Topography Layers and Objectsxp uses layers and objects to define the topography of models. These layers are accessed

from the  . The following layers are used to support 1D, 2D and, 1D/2D models.Layer Control Panel

 

 

DTM layers

 

Elevation data may be integrated into any xpswmm 1D, 2D or 1D/2D model with a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) in the form of Triangular Irregular Network (TIN).  In addition an ASCII grid may also be referenced.  In that case only the bounding rectangle and the maximum and minimum elevations are reported.  This Grid may be referenced for 2D modeling by the 2D engine if the option is selected in the 2D Job Control.

A variety of tools are available to import, export and manage the display of DTM layers. To access these tools, move the mouse over in the and right click to load the DTM Layers Layer Control Panelcontextual popup menu.

To add a DTM, select one of the options:

Load an ASCII Grid fileLoad a DTM FileCreate a DTM From XYZ FileCreate a DTM from ASCII Grid fileCreate a DTM from 12D ASCII FileLaunch the toolDTM Builder

After the DTM layer has been added, select an option:

Adjust the DTM   PropertiesAdjust the of the fills or contour linesColor RangeAdd or customize the LegendExport DTM data 

Load DTM File

This option allows the user to load an existing TIN file that was created by xp or the 12D model software packages. When selecting a file select the file ending in “.tin.0”. When a Tin file is selected xp will report the number of triangles, points, and also indicates the real world extents.

Back to: Creating a Model

Section Pages

Setup WizardBuilding the Runoff and 1D Hydraulic LayersNavigating the NetworkUsing Background ImagesCopying and Pasting DataTopography Layers and Objects

2D Object Creation2D DomainsGIS LayersCAD Layers

 

Create DTM from XYZ File or XYZS File

This option allows an XYZ or and XYZS file delimited file to be triangulated and loaded into you project. The file can be delimited by space or comma and should follow the form: 

XYZ File: 

X1, Y2, Z1

X2, Y2, Z2

Example: 

100.2, 347.2, 213.2

2001., 347.4, 199.4

XYZS File

X1, Y2, Z1, S1

X2, Y2, Z2, S2

Example:

100.2, 347.2, 213.2, 610

2001., 347.4, 199.4, 610

Where:

S1 and S2 indicate points on a breakline

Choosing the command from the right-click menu will launch a Create DTM from XYZ File or XYZS File Windows Explorer dialog. Navigate to the location of the XYZ or XYZS file to load, and click the Opendata file. The dialog will close and triangulation will begin. The progress bar monitors the triangulation.

A series of files will be created named aaaaa.tin.X where:

aaaaa = name of source XYZ or XYZS file

X = a number indicating one of several files created to make the TIN. The file ending in 0 is the principal file.

The color coded TIN will appear in the network window and the path to the TIN file will be indicated in a new line in the layer control panel.

Create DTM From ESRI Grid File

Use this tool to create a DTM from an ESRI Grid file. Launch the tool by right clicking on the DTM Layers row in the Layer Control Panel.

In the Windows Explorer dialog, navigate to the source file. Click to load the file.Open

Create DTM from 12D ASCII File

This option allows the importing of a 12D ASCII DTM file in order to create an *.xptin. It should be noted that in order to properly be converted the 12D ASCII file must be a complete TIN file and include triangulation points.

DTM Builder

The DTM builder allows a spreadsheet view of the data points to be triangulated to create the TIN. This spreadsheet view can be directly edited or copied and pasted into to generate and modify the points. Selecting the Create DTM button will triangulate the points and display and add the TIN to the Layer Control Panel.

There are several data formats which can be imported to populate the DTM Creator spreadsheet. These format types are described below and can be selected from the right side of the DTM Creator dialog.

Read Node Ground Elevations

This option loads all of the X, Y, and GRELEV (Spillcrest or Ground Elevation) fields of the nodesin the model. Essentially creates a crude TIN from the manhole rims.

Read XYZS File

Load a file of easting, northing, elevation, and string name. Similar to the previous option ofcreating a TIN from XYZ file but the data will be able to be edited in the spreadsheet view beforetriangulation. This option will allow the import of *.xyz, *.xyzs, *.txt and *.csv format files.

Read GIS File

Reads the elevation points from a MapInfo MIF file (*.mif) or ESRI Shape file (*.shp).

Read ESRI Grid File

This import option allows the import of ESRI format files (*.asc and *.txt) into the DTM Builder.

Read 12DAscii File

Allows the import of 12D Ascii format files (*.12da) into the DTM Builder. It is noted that the 12DASCII file must be a complete TIN, with the inclusion of Triangulation Points, in order to properlybe converted.

