CivilStorm

Three interoperable interfaces: Stand-alone, MicroStation, and AutoCAD

CivilStorm is available in three compatible and interoperable interfaces: Stand-alone, MicroStation, and AutoCAD. Out of the box, CivilStorm users can work within stand-alone and MicroStation platforms, while AutoCAD integration is available as an optional addition. Regardless of the platform used, CivilStorm maintains a single set of modeling files for true interoperability across platforms.  CivilStorm’s stand-alone, MicroStation, and AutoCAD platforms offer platform freedom and versatility.

The stand-alone interface offers easy-to-use model layout tools, multiple background support, conversion utilities from CAD, GIS, and databases, and unlimited undo and redo layout.

The MicroStation interface, included at no additional cost with all CivilStorm versions, provides a geospatial and engineering design environment with unrivaled visualization and publishing tools.

AutoCAD users can also add AutoCAD integration, enabling them to build, lay out, and plot models with engineering precision within an environment they are already comfortable with.

You can also customize and extend CivilStorm using the WaterObjects.NET application programming interface.

Layout, Model Building, and Data Management

The CivilStorm V8 XM Edition graphical user interface provides maximum flexibility and the best user experience. The workspace can be customized by dragging and resizing windows, or by docking them to the main display.  You can also define and save a named view, so that you can quickly and easily return to that same area of interest at any time.

Layout, model building and data management tools include:

• Stand-alone Windows interface
• AutoCAD-based interface
• MicroStation-based interface
• Unlimited undo and redo
• Element morphing, splitting, and reconnection
• Automatic element labeling
• Scaled, schematic, and hybrid environments
• Scaled catchment and gutter elements
• Element prototypes
• Aerial view and dynamic zooming
• Named views library
• Multiple background-layer support
• Image, CAD, and GIS background support
  • DXF
  • Shapefile
  • Bitmap
  • JPEG
  • TIFF
  • PNG
  • GIF
  • MrSID
• ModelBuilder module
• Active topology (activate or deactivate network elements)
• Tabular reports with global editing
• Sorting and persistent filtering on tabular reports
• Customizable engineering libraries
• Dynamic (query based) and static selection sets
• Element selection by polygon
• Element selection inversion
• Table opening on selection
• Global engineering-units management
• Drawing review tools for connectivity consistency
• Automatic topology review
• Drawing navigator
• Orphaned node and dead-end pipe queries
• Hyperlink for network elements to store photos, relevant documents, web links, or other files
• User-data extension
• Support of ProjectWise and Bentley Geospatial Management
• Dynamic (query-based) selection sets
• Support for external tools

<<Top

Comprehensive Scenario Management

CivilStorm’s Scenario Management Center gives engineers full control to configure, run, evaluate, visualize, and compare an unlimited number of what-if scenarios within a single file.

Engineers can easily make decisions by comparing different design approaches (e.g. by varying conduit slope or diameter), evaluating system capacity for multiple storm events, or analyzing the impact of new developments on the stormwater system.

• Unlimited scenarios and alternatives
• Comprehensive scenario management

The Active Topology feature allows CivilStorm users to set up different scenarios to examine various system expansion strategies. For example, a new subdivision can be made active in one scenario, and the resulting flows and hydraulic grade line elevations compared to another scenario in the same file where the new subdivision is inactive.

<<Top

Interoperability and Data Connections

CivilStorm allows you to connect with virtually any data source to jumpstart your model building process and maintain your modeling data synchronized with your CAD, GIS, and other data sources.

• Single set of model files for three compatible interfaces
• Bidirectional synchronized database connections
• Bidirectional synchronized Shapefile connections
• Polyline-to-pipe connections from DXF and DWG files
• Spreadsheet, database, and ODBC connections
• LandXML Import/Export

<<Top

Inlet and network hydraulics

CivilStorm performs comprehensive analysis of all aspects of your system: rainfall, runoff, inlet capture and bypass, gravity and pressure piping, ponds, outlet structures, open channels, culverts and more.

Engineers can analyze pressure and free surface flow conditions for networks of channels and closed conduits; model complex pond outlets for a variety of tailwater conditions; and use weirs, orifices, culverts, risers, and inlet boxes in their design, all within a single product.

CivilStorm includes two dynamic engines that account for storage effects within structures and quantify overflows should they occur. The availability of the well known EPA-SWMM engine gives added comfort to those modelers that are accustomed to modeling with SWMM and familiar with its capabilities and limitations. On the other hand, Bentley’s implicit engine can deliver numerically stable results for any model using larger timesteps – increasing computational efficiency.

Engineers can also use the SWMM water quality features to comply with NPDES water quality regulations.

• Implicit dynamic engine included
• Explicit dynamic engine included (EPA-SWMM)
• Evaporation definition
• Aquifer simulation
• Pollution analysis with optional definition of land use
  categories and land surface characteristics
• Treatment analysis
• Pond infiltration
• Culvert roadway overtopping
• Rule-based controls
• Variable-speed pumping

<<Top

Hydrology and load allocation

CivilStorm allows stormwater loads to be applied to the system in a number of ways, including

• Inflows, consisting of data which may be:
  • Known constant flow
  • Hydrograph - flow vs. time
    
    
• Stormwater flow, where the flow into a collection system is calculated based on rainfall events and catchment properties, and a number of hydrologic models including:
  • Generic unit hydrographs
  • SCS unit hydrograph
  • Modified rational method
  • SWMM runoff method
    
    
• Losses (i.e. precipitation not entering runoff) can be modeled using several methods including:
  • SCS
  • Green Ampt
  • Horton
  • fLoss
    
    
• Time of concentration for catchments can be computed based on a number of methods including:
  • Carter
  • Eagleson
  • Espey/Winslow
  • Federal Aviation Agency
  • Kerby/Hathaway
  • Kirpich (PA and TN)
  • SCS Lag
  • TR-55 Sheet Flow
  • TR-55 Shallow Concentrated Flow
  • TR-55 Channel Flow
    
    
• Synthetic and/or gauged rainfall events can be entered in a number of formats, including:
  • SCS Types (I, IA, II, or III)<
  • Bulletin 71 rainfall
  • Cumulative depth hyetograph
  • Dimensionless depth hyetograph, combined with total storm depth and duration
  • Incremental depth hyetograph
  • Intensity hyetograph

<<Top

Results Presentation

Flexible results presentation allows you to locate bottlenecks quickly using thematic mapping, FlexTables, profiles, and other tools.  Quickly create a contour plot of model input (like ground elevations) or results (such as hydraulic grade line), and export these directly to MicroStation, AutoCAD, or DXF format.

• Thematic mapping
• Advanced element symbology and annotation
• Network navigator
• Dynamic, multi-parameter, and multi-scenario graphing
• Advanced profiling
• Advanced tabular reporting with FlexTables
• Property-based color coding and symbology
• Property-based annotation
• Parameter-based contouring
• Shapefile and DXF contour export

<<Top