You can migrate pipe network data between AutoCAD Civil 3D and the Storm Sewers Extension.
For example, with AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can:
- export one or more AutoCAD Civil 3D pipe networks to an .stm file that can then be opened by the Hydraflow Storm Sewers Extension for analysis and or editing
- import one or more pipe runs from an .stm file that has been exported from the Hydraflow Storm Sewers Extension into AutoCAD Civil 3D
When importing Storm Sewer data into AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can import a single pipe network, or multiple pipe networks. However, you must import entire pipe networks; you cannot import individual parts, or a series of connected parts within a pipe network.
Before migrating pipe network data between AutoCAD Civil 3D and the Storm Sewers Extension, there are a few preparation tasks you must perform. For more information, see Preparing for Migrating Storm Sewers Data.
Importing STM Files From Previous Versions
In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can import .stm files that were created or saved from older versions of the Storm Sewers Extension; for example, the Storm Sewers Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 or earlier. You can also successfully open .stm files that were created or saved from 2009, or earlier, versions of the Storm Sewers Extension in the Storm Sewers Extension version 2010. However, in the Storm Sewers Extension for Civil 3D 2009, or earlier versions of the Storm Sewers Extension, you cannot open .stm files that were saved in the Storm Sewers Extension for Civil 3D 2010, or that were exported from AutoCAD Civil 3D.
It is also important to note that when importing .stm files that were saved prior to version 2010, they may contain hydraulic grade line (HGL) values, however, they will not contain some of the other hydraulic properties, as listed below. The following values are calculated in the Storm Sewers Extension version 2010, but are not found in older versions of .stm files (prior to 2010):
- Energy Grade Line Up
- Energy Grade Line Down
- Flowrate
- Energy Grade Line
- Known Capacity
Storm Sewers Pipe Size Calculations
In the Storm Sewers Extension, the list of pipe sizes is hard coded and cannot be customized. This list does not distinguish between inner and outer pipe diameter, pipe material, or pipe class, as does AutoCAD Civil 3D. When you perform calculations that resize pipes in the Storm Sewers Extension, the results include only the sizes that are available in the hard coded list. This may result in a pipe size or sizes that are not typical of the pipe material they are working with. However, you can always manually edit the pipe size. For more information, see the Storm Sewers Extension Help.