Bridging Spatial Analysis and Hydraulic Modeling

water presentation

For those water-focused professionals in the municipal and utility sector, a familiar challenge in today’s environment is to efficiently connect hydraulic models with enterprise GIS data.

A hydraulic model, developed in a tool such as InfoWater Pro, typically does not run directly on top of an enterprise GIS solution such as ArcGIS, because it’s inefficient. GIS solutions typically contain a wide range of information, such as park benches, electric lines, and other assets that are not directly relevant to the hydraulic model. However, the connection is invaluable for modelers to maintain data consistency, enable collaborative workflows, and improve the overall efficiency and productivity of the water distribution planning and design process.

That’s where the Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS proves its worth. This tool bridges the gap between Autodesk’s InfoWater Pro (and Autodesk Civil 3D) software and Esri’s ArcGIS platform, allowing for a seamless exchange of data between the GIS and BIM environments.

As an example, InfoWater Pro can push its hydraulic modeling results to ArcGIS Online, making the data accessible to Civil 3D users. Civil 3D users can then pull the relevant GIS data and hydraulic modeling information from ArcGIS Online into its design project to update a design. These include objects such as structures, alignments, feature lines and gravity pipes. InfoWater Pro can then pull the updated information from ArcGIS Online and rerun the hydraulic analysis with the new design changes. From the Autodesk Connector, users can save changes made in Civil 3D back to the ArcGIS data (provided the user has the necessary permissions and the data is set as editable).

The Autodesk Connector is continually improving as well as adding new features and functionality. Just recently, the tool was enhanced to include options for importing GIS data as AutoCAD objects (e.g., points, polylines, polygons) or as native Civil 3D objects. It also allows for the configuration of stylization settings through JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) templates, so the imported GIS data can be automatically styled within Civil 3D for consistent visual representation.

The integration between InfoWater Pro and Civil 3D, facilitated by the Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS, enables a collaborative and efficient workflow for hydraulic modeling and infrastructure design. This workflow allows developers working on new projects to tie into the municipality’s master plan hydraulic model without disrupting the master model. It helps ensure that the local design changes are consistent with the overall distribution network and master plan.

To learn more and see in-depth examples of how Autodesk’s InfoWater Pro, Civil 3D and Esri’s ArcGIS Pro work together, watch this webinar Breaking Down BIM and GIS Silos: A Look into the InfoWater Pro & Civil 3D Workflow hosted by experts Tim Medearis, Autodesk Solutions Engineer, and Ron Couillard, Technology Consultant, with U.S. CAD, An ARKANCE Company.

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