Exporting Results to GIS

Time varying and maximum results can be exported from one or more simulations to a selected GIS file format.

For InfoWorks networks, risk analysis simulations, which contain damage calculation results, and risk analysis result objects, which contain calculation results, may also be exported to a selected GIS format.

The file formats currently supported are:

Exporting results from one or more simulations to GIS format

Exporting results from a single simulation

Results can be exported from a simulation to GIS format for a single timestep, a range of timesteps at a specified interval, or a list of specified timesteps, or all the timesteps. Maximum results can also be exported.

To export results to GIS format from a single simulation:

  1. Right-click on the simulation results in the Explorer window.
  2. Choose an export option from the context menu. This will display a standard Choose Directory/Select Geodatabase dialog.
  3. Choose the destination directory/Geodatabase required. The GIS Export dialog is displayed.
  4. Set options on this dialog:
    • Skip empty tables (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - select this option to exclude empty tables from export.
    • User / Native units radio buttons - select whether to export using Native units / current User units.
    • Export selected tables only - check this option to restrict export to a selection of tables.
    • Do not export 2d results with depths below (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to only export 2D mesh elements with depth result greater than or equal to specified depth value.
    • Export expressions (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to export SQL expressions for 2D mesh elements.
    • Feature dataset (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - enter a name to be used for the feature dataset. This name will also be used as a prefix for feature classes.
    • Create MXD file (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - check this option to export an MXD file. Browse for a folder or specify a path for the export file in the File box.
  5. Click OK to continue. The Export Timestep Options dialog is displayed.
  6. Set options on the Export Timestep Options dialog:

    • Select an option for exporting time varying results:

      • None - do not export time varying results.
      • Single - export results at a single timestep. Select the timestep for which results are to be exported using the slider bar or using the up and down arrows next to the Time display.
      • Range - export results at multiple timesteps. Select the range of times for which results will be exported using the Start Time and Finish Time controls. Results for timesteps at the interval specified in the Timestep multiplier field will be exported within the selected range.
      • List - export results at timesteps loaded from a CSV file. Click Load to select a CSV file containing either timestep numbers starting at 1, or date/times in the format matching the times displayed on the sliders on the dialog when exporting a single timestep or range of timesteps.

    • Check Export Maxima to export maximum results files.

  7. Click OK to export results.

Results can also be exported for the currently displayed network from the Network menu:

  1. Open simulation results in a GeoPlan Window and set replay time to the timestep to be exported.
  2. Select an Export option from the Network menu. This displays a standard Choose Directory/Select Geodatabase dialog.
  3. Choose the destination directory/Geodatabase required. The GIS Export dialog is displayed.
  4. Select options in this dialog:
    • Skip empty tables (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - select this option to exclude empty tables from export.
    • User / Native units radio buttons - select whether to export using Native units / current User units.
    • Export selected tables only - check this option to export a selection of tables.
    • Do not export 2d results with depths below (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to only export 2D mesh elements with depth result greater than or equal to specified depth value.
    • Export expressions (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to export SQL expressions for 2D mesh elements.
    • Feature dataset (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - enter a name to be used for the feature dataset. This name will also be used as a prefix for feature classes.
    • Create MXD file (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - check this option to export an MXD file. Browse for a folder or specify a path for the export file in the File box.
  5. Click OK to export results for the currently displayed network and timestep.

Exporting results from multiple simulations

Time varying or maximum results can be exported from one or more simulations to GIS format for a single timestep, a range of timesteps at a specified interval, a list of specified timesteps, or all the timesteps.

