Element Property Inferencing Dialog

To use the inferencing tool, click Tools > Element Property Inferencing.

The dialog consists of the following controls:

Layout Type: Identify whether the inferencing tool should Layout New Elements or Follow Existing path.
Upstream Node and Downstream node: Pick the upstream and downstream nodes between which element properties are to be inferred. Click on the Ellipse (…) button to select the element from the drawing. Picking the element automatically returns control to this dialog. It is important that all data for the upstream and downstream elements already be entered when opening this dialog. If for example ground elevations are missing from a node, then the user should close this dialog and enter that data before opening this dialog.
Downstream Link: Field is automatically filled in when the user picks the Downstream Node. If the user has attached more than a single downstream link to the downstream node, an error is generated.
Interpolate ground elevations, Interpolate invert elevations and Overwrite pipe properties: If checked, the inference tool will overwrite default values in the nodes and pipes between the upstream and downstream nodes. However, if the user has manually assigned properties to these elements, those properties will be retained. These check boxes are only available when Follow Existing Path has been selected because for new elements (Layout New Elements), the user has no choice but to accept inferred values. The default elevation is 0 and default pipe size is 12 in. (300 mm). If the ground elevation has been set to 512 ft (156 m) and the pipe size set to 18 in. (450 mm), then the inference tool will only interpolate invert elevations for those elements.
Number of New Nodes: This field is only available when the user has selected "Layout New Elements." If the user sets this value to N, the inference tool will place N nodes and N+1 conduits (of equal length) in a straight line between the upstream and downstream nodes. For example, if the distance is 1376 ft (419 m) and the user wants 2 new elements, then the inferencing tool will add two manholes and three pipes each 459 ft (140 m) long.
Create new scenario: If the user checks this box, the tool will prompt for the name and the parent scenario for the scenario being created. If the user does not check this box, then the new elements and properties will be placed in the current scenario.
When a new scenario is created and the Parent Scenario is set to None, the alternatives that make up the scenario are selected based on the first scenario listed in the Scenario Manager, usually the Base scenario. After the Element Property Inferencing tool creates a scenario, ensure that the other alternatives in the new scenario are set up properly (double-check active topology, inflows, initial setting, etc.).
Parent scenario: Name of parent scenario if new scenario is being created.
New scenario label: Name of new scenario if new scenario is being created.
Override alternative label: When a new scenario is being created, the user can check this box if the user wants to control the name of the new physical alternative being created. If not, then the default new name is used.
New alternative label: if the "Override alternative label" box is checked, then the user provides the new name here.
Interpolate: Starts the inferencing calculations.
Close: Closes this dialog. Inferencing settings are saved for the model session. Once the model is closed, all settings are lost. However, the user can open the dialog, setup the reach and close this dialog if additional input information is required. When the user reopens the dialog (as long as the model was not closed), the settings will be restored.
Help: Opens this Help.

Note: Note that no new Active Topology alternative is created by this tool. This is not an issue for the Follow Existing Path option since no new elements are created, but can be for the Layout New Elements options. In the latter case, the user should consider whether it is more desirable to create a new active topology alternative before running the inferencing tool.

Note: This tool also works on Cross Section nodes that are connected to Channel links.

It is advisable to have all elements created and property data entered before opening this tool. New data cannot be entered when this dialog is open.

Example

Given the system below, and the values in the inferencing dialog, two new manholes are created between MH-3 and MH-5.

The following summary is displayed after the run.

The resulting model looks like this:

If on the other hand, the system was already laid out with no elevation data for MH-7 and MH-8 and only default pipe sizes (12 in., 300 mm) for CO-6, CO-7 and CO-8, the profile would initially look like this.

After running, Follow Existing Path, the profile looks like this with correct elevations and pipe size set to 20 in. based on the downstream conduit properties.