Can WaterCAD design pipe diameters ?

Hello Miguel,

Our WaterGEMS product has a tool called Darwin Designer, which uses a genetic algorithm to help size pipes based on various design criteria. In order to use this feature, you will need to upgrade your WaterCAD to WaterGEMS. See more in the following related articles in our Wiki:

What is the difference between WaterCAD and WaterGEMS?

Using Darwin Designer to design pipes in WaterGEMS

In WaterCAD, you can manually select pipe diameter, compute the model, check the results, use engineering judgment and repeat until you get the desired outcome. There are many tools available in WaterCAD to help you with this, such as:

• Color coding/size coding pipes based on the diameter field
• Color coding nodes and pipes based on design criteria. For example pipes with low pressure could be colored red, to make it easy to see in plan view.
• Scenario management can be used to compare different proposed pipe diameters. Use a separate physical alternative to keep the diameters separate in each scenario.
• Global edits can be performed on a selection set of pipes, for example to set all trunk main pipes to a specific diameter.

Hi Jesse!

Thank you for your fast answer, but I still a little bit confused.

I do have the DarwinDesigner on WaterCAD, but i don't have WaterGEMS because i can't set Calculations Options for design. To do the diameter pipe design with DarwinDesign i just need to input the pipe costs and diameters, including the 0 mm diameter, lenghts, elevations and node demands?

Thank you for your time and attention !

Hello Miguel,

Sorry, to clarify, although you may still see Designer available in the menu bar of WaterCAD, but it requires a separate license line item for Designer. Long ago, Designer could be purchased separately and used with WaterCAD, but it is no longer available for purchase. So, although you may be able to open it for a few days, it will eventually require license activation and if you do not have Darwin Designer in your license, it will stop working. Calculation options do not need to be changed in order to use Darwin Designer - you might be thinking of the "design" calculation mode in the calculation options of StormCAD or SewerCAD. In WaterCAD/WaterGEMS, the design functionality is all within the Darwin Designer tool.

If you do happen to have access to the separate Darwin Designer license or if you purchase WaterGEMS - in Designer you would enter the pipe costs for each diameter, configure the designer study options, set up your design groups (pipes that will have the same designed diameter), enter demand overrides (different demand conditions for the 

This assumes you have a working base physical model (pipe layout, demands, pump definitions, controls, etc).

I would recommend following the Quick Start Lessons on Designer (available in the WaterCAD QuickStart.pdf file in your WaterCAD installation folder) and taking at least the Designer part of the formal training available on learn.bentley.com. You can find a link and more learning resources here: Learning Resource Guide for new users of Bentley WaterGEMS and WaterCAD

Darwin Designer uses a genetic algorithm to attempt to optimize pipe sizes, but in some situations it may not produce the best results, and your engineering judgment may need to be used to make further adjustments. Again, manual design by adjusting diameters and checking results is also an option, which may be easier than Darwin Designer, for smaller models.