To export results to GIS format from a selection of simulations:

  1. Select one of the Export to GIS options from the Results menu, and the Export to GIS dialog is displayed.
  2. Drag one or more simulations from the tree view to the Sim drop target in the Export dialog, or use the button to browse for simulations and click OK. A standard Windows Select Folder dialog is displayed.
  3. Select the destination directory/Geodatabase required and click Select Folder. The GIS Export dialog is displayed.
  4. Select the required options on this dialog:
    • Skip empty tables (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - select this option to exclude empty tables from export.
    • User / Native units radio buttons - select whether to export using Native units / current User units.
    • Export selected tables only - check this option to export a selection of tables.
    • Do not export 2d results with depths below (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to only export 2D mesh elements with depth result greater than or equal to specified depth value.
    • Export expressions (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to export SQL expressions for 2D mesh elements.
    • Feature dataset (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - enter a name to be used for the feature dataset. This name will also be used as a prefix for feature classes.
    • Create MXD file (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - this option is currently disabled when exporting maxima from multiple simulations.
  5. Click OK. The Export Timestep Options dialog is displayed.
  6. Set options on this dialog:

    • Select an option for exporting time varying results:

      • None - do not export time varying results. If this option is selected, no results will be exported. However, the maxima results can still be exported providing that the Export Maxima box is checked.
      • Single - export results at a single timestep. Select the timestep for which results are to be exported using the slider bar or using the up and down arrows next to the Time display.
      • Range - export results at multiple timesteps. Select the range of times for which results will be exported using the Start Time and Finish Time controls. Results for timesteps at the interval specified in the Timestep multiplier field will be exported within the selected range.
      • List - export results at timesteps loaded from a CSV file. Click Load to select a CSV file containing either timestep numbers starting at 1, or date/times in the format matching the times displayed on the sliders on the dialog when exporting a single timestep or range of timesteps.
      • All - export results for all the timesteps at the interval specified in the Timestep multiplier field.

    • Check Export Maxima to export maximum results files.

    • Check Use first simulation's timesteps to use the timesteps from the first simulation. This option is only enabled if a Range or All timesteps have been selected from the Time varying results option list, and if the results of two or more simulations were selected for export in the Export to GIS dialog.

      If checked, then for each simulation, InfoWorks ICM finds the first timestep at or after the first simulation's first timestep and the last timestep at or before the last timestep in the first simulation. Then, using the interval specified in the Timestep multiplier field, it interpolates between the two, and exports accordingly.

      If unchecked (default), the results from the other simulations are only exported at timesteps where a simulation has a result output for that time.

    • Check Use second simulation for expressions to use the expressions from the second simulation. The option only appears if the results of two simulations were selected for export in the Export to GIS dialog. If unchecked (default), expressions from the first simulation will be used.

  7. Click OK to export the results to the selected folder.

Exporting maxima from multiple simulations

To export results maxima to GIS format from a selection of simulations:

  1. Select an Export maxima to GIS option from the Results menu. This displays the Export Maxima to GIS dialog.
  2. Drag one or more simulations from the tree view to the Sim drop target in the export dialog, or use the button to browse for simulations and click OK. A standard Windows Select folder dialog will be displayed.
  3. Select the destination directory/Geodatabase required. The GIS Export dialog is displayed.
  4. Select options on this dialog:
    • Skip empty tables (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - select this option to exclude empty tables from export.
    • User / Native units radio buttons - select whether to export using Native units / current User units.
    • Export selected tables only - check this option to export a selection of tables.
    • Do not export 2d results with depths below (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to only export 2D mesh elements with depth result greater than or equal to specified depth value.
    • Export expressions (applicable to InfoWorks networks only) - check this option to export SQL expressions for 2D mesh elements.
    • Feature dataset (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - enter a name to be used for the feature dataset. This name will also be used as a prefix for feature classes.
    • Create MXD file (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - this option is currently disabled when exporting maxima from multiple simulations.
  5. Click OK to export maximum results for all simulations selected in the Export Maxima to GIS dialog.

Exported files

ESRI Shape

A series of trios of files with SHP, SHX and DBF extensions are created in a sub directory under the destination directory.

The files are exported using standard filenames, which cannot be changed. If you export to a directory where you have already exported a network with results, files will be overwritten.

