displays how the label will appear.

Note that specifying a prefix or suffix also creates new layers for each prefix/suffix. If no prefix or suffix is specified all links, nodes, and polygons will be exported to the same DXF layer.

The Link Layers tab has additional controls: Entering a value in the Pipe Size Significant Digits field allows you to organize the pipe layer into multiple layers taking the pipe sizes into account using the Layer by Pipe Size checkbox.

i-model publishing

With the SELECTseries 3 release of SewerCAD V8i, you can now publish an i-model. An i-model is an immutable container for rich multi-discipline information published from known sources in a known state at a known time.Basically it is a portable, read-only copy of a model file that can be viewed by users that do not have SewerCAD. The topology as well as the attributes and results (for a particular timestep) can be viewed in MicroStation, ProjectWise Navigator, and Bentley View. Since Bentley View is free, i-models provide a way for anyone to easily view data and results for a SewerCAD model file. Exporting to 3-D i-models is a part of this feature as well, allowing for a 3-D represenation of the the i-model in Bentley MicroStation or Bentley View.

Under File > Export, you will have a "Publish i-model" option, which requires the i-model publishing engine (downloadable from Bentley SELECTservices). The i-model publishing engine shows as a prerequisite on the download page for SewerCAD, but is only necessary if you intend to publish i-models. If you have no need to publish i-models, you do not need to download and install this optional component.

Bentley DTM support in TRex

In addition to previously supported file formats, the TRex tool in SewerCAD now supports the Bentley DTM file format. This is available through the Data Source Type pulldown.

 

New Compute Center

Users can now perform all actions related to model runs through one common location using the Compute Center. This also helps in changing calculation options properties, including creating new calculation options. These functions are still available in the Calculations Options properties though.

The Compute Center is docked to the lower left of the drawing pane by default, and is accessible through the Analysis pulldown menu.
 

Enhanced element type support

SewerCAD now supports Catchments so hydrological calculation is possible. Elements like pond can also be placed in the model.

Low Impact Development (LID) elements

Low-impact development (LID) controls can now be analyzed in SewerCAD. Low-Impact Development (LID) is a term used in the US and Canada to describe a more eco-friendly land planning and design approach to stormwater management. In the United Kingdom, this approach is referred to sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), and in Australia, it's called water-sensitive urban design (WSUD). The US terminology is used in this software and its documentation.

LID controls help developed watersheds or sites to retain or enhance pre-development hydrologic characteristics through the use of techniques that conserve natural systems and hydrologic functions.

The basic steps to implementing LID controls in a hydrologic model are as follows.

Add generic LID controls to the project. This is done in the "Low Impact Development Controls Manager". There are a number of LID Control Types to choose from, each of which will have its own set of properties. The available types are Bio-Retention Cell, Infiltration Trench, Porous Pavement, Rain Barrel, and Vegetative Swale. Note that it is possible to change the default properties for these LID Control Types and assign new properties to the Engineering Library.

Next, add catchment and LID elements to the network drawing. Enter element-specific LID control and catchment data in the Properties pane. LID control attributes include designating a Parent Catchment and associating a generic LID. Proceed with the modeling project as you normally would (e.g., ente)r remaining network and rainfall data, configure storm data, run the model, review results).

Low-Impact Development (LID) controls as implemented in the software are based on the calculation methods used in EPA SWMM Version 5.0 and LID controls can only be used in conjunction with the EPA-SWMM Runoff Method.

A LID control element must be associated with a Parent Catchment. The Parent Catchment is the source of stormwater input to the LID control, and also receives discharge from the LID. The effect of a LID control on runoff is seen in the computed hydrograph for the LID control's Parent Catchment.

Improvements to Element Symbology

In the list of elements in Element Symbology, only those elements that are in the model will have their icons displayed. This will allow for the user to more efficiently work on annotations and color coding for presentation and results.

Copying and pasting of annotations and color coding are now available between different element types. To use this feature, right-click on the annotation of color coding you wish to copy, and choose Copy. Then right-click on the element you want the annotation or colory coding copied to and select Paste. The symbology will then appear with the new element type.

Symbology definitions can now be imported and exported to and from a model. To use click the ellipsis button beside the Symbology Definition drop down. To Export, click the "Export" button and give the file a name. The file extension is .SYM. This file can then be imported into another model by selecting the "Import" button in the Symbology Definition manager.

View Associations in SewerCAD for MicroStation

 When working in the MicroStation integrated mode, it is now possible to associate scenarios and symbology definitions with MicroStation Views. This basically lets you see different scenarios and/or symbology definitions (color coding/annotation) at the same time, by opening multiple MicroStation Views. This is available through the SewerCAD pulldown in SewerCAD for MicroStation by going to SewerCAD > View > View Associations.

A "mode" button is available for both Element Symbology and Scenarios:

•Synchronized mode: This basically means that the scenario (or symbology definition) will be the same for all views. Switching the scenario or symbology definition will cause it to change for all views. Use this mode for scenarios if you want all views to always show the same scenario. Use this mode for symbology if you want all views to use the same symbology definition (arrangement of symbology).

•Independent mode: This basically means that the scenario (or symbology definition) can be different for all views. Switching the scenario or symbology definition will cause it to only be switched in the active View. Use this mode for scenarios if you want a view to always show the scenario that you selected when that view was active. Use this mode for symbology if you want a view to always use the symbology definition that you selected when that view was active.

HEC-22 3rd Edition headloss

Node headloss calculations in accordance with HEC-22 3rd Edition are now available in SewerCAD.

Improvements to calculation options

Additional calculation options give users the ability to apply global settings in one location and simplifies model setup. SewerCAD allows user input for the convex coefficient to achieve convex routing improvements.

Improved Model Management

Below are some general usability and model management improvements made in SELECTseries 3:

See Also

What's new in SewerCAD V8i SELECTseries 2?

Product TechNotes and FAQs

OpenFlows Product Tech Notes And FAQs  

External Links

Bentley LEARN Server