LandXML File

An existing TIN from a LandXML file can be imported using the File->Import/Export Data->ImportLandXML … menu item. In this file type the triangulation will be preserved and does not need tobe processed through the DTM Builder.

 

DTM Properties

The DTM Properties dialogue is used to manage the DTM layers.

The option will check for duplicate x,y points already read. If Check for Duplicate Pointsduplicates are found, only the first one read will be used. This option will slow the DTM Creator; if there are no duplicates in the input data file, this option should be disabled.

The top window lists active DTM layers. Select a layer to perform any of the options:

Load. Load a new DTM file

Create. Launches the DTM Builder dialog. 

.Color Range Adjust the color display

Up/Down. Adjust the order of display for the DTM layers

Delete Remove the DTM from the model

Show. Toggle the display of the layer (same effect as the visible check box on the Layer Control Panel)

Display Legend. Toggle the display of the DTM legend in the Network View.

Edit Legend. Edit the display of the DTM legend in the Network View.

Information Tab

The Information tab of DTM Properties displays the following field groups:

:General Attributes

Number of Triangles – Lists the number of triangles in the DTM

Number of Points – Number of individual data points contained within the DTM

Elevation (Min/Max) – Displays the minimum and maximum elevations contained within the DTM

Real World Extents:

Top – Location of the top of the DTM extents

Bottom – Location of the Bottom of the DTM extents

Left – Location of the Left of the DTM extents

Right – Location of the Right of the DTM extents

Display Properties Tab

The Display tab of DTM Properties displays the following field groups:

Draw Parameters:

Fill Color on Height Range [Flag] – Enables the color filling of the DTM based upon the heightrange

Contours and Style – Allows the toggling of major and minor contours and the selection of contourstyles

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Contour Labels Tab

The Contour Labels tab of DTM Properties displays the following field groups:

Contour Labels:

Contour labels can be turned on or off with the Show check box. The user can select the labelinterval such as every 100m.

:Font

The font and color can be selected for the contour label.

Align:

Select the desired contour alignment using the radio button.

DTM Gradient Colors

The dialogue is used to adjust the elevation gradient colors of the DTM layers. To DTM Gradient Colors open this dialog, click on the  button in the dialog.Color DTM Properties

DTM Legend

To access dialog:DTM Legend

Highlight the Topography -> Legends line in the Layer Control Panel and right click Select from the pop-up menuProperties

NOTE:

If both color shading and contours are desired it is important to increase the transparency of the colors in order to visualize the contours.

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Export DTM Data

Use this tool to export all or a single TIN file to a txt file. Launch the tool by right clicking on the DTM Layers row in the Layer Control Panel.

 

Breaklines (Gullies and Ridges)

Gullies and ridges are breaklines that cause discontinuities in the surface of 2D active areas. They are represented as polylines. Effectively the elevations of the cells lying below the polyline are raised or lowered to correspond to the polyline. Within the modeling environment the minimum thickness of breakline is 1 cell.

2D Breaklines are defined as a gully (or ridge) polyline with a fixed elevation throughout. 3D breaklines are specified as a  or  polyline with a specified elevation at each vertex.Gully Ridge

When the elevation (z value) derived from the DTM and the user defined elevation differs, xpswmm defines the breaklines using:

Gully: minimum value

Ridge maximum value

For a Gully, z values are modified only if the user defined z values are lower than the current DTM value.

For a Ridge, z values are modified only if the user defined z values are higher than the current DTM value.

To add a gully or ridge polyline using the graphical interface:

Highlight the layer in the and right-click to launch a pop-up Topography Layer Control Panel,menuSelect -> or Add New Layer Gully Breaklines  Ridge Breaklines

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Highlight the newly-created layer, and select the Polyline Tool  from the Object Creation sTool

On the network window, left-click where the first vertex will be placedContinue left-clicking to create the breakline, and double click on the last vertex to end the

Breaklines data dialog drawing process and launch the 

Elevations along the polyline extracted from the DTM are shown in the table as a reference. Use the radio buttons to define the gully (or breakline) as either 2D (at a specified contour) or 3D using the elevations derived from the DTM. New elevations may be added or copied and pasted into the columnElevationClick OK to apply the changes and close the dialog 

To import gullies or ridgelines from a GIS file:

Highlight the   layer in the   and right-click to launch a pop-up Topography Layer Control Panel,menuSelect   ->  or   Add New Layer Gully Breaklines  Ridge BreaklinesRight-click the newly-created layer, and select on the pop-up menuImport from GIS fileIn the next dialog, navigate to the source GIS/CAD file. To import only selected data, check the box next to Select a property Import Selected Data. (or attribute) from the drop menu, and specify the value for selected records. The ‘Weld Vertices’ option can be selected in this dialog. When this option is turned on, each vertex added during import is first checked against existing vertices, and welded if any vertex exists in the same location. When the Weld Vertices option it is turned off, this welding does not occur – a new vertex is added for every point imported – but the import process may be faster.

