Building Data Fields (InfoWorks)

Building data can be edited on the Building Grid Window of the Polygons Grid or the Building Property Sheet.

Most data can be edited on the grid, but some fields cannot be displayed in the grid format.

To view and edit all building data, use the Property Sheet. For details of results fields, see the Building Results Data Fields topic.

The following table describes all the data required to define a building.

Fields that are common to the majority of objects can be found in the Common Fields topic.

Building Data

Database Table Name: hw_building

Field Name

Description

Database Field

Data Type

Size

Units

Precision

Default

Error Lower Limit

Error Upper Limit

Warning Lower Limit

Warning Upper Limit

Building ID

The name of building

building_id

Text

System type

Choose the System type from the dropdown. See System Type for more information.

Option	Description
STORM	Rainfall collection system
FOUL	Wastewater collection system (UK terminology)
SANITARY	Wastewater collection system (US terminology)
COMBINED	Rainfall and wastewater collection system
OVERLAND	Overland floodwater collection system
OTHER	Other system type

system_type

Text

Other

Single element

If unchecked (default), building boundary is included in the mesh with no other changes to element size requirements.

If checked, all the elements within the building are aggregated into a single element.

single_element

Boolean

Drains to

The type of object to which this building drains can be selected from the dropdown.

Option	Description
Node	The Node ID field is enabled, allowing you to specify to which node the building drains.
Link	The Node ID and Link suffix fields are enabled, allowing you to specify to which link the building drains.
2D point source	The 2D point source ID field is enabled, allowing you to specify to which 2D point source the building drains.

drains_to

Text

Node

Node ID

Enabled when Drains to is set to Node or Link.

The name of the node to which this building drains. The name can be either typed in or selected from a dropdown of all nodes in the current network.

node_id

Text

Link suffix

Enabled when Drains to is set to Link.

The link suffix of a single link that the building drains to. In order for a building to drain to a single link, both the Node ID and Link suffix fields must be filled-in.

When running a simulation, the simulation engine applies runoff from the building laterally along the link identified by the Node ID and Link suffix fields.

link_suffix

Text

2D point ID

Enabled when Drains to is set to 2D point source.

The name of the 2D point source to which this building drains. The name can be either typed in or selected from a dropdown of all 2D point sources in the current network.

2d_pt_id

Text

Drainage contribution

The percentage of runoff from the roof that enters the drainage system via its Drains to object.

The percentage which does not drain to the Drains to object is lost.

You can use this loss, for example, to represent the impact of a SUDS structure such as a rain barrel. See SUDS modelling in buildings for details.

drain_contrib

Double

100

Limit drain to capacity

A check in the box indicates that the runoff, from a building to its Drains to object, is to be limited to a value which is specified in the Capacity limit field.

If unchecked, no limit is applied.

limit_drain_capacity

Boolean

Capacity limit

Displayed when the Limit drain to capacity box is checked.

The maximum runoff that goes to this building's Drains to object.

Note: If the Capacity limit is set to 0 (default), no limit is applied, and the runoff (specified in the Drainage contribution field) goes to this building's Drains to object.

How the runoff above the limit is modelled is determined in the Exceedance flow type field.

capacity_limit

Double

Exceedance flow type

Displayed when the Limit drain to capacity box is checked.

Determines how the flow above the Capacity limit is modelled. Choose an option from the dropdown:

Option	Description
Lost	The exceedance flow is lost from the system.
2D mesh	The exceedance flow is is directed to a node and included in the 2D simulation. Note: The building must Drain to a node within a 2D mesh element. It can be any type of node except Outfall or Outfall 2D.
Perimeter	The exceedance flow is directed to the boundary of the building and included in the 2D simulation. Note: Any part of the building boundary that is connected to another building boundary will not receive any excess flow.

exceed_flow_type

Text

Lost

Total area

The area of the building.

total_area

Double

Contributing area

The area of the building that drains into the system type you are modelling. You must enter a value here, even if it is just zero.

contributing_area

Double

The X co-ordinate for the centre of the building boundary.

Double

The Y co-ordinate for the centre of the building boundary.

Double

Slope

The average gradient of the roof.

Note: If the building drains to a node and the connecting link is a conduit then default ground slope = (u/s ground level - d/s ground level) / length, otherwise default is zero.

catchment_slope

Double

Rainfall profile

The source of the rainfall data to be applied to the building during a simulation. The interpretation of this field depends on whether you are using a Rainfall Event or TSD object for simulation.

Rainfall Event
This specifies the name of the rainfall profile applied to this building. Each profile within a Rainfall Event has a unique name. You must set a value in this field.

If the field does not contain a valid rainfall profile ID, the following action is taken when you run a simulation:
- if the Rainfall Event contains a single profile, this profile is applied in the simulation. This makes the assumption that if there is only one profile, you will want to apply it to the whole model
- if the Rainfall Event contains more than one profile, InfoWorks ICM uses the first profile in the event. A warning is included in the simulation log file
When using a Rainfall Event containing rain-gauge boundary data, the Rainfall Profile is over-ridden and depends on which rain-gauge boundary contains the point defined by the building’s X and Y fields (if these are set) or the Drainage node (if they are not set). See Spatially Varying Rainfall.
TSD
This specifies the name of the TVD connector that will apply rainfall to this building.

If the field does not contain a valid TVD connector ID, the following action is taken when you run a simulation:
- If the network contains exactly one TVD connector that has rainfall as its output, that rainfall is applied in the simulation. This makes the assumption that if there is only one such TVD connector, you will want to apply it to the whole model.
- If the network contains more than one TVD connector that has rainfall as its output, rainfall from the TVD connector with the alphabetically-first ID is applied in the simulation. A warning is included in the simulation log file.
When using TSD spatial rainfall data, the above rules are overridden and rainfall is allocated to each building based on its location (given by its X,Y fields or by the location of drainage node if these are not set).

