In InfoWorks WS Pro, a network is a representation of a water supply system, which can be displayed over the top of a scale map of the area.
The network describes the static geometry of the system, which does not vary with time. The time varying operational details of the network are defined in a separate but associated set of Control Data.
Modern water supply systems are big and complex. They usually have one or more raw or treated water conveyance systems and one or more water distribution systems.
The elements of a water supply system are:
All these elements are represented in InfoWorks WS Pro by nodes, links or a suitable combination of the two. In InfoWorks WS Pro, nodes and links are known as Network Objects.
The modelling process should start with collecting complete and reliable information on the water supply and distribution system and identifying nodes and links. Caution should be given to over-simplification or too detailed description of the system. Between these two extreme approaches there is considerable freedom of choice.
The user normally starts with a plan of the system. The next step is to identify the nodes, taking into account all relevant facts. There are no strict rules, but the user is well advised to select as a node:
It is better to have redundant nodes than to miss out an important node. Ensuring that you identify all the important nodes is vital. It is possible to model all the network details, right down to service connections, but this will lead to a large, unmanageable model in most cases. Ideally you will retain just the main pipes and important nodes. Local demand from the service connections is then reassigned to the nearest nodes.
An InfoWorks Network is a version controlled item . See Managing version controlled objects.
The network is a static system. The operational aspects of modelling the water supply system are contained in a Control Set.
This separation simplifies the modelling process. Multiple Control Sets can be associated with the same Network to model variations in operation. The same Control Set can be associated with more than one Network so physical changes in the network can be modelled.
More information about associating control data with a network is available.
You can associate a control, demand diagram, and live data configuration with a network. Refer to Associating a control, demand diagram, and live data configuration with a network for more information.
When the network is subsequently opened, the associated control object, demand diagram, and live data configuration are applied to the network.
Different demand scenarios can be applied to the same network by using Alternative Demand data sets.
Alternative Demand can be associated with a Network for viewing and editing.
You can compare two networks to produce a report of the differences between them.