  In the next dialog, click the radio button corresponding to the desired elevation option. To read the elevation from the Attribute Data, use the drop list to select the appropriate attribute in the source file.

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  A report of the import operation is displayed. Click on OK.

 

 

To modify the layout of a gully or ridge polyline:

Check the Gullies Layer on the to ensure that it's unlocked. A locked Layer Control Panellayer will have a small padlock icon beside the layer name. 

 

If the layer is locked, right-click the layer name, and select "Unlock Layer" from the pop-up menu. Select the Pointer Tool from the .Object Creation ToolsMove the mouse to the object and left click, the mouse will change to the four-arrowed cross

when it is moved over a vertex .Hold the left button down and drag to move a vertex.Select a gully/ridge vertex or polyline, and right click. Choose the appropriate command from the popup menu.

 

To modify the display properties of the gully or ridge polylines:

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Make sure the gully or ridge is unlocked on the .Layer Control PanelTo view and modify the display properties, either: 

move the mouse over a gully or ridge and right-click. Select Properties from the popup menu, ormove the mouse over the Gully or Ridge line in the Layer Control Panel and right click. Select Properties from the popup menu.

 

To edit the elevation data of a gully ridge:

Make sure the gully or ridge is unlocked on the  .Layer Control PanelDouble click on a polyline. Alternatively, or left-click on a polyline to select it, right-click and select Edit Data from the popup menu.Enter the data to be modified in the Breaklines Data dialog.

 

The Ridge and Gully breaklines can be displayed as shown above, or along with the existing surface elevations in the Edit dialog. 

Fill Areas

An entire region of the 2D model can be raised or lowered by using fill areas. These polygons can be used to simulate levees, buildings, ponds and other features missing in the DTM.

Each fill area polygon is assigned a constant elevation. Effectively all of the grid cells within the fill area 2D model will be raised or lowered. The entire cell must be within the fill area to be affected. If the fill

area elevation is higher, the area will not be flooded until the water level is above its elevation. If the fill area elevation is lower (representing a pond), the area will fill with water until the surface reaches the elevation the surrounding cells.

Where fill areas overlap the DTM, assigns the elevation of the fill area to the model cell. Users can    xpmanually add or import these shapes as shown in the section. Fill Areas 2D Object Creation

The Data Dialog is used to edit the elevation of the fill area

The display properties dialog is used to modify the perimeter and fill pattern of the fill area polygon

In version 2013 and later, have a global adjustment method (i.e. double click on the object to Fill Areasopen the dialog and make revisions). The changes can then be applied to the selected object, all selected objects, or all object of this type.

Note

All fill area polygons exist in a single data layer and have the same display properties. Editing the display properties of a single polygon will modify the display properties of all fill area polygons.

Elevation Shapes

Elevation Shapes are used to modify Grid cell elevations based on the given user input, similar to Dynami. Elevation Shapes can be either polygons or polylines.c Elevation Shapes

There are different menu dialogs for each type of Elevation Shape, polygons or polylines, which contain different input fields. These dialogs are outlined below:

 

You can manually add Elevation Shape polygons or polylines or import these shapes as shown in the 2D Object Creation section

Elevation Shape (Polyline)

Breakline Type:

TIN Breakline

Designates the Elevation Shape polyline as a TIN breakline, which is used when the Elevation Shape polyline is located within a 2D elevation Shape Polygon.

Breakline Designates the Elevation Shape polyline as a normal breakline.

Line Type:

Thin Denotes that the Elevation Shape polyline will have no width.

Thick (width) Input the width of the Elevation Shape polyline.

 

Elevation Modification:

Lower where Current Elevations are Higher:

This option will LOWER the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are higher.

Raise where Current Elevations are Lower:

This option will RAISE the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are lower.

Change All Elevations: This option will replace all cell elevations to the values denoted in the Perimeter Elevation section.

Note, in version 2013 and later, Elevation Shapes can be adjusted globally. After double clicking on the object and making a change in the dialog, the revision can be applied to the selected object, all selected objects, or all objects of this type.

Perimeter Elevations:

Constant elevation: This option will set the cell levels at the given elevation.

Variable: This option allows the independent modification of the elevations of each vertex. [Z column].

Adjustment to all Elevations:

Adjusts all existing cell elevations.

