Flexible Attributes

Flexible attributes allow for the handling of different types of network or Linear Referencing Systems. This could include, for example, Road, Rail, Ferries, Drainage, Rights of Way, Pipelines, and Utility Networks. Many Road Transportation agencies may use one Network type for Primary and one Network type for secondary roads. Such users are then free to expand the system and use Network Manager to maintain other networks they require such as Rail, Drainage and electrical.

Attributes of Network Types and Group Types can be defined using Network Manager reference data administration tools to allow for the handling of different types of network or Linear Referencing Systems. This could include, for example, road, rail, ferries, drainage, rights of way, pipelines, and utility networks. Many road transportation agencies may use one Network Type for primary and another Network Type for secondary roads.

Each Linear Referencing System is based on one or more underlying Network Type that will be flagged as a 'Datum' Network Type. Network elements of this type must have a Start Node and End Node and a Length associated with them, which is used to maintain network topology. Datum Network types and linear referencing route types that traverse them will also be flagged as 'Linear', which means that they are calibrated with linear measure values. This linear Datum concept underpins allows for Multiple Linear Referencing methods.

This direction and connectivity and calibration of individual datum network elements is inherited by each of the linear referencing methods that traverse them. Users can then define Linear Referencing Methods as views or layers on these datum network elements. In the USA for example, state Departments of transportation define linear referencing routes that conform to the NCHRP 20-27 model. In the UK, the data model allows for the storage and manipulation of National Street Gazetteer (NSG) data.

Different naming conventions for different Network Types is catered for, by using the attribution available within the form. Network Type names may be free text entries or may be derived, based on any combination of attribute values, for example ownership and route membership. Unique values for Element numbers may also be generated automatically from internal system 'sequences'.

Each Network Type may have a property of Inclusion. This is the inheritance of Group membership based on the association of a member with the 'parent' group via a common attribute value.

Multiple Type Inclusions are supported whereby a Network Element or Group may be automatically included in more than one 'parent' Group. When a Network Type Inclusion is applied to a Datum Network Type, any Network Elements of the Network Type will be automatically included as members of its parent group(s). If the 'parent' group is a Linear Group, connectivity rules will be used to derive the offsets or displacements of individual member elements along the Route. Note that the 'parent' Network Type specified in a Type Inclusion for a Datum Network Type may be the Network Type associated with a non-linear group as well as a linear group.

Network Type Inclusions may also be defined for Network Types associated with Network Groups, whereby a Group is automatically added as a member of another Network Group, thus forming a Group of Groups.

Each Network Type may be assigned a Network Type Subclass. These Subclasses may be used as part of the Network Type naming convention and in establishing the connectivity along the 'parent' route group.

For example, a Road Network Type of Classified Roads may have Network Type Subclasses: "Single", "Left" and "Right".

This would define whether a Network Element of this type was a single carriageway, the left or right side of a dual carriageway.

To learn more about the configuration of network attribute values see the Network Manager Administration Guide.

Note: Note that the forms you will see may not be the same as the screenshots in the help, as the appearance of the forms you use will depend on the way the network and asset types have been set up.