Analysis Criteria

Analysis Criteria allows you to specify various settings that will dictate how the application performs the analysis. 

Depending whether you are running dry weather flows only, or rainfall events will depend which Analysis Criteria will be shown (Analysis Criteria - Dry Weather Flow).

Analysis Criteria - Rainfall

Runoff Type

This setting allows you to select the runoff method that will be used for the analysis and therefore what sort of rainfall source is needed. The following options are available:

Note: Some of the methods may not be available for your region. For more information, refer to the Regionalization topic.

Select Rainfall

Select the radio button to Create New or select From Library

The available rainfall is discussed in Rainfall Manager and Known Rainfall.

Note: When using the Static runoff type this is relabeled as Rainfall Source and allows the selection of an IDF source

The following fields are automatically displayed in the form:

Note: Static Runoff calculates duration using the longest hydrograph from the phase. The hydrograph is created using the Recession Limb Multiplier multiplied by the Time of Concentration and, additionally, the Duration of Peak, or rainfall averaging period.

Analysis Criteria  - General

Output Interval (mins)

This is the interval at which the results of the analysis will be presented. By default, this is set to every five minutes. A big interval is more suitable for a long duration analysis, while a shorter interval increases the temporal resolution when analyzing a short duration storms.

Time Step

This controls the internal time step range used in the analysis. The default setting will be suitable for most designs.

If results begin to show some instabilities, the Reduced or Shortest option may be used. However, the engine may take longer to analyze for these settings.

The engine updates the length of the computational time step at every time step based on the hydraulic conditions. This is to ensure that the time step has the optimum length to balance the accuracy of the results and the runtime of the simulation.

Urban Creep

This scales the impermeable area by the amount specified (see table below for more details). This can be used to take the increase of urban areas, or other factors into account.

The drop down list allows selection between "Apply Global Value " and "Use Catchment Values ".

Scale is applied to the methods below as follows:

Runoff Method

Scale Method

Time of Concentration / Time Area Diagram / Modified Rational Increases PIMP by the percentage entered.
SCS / SBUH Increases Percentage Impervious by the percentage entered.
FSR Increases Urban by the percentage entered.
FEH / ReFH Increases URBEXT by the percentage entered.
Laurenson Increases Degree Urbanization by the percentage entered.

Urban Creep Global Value

The value for urban creep to be applied to every catchment. Only enabled when Urban Creep is set to "Apply Global Value ".

Junction Flood Risk Margin

This is the depth below the top of the junction the water elevation must reach before the status of the junction changes from surcharged to flood risk.

Prefill Manhole Sumps

When selected, any manholes with sump depths applied will be prefilled so that they start the analysis full.

Perform First Flush / No Discharge Analysis

When selected, a First Flush / No Discharge event is added as an extra event in the analysis, which is based on the First Flush / No Discharge Rainfall Depth and Run Time provided in the form.

Rainfall Depth

The depth of rainfall that will be applied to the First Flush / No Discharge event.

Run Time

The run time that will be applied to the First Flush / No Discharge event.

Note: First Flush / No Discharge is only compatible with the Dynamic runoff type.

Analysis Criteria  - Dry Weather Flow

Run Time (mins) 

The length of time that will be required by the analysis run.

Output Interval (mins)

This is the interval at which the results of the analysis will be presented. By default, this is set to every five minutes. A big interval is more suitable for a long duration analysis, while a shorter interval increases the temporal resolution when analyzing a short duration storms.

Time Step

This controls the internal time step range used in the analysis. The default setting will be suitable for most designs.

If results begin to show some instabilities, the Reduced or Shortest option may be used. However, the engine may take longer to analyze for these settings.

The engine updates the length of the computational time step at every time step based on the hydraulic conditions. This is to ensure that the time step has the optimum length to balance the accuracy of the results and the runtime of the simulation.

Junction Flood Risk Margin

This is the depth below the top of the junction the water elevation must reach before the status of the junction changes from surcharged to flood risk.