Elevation Shape Data (Polygon)

Elevation Modification:

Lower where Current Elevations are Higher:

This option will LOWER the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are higher.

Raise where Current Elevations are Lower:

This option will RAISE the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are lower.

Change All Elevations: This option will replace all cell elevations to the values denoted in the Perimeter Elevation section.

Perimeter Elevations:

Merge With Existing Elevations:

This option will mix the existing cell elevations with the new elevation shape elevations.

Adjust All Existing Elevations:

This option will adjust all existing cell elvations.

Constant elevation: This option will set the cell levels at the given elevation.

Note

When applying an Elevation Shape polyline along 1D/2D interface lines (in order to force exact top of bank or other ridge information to the adjacent 2D cells) the Thick line option should be selected to ensure that the whole cell is raised to the correct height. This is needed as 1D/2D interface (HX) cells are inactive on one side so the whole cell needs to be raised – a thin line will only raise the nearest cell side which could be the inactive side of the cells draped by the 1D/2D interface line. 

Variable: This option allows the independent modification of the elevations of each vertex. [Z column].

Adjustment to all Elevations:

Adjusts all existing cell elevations.

Time to Reach Final Elevations:

The simulation time (in hours) until the Final Elevations are set, for example, the time until a fence or levee collapses.

Dynamic Elevation Shapes

Dynamic Elevation Shapes are used to modify changing Grid cell elevations based on the given user input. Dynamic Elevation Shapes can be either polygons or polylines and the attributes of which can be based on Time or . They can be used to simulate collapsing fences, levee or dam Trigger Pointsbreaches, and other dynamic hydraulic situations where the grid cell definition changes throughout the simulation.

You can manually add Dynamic Elevation Shape polygons or polylines or import these shapes as shown in the section2D Object Creation

To modify or update a given Dynamic Elevation Shape select and right-click either the polyline or polygon and select Edit Data. The following description outlines the input options within the Dynamic Elevation Shape dialog.

Triggered By:

Start Time Input the starting time in decimal hours , starting from midnight of the first day of the simulation.  For example, 2:30AM on the second day would be entered as 26.5 and this entry is irrespective of the model start time even if it does not start at midnight (hour 0).

Water Level at Trigger (at Value)

Input the water elevation value that triggers the Dynamic Elevation Shape change, for the connected Trigger Point.

Water Level Difference Between

Input the water elevation difference that triggers the Dynamic Elevation Shape change, based on the connected Trigger Points.

Triggers (at Value)

 

Elevation Modification:

Lower where Current Elevations are Higher

This option will LOWER the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are higher.

Raise where Current Elevations are Lower

This option will RAISE the current cell levels by given amounts only if current elevations are lower.

Change All Elevations This option will replace all cell elevations to the values denoted in the Final Perimeter Elevation section.

 

Final Perimeter Elevations:

Merge With Existing Elevations

This option will mix the existing cell elevations with the new elevation shape elevations.

Constant elevation

This option will set the cell levels at the given elevation.

Variable This option allows the independent modification of the elevations of each vertex. [Z column].

Adjustment to all Elevations

Adjusts all existing cell elevations.

Time to Reach Final Elevations

The duration time (in decimal hours) until the Final Elevations are set.  For example, the amount of time until a fence or levee collapses, if this would take 45 minutes then enter a value of 0.75.

Trigger Points

Trigger Points can be used as a reference point for adjusting . Trigger Points Dynamic Elevation Shapesare input into a 2D model using the Point option within the Object Creation toolbar and must be linked to a Dynamic elevation Shape before they can be referenced.

The linking of a dynamic shape to a trigger point is performed by selecting the Dynamic Elevation Shape with the Pointer tool. Then moving the cursor to the centroid of the shape the cursor will change to a

Note

In version 2013 and later, Dynamic Elevation Shapes can be adjusted globally. After double clicking on the object and making revisions, the changes can be applied to the selected object, all objects, or all objects of this type.

polygon to node tool. Drag the cursor to the desired trigger point. When a trigger point is found the cursor will change to a crosshair. Release the mouse button to complete the connection.

Grids

For large models, it can be cumbersome to import the surface data. In these cases, it can be beneficial to read the grid file(s) rather than actually building the DTM surface (*.xptin). This selection is available under the Surface tab within the 2D Job Control.

When users choose to as opposed to into the model, the grid extents Read the DTM Importing the DTMfor the surface can be displayed using one of these functions. If this function is not enabled, the extents of the surface data will be unknown. This is useful when building the model objects, navigating through the network, and reviewing results, for example. Conversely, the grid display is not necessary when the surface data is imported into the model. Load a