Technical Review

"Comprehensive model management and results interpretation tools for water engineers"

InfoWorks for River Systems (RS)

Product Overview

InfoWorks RS combines the advanced ISIS Flow simulation engine, GIS functionality and database storage within a single environment, bringing together source data and hydraulic modeling into a unique product. InfoWorks allows planners and engineers to carry out fast, accurate modeling of the key elements of river and channel systems, and to view the model data and results in new ways.

InfoWorks RS also brings full model management into the water engineering field, allowing a full audit trail to be maintained of the modeling process from source data to final outputs. Data from a wide range of sources can be brought together within the software in a rapid and flexible way.

The software includes full solution modeling of open channels, floodplains, embankments and hydraulic structures. Rainfall-runoff simulation is available using both event based and conceptual hydrological methods.

Full interactive views of data are available using geographical plan views, sectional view, long sections, spreadsheet and time varying graphical data. The underlying data can be accessed from any graphical or geographical view.

Animated presentation of results in geographical plan, long section and cross section views is standard, including fully dynamic flood mapping , as well as results reporting and analysis using tables and graphs. The software contains comprehensive diagnostic error checking and warning, and rapid access to the full on-line documentation that is integrated with the help system.

Some of the key features of the software are outlined below.

Data and Model management functionality

InfoWorks RS provides the ability to review current and historical model network versions and attribute data by storing information within a database environment. As well as providing full details of each modification made to the network, it also provides version ID's, date stamps and modeler details. The data views show the confidence levels that have been attached to each asset data attribute within the system. A compare function allows the comparison of two model versions and the creation of a highly detailed report outlining the differences, including changes to the data flags describing confidence and/or source of all data items.

InfoWorks RS may be configured as a Workgroup application providing access to models stored in a central 'master' database. The centralised version control system preserves data integrity and avoids model replication. Model data security, with respect to deletion and recovery, is provided through archive and back up of the 'master' model database. In addition, group project management techniques enable the centralised control of multiple users on multiple projects.

InfoWorks RS supports the import of existing network and event data from ISIS and other sources:

• Direct links between InfoWorks RS and MapInfo Professional or ArcView GIS enable data to be converted directly into the InfoWorks RS model database for model build.
• Import of data from .CSV and ASCII files, including cross-section, rainfall and event data
• Import of DTM data in a range of supported TIN formats

InfoWorks RS supports the export of model and other data in a variety of formats. Data export can include all network and event data, or a subset of the main data (eg all bridges). Data can be exported to:

• ISIS or FloodWorks input data files
• MapInfo Professional or ArcView GIS
• .CSV files, these may subsequently be imported into Microsoft Access or Excel
• ASCII text files

InfoWorks RS supports the storage of spatial and temporal data including:

• Time-series data including flows, levels and rainfall
• Survey data including sections and floodplain levels
• Ground model data

Model build functionality

The selection tools within InfoWorks RS allow the geographical selection of model data, which then can be globally modified, deleted or copied and used to create a new model version:

The InfoWorks Geographical View allows the model network to be shown in conjunction with layers and tables in supported MapInfo or ArcView formats. InfoWorks RS supports the on-screen creation of additional model nodes, links and sub-catchment areas via the Geographical view in conjunction with a map background, making the addition of new data intuitive, simple and quick to do. The edit tools that allow the modification of node location and sub-catchment boundaries are also intuitive, simple and quick to use.

Model data can be accessed either through an individual property sheet, or through grid views that allow multiple model components to be accessed together. For instance, all the Weirs in a model could be shown on a single grid view.

InfoWorks RS supports direct data take-off from Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data. Model sections and floodplain storage properties can all be extracted based on overlaid section locations and boundaries. The DTM can also be used to generate and display ground level contours, and forms the basis for dynamic flood mapping.

InfoWorks RS offers the direct import or graphical creation of sub-catchment boundaries, over vector or raster map backgrounds. This provides a geographical representation of the contributing catchment for each model boundary, and allows automatic calculation of the contributing area.

InfoWorks RS provides comprehensive SQL facilities that not only allow the query of node, link and sub-catchment tables, but also maximum results and cross table queries. All queries can be subsequently saved for future use.

The software includes a range of data and model validation tools which ensure that the model network, boundaries and structure control are all valid and compatible prior to submission of the data to the ISIS engine.

ISIS Flow, Hydrology and PDM engines

At the heart of InfoWorks RS is the ISIS engine, including the full functionality of v2.0 of the Flow, Hydrology and PDM modules. ISIS is a powerful open channel simulation engine, and is able to handle a wide range of channel shapes, sizes and gradients. Floodplains can be represented in a variety of ways, for example as separate floodplain channels, as a continuous part of the river channel, or as linked floodplain storage areas. The software is able to represent a huge range of channel and floodplain structures. In the channel, these include vertical and radial sluices, fixed and movable weirs, bridges, culverts, pumps and general headlosses. On the floodplain structures including embankments, causeways, culverts, and flap valves can be represented.

Movable hydraulic structures can be controlled both manually and automatically, with control based on other model variables including head, flow and other gate openings. Pumps can also be operated in this way.

To provide boundary conditions, InfoWorks RS includes the hydrological simulation from ISIS Hydrology, including the FSSR, SCS and FEH method. The ISIS PDM lumped conceptual simulation engine is also available. The user is able to specify flow and level data, including tidal curves, as model boundaries. Event data can be specified in either relative or absolute units of time. Multiple sets of events can be simulated with a selected network as a batch.

Clearer graphical presentation and analysis

InfoWorks RS provides summary tables for flow, level, velocity, froude number and other model variables such as gate openings and flow condition. Graphical plots of cross-sections, long sections, flood extents and time-series data and variables are all available. Model results and data can be shown as "themes" on the model geoplan, and these support animation. A range of detailed reports are also available, including statistical comparisons of calibration data, exceedence statistics and peak timings.

InfoWorks RS also allows model results to be overlaid onto the underlying DTM to generate accurate and reproducible flood extent maps. These can show flood extent and depth, and can be animated to show the progression of a flood event. The flood mapping outputs can be combined with address point data to provide detailed depth and duration information for further analysis.

Hardware configurations

The minimum hardware requirements for InfoWorks RS are a Pentium 300MHz PC with 128Mb RAM, and a 1024x768 high resolution screen. InfoWorks RS requires Windows 98/NT/2000 or XP operating system (NT/2000/XP Preferred).

Future developments

The InfoWorks environment has been designed as a standard platform for the integration of a range of network models. Currently separate InfoWorks versions exist for Wastewater, Water supply and open channel simulation, but in due course these will be fully linked to provide a complete catchment modeling environment.