Projection (.prj) files will be exported where there is projection information available. The exporter will search for an appropriate projection as follows:

  • Use the projection associated with the current map control
  • If there is no map control specified, use the ArcGIS Desktop/ArcGIS Engine map control projection
  • If there is no ArcGIS Desktop/ArcGIS Engine projection specified, use the MapXtreme map control projection
  • If there is no MapXtreme projection do not export PRJ files
Note: The exporter assumes that user units are consistent with the projection being used.

ESRI Geodatabase

A feature dataset containing a feature class of each exported object is created.

Note: A new Geodatabase cannot be created using the standard Select Geodatabase dialog. The Geodatabase must be created in advance.

MapInfo MIF/TAB

A series of pairs of files with MIF and MID extensions or DAT, ID, MAP and TAB extensions are created in a sub directory under the destination directory.

The files are exported using standard filenames, which cannot be changed. If you export to a directory where you have already exported a network with results, files will be overwritten.

Exporting results for a risk analysis simulation or a risk analysis result object to GIS Format

InfoWorks networks only. Risk analysis result objects are not available in cloud databases.

To export the results for a risk analysis simulation or a risk analysis result object :

  1. Right-click on the risk analysis object results or risk analysis simulation object in the tree view and select to MIF, TAB, SHP or Geodatabase option from the Export context menu. A standard Windows Select Folder window is displayed.
  2. Specify or browse for the location of the folder where the results are to be exported to.
  3. Click Select Folder. The GIS Export dialog is displayed.
  4. Set the applicable options in this dialog:
    • Use ArcGIS 10 compatibility (applicable to SHP file export only) - select this option to carry out a direction check on polygons to ensure that all exported single-part polygons are specified anti-clockwise. (Various features in ArcGIS 10 require single-part polygons to be specified anti-clockwise.)
    • Skip empty tables (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - select this option to exclude empty tables from export.
    • User / Native units radio buttons - select whether to export using Native units / current User units.
    • Export selected tables only - check this option to restrict export to a selection of tables, and then select the tables to be exported by clicking the Tables button to display the Select tables to export dialog. As default all tables are selected.
    • Feature dataset (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - enter a name to be used for the feature dataset. This name will also be used as a prefix for feature classes.
    • Create MXD file (applicable to Geodatabase export only) - check this option to export an MXD file. Browse for a folder or specify a path for the export file in the File box.
  5. Click OK to carry out the export.

Exported files

ESRI Shape

A series of trios of files with SHP, SHX and DBF extensions are created in the destination folder for risk analysis simulation, and in sub folders (under the destination folder) for risk analysis result object.

The sub folders created for a risk analysis result object include a Summary sub folder, with additional sub folders for each return period included in the results. The naming convention for the return period sub folders is:

RPNN_N, where NN_N is the return period to one decimal place.

The files are exported using standard filenames, which cannot be changed. If you export to a folder where you have already exported risk results, files will be overwritten.

Projection (.prj) files will be exported where there is projection information available. The exporter will search for an appropriate projection as follows:

  • Use the projection associated with the current map control
  • If there is no map control specified, use the ArcGIS Desktop/ArcGIS Engine map control projection
  • If there is no ArcGIS Desktop/ArcGIS Engine projection specified, use the MapXtreme map control projection
  • If there is no MapXtreme projection do not export PRJ files
Note: The exporter assumes that user units are consistent with the projection being used.

ESRI Geodatabase

A feature dataset containing a feature class of each exported object is created.

Note: A new Geodatabase cannot be created using the standard Select Geodatabase dialog. The Geodatabase must be created in advance.

MapInfo MIF/TAB

A series of pairs of files with MIF and MID extensions or DAT, ID, MAP and TAB extensions are created in the destination folder for a risk analysis simulation, and in sub folders (under the destination folder) for a risk analysis result object.

The sub folders created for a risk analysis result object include a Summary sub folder, with additional sub folders for each return period included in the results. The naming convention for the return period sub folders is:

RPNN_N, where NN_N is the return period to one decimal place.

The files are exported using standard filenames, which cannot be changed. If you export to a folder where you have already exported a network with results, files will be overwritten.

Parent topic: Results

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