Text

Evaporation profile

The source of the evaporation data to be applied to the building during a simulation. The interpretation of this field depends on whether you are using a Rainfall Event or data from a TSD object for simulation.

Rainfall Event
The name of the evaporation profile which is applied to this building during a simulation.

Each profile within a Rainfall Event has a unique name.

If no evaporation profile is specified, it is assumed that the evaporation profile is the same as the Rainfall profile.

If an evaporation profile is defined but does not match any profile IDs in the evaporation data in the event, then evaporation will be set from the first profile.
TSD Data
This field specifies the name of the TVD connector that applies evaporation to this building.

evaporation_profile

Text

Output lag

The fixed amount of time to delay the outflow from a building roof to its Drains to destination.

output_lag

Double

MIN

SUDs controls

A comprehensive method for modelling the impact of SUDS in buildings. See SUDS modelling in buildings for details.

A series of records defining the SUDS controls structure parameters for the building. The records are entered on the SUDS Controls grid which is displayed by clicking . See the SUDS Controls Grid topic for further information.

Each SUDS structure may have one or more SUDS control objects associated with it. The SUDS control objects are defined on the SUDS control tab of the Subcatchment Grid. However, a new SUDS control can also be added using the button located to the left of the field. This displays the Insert New SUDS Control Object option that allows you to add the new object.

suds_control

Roughness (Mannings's n)

Manning roughness (n), used when creating a 2D mesh, typically representing the roughness of the building roof. The roughness value assigned to mesh elements in areas in the building that are not in a roughness zone.

This field is automatically disabled if a Roughness definition object is selected in the Roughness definition field.

Note: The value takes priority over any overlapping roughness zones.

roughness

Double

0.02

Roughness definition

The name of the Roughness definition associated with this building.

Any Roughness definitions already specified can be selected from the dropdown. Alternatively, a new one can be added or an existing one modified using the button located to the left of the field. This displays the non-visual object menu, from which you can select the appropriate option.

roughness_definition

Text

Type

The method for ground level adjustment:

Level (Specified fixed level): the level of all mesh level elements and vertices, within the building, will be set to the value specified in the Level field.
Rel. to highest (Fixed level relative to highest): the maximum sampled level from the ground model within the building is found, and then raised or lowered by a value specified in the Raise by field.
Rel to lowest (Fixed level relative to lowest): the minimum sampled level from the ground model within the building is found, and then raised or lowered by a value specified in the Raise by field.
Specify (Specified boundary elevations): the elevations at mesh level vertices will be set to a user defined value, obtained from the ground model or interpolated from other zone vertices as specified in the Vertices grid. The calculated elevations will then be adjusted by the Elevation adjustment specified in the grid.

Note: Typically used to represent the top of the building however can be used to represent floor levels if building walls are being represented in the floodplain using Porosity or Roughness definitions.

level_type

Text

Rel. to highest

Use upper limit

Displayed when Type is set to Specify (Specified boundary elevations).

Check this option to impose an Upper limit level on the elevations assigned to mesh level vertices.

use_upper_limit

Boolean

Upper limit level

Displayed when Use upper limit option is checked.

Elevation at a vertex will be set to the Upper limit level if the calculated adjusted elevation at the vertex is higher than the Upper limit level value.

upper_limit_level

Double

Use lower limit

Displayed when Type is set to Specify (Specified boundary elevations)

Check this option to impose a Lower limit level on the elevations assigned to mesh level vertices.

use_lower_limit

Boolean

Lower limit level

Displayed when Use lower limit option is checked.

Elevation at a vertex will be set to the Lower limit level if the calculated adjusted elevation at the vertex is lower than the Lower limit level value.

lower_limit_level

Double

Level

Displayed when Type is set to Level (Specified fixed level).

The level to be applied to all elements and vertices in the building. Specify a negative value to lower the level.

level

Double

Raise by

Displayed when Type is set to Rel. to highest (Fixed level relative to highest), Rel. to lowest (Fixed level relative to lowest) or Raise or lower.

The value by which the level of building elements and vertices are raised or lowered. Specify a negative value to lower the level.

raise_by

Double

Vertices

Displayed when Type is set to Specify (Specified boundary elevations).

Displays the editor for specifying method of calculating elevation at each vertex of the building

Database Table Name: hw_mesh_lvl_sec

Field Name	Help Text	Database Field	Data Type	Size	Units	Default
X coordinate	X coordinate of vertex	X	Double		L
Y coordinate	Y coordinate of vertex	Y	Double		L
Vertex elevation type	Displayed when Type is set to Specify. Select an option for calculating the elevation of each vertex: Interpolate: the elevation of the vertex is linearly interpolated along the building boundary line from the elevation of other vertices. (If all vertices have 'interpolate' set, elevation will be taken from the ground model.) Set: the user specifies the elevation of the vertex in the Elevation column of the grid Ground model: the elevation of the vertex is taken from the ground model	vertex_elev_type	Text	12		Interpolate
Elevation	Enabled when Vertex elevation type is defined as Set.	elevation	Double		Z	0.0
Elevation adjustment	When Type is set to Specify, this is the value by which the elevation obtained from the ground model, obtained by interpolation, or set to a user defined value will be adjusted. When Type is set to Adjust, this is the value by which the ground model level at the vertex will be adjusted.	elev_adjust	Double		L	0.0

Porosity

Porosity factor between 0 and 1, where 0 represents no flow into the building (impermeable) and 1 represents full flow into the building (fully permeable).

porosity

Double

Height

The height at which porosity becomes 1 and all flow enters the building. Measured from the ground level.

height

Double

Building Data Fields (InfoWorks)

Building Data

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