How to Export AutoCAD Civil 3D drawings with coordinates and elevations to WaterGEMS? And the other way around?

Question

Hi, 
 
 I would like to know how to export AutoCAD Civil 3d drawing with its coordinates (X,Y,Z) to WaterGEMS for hydraulic analysis and the other way around? as I am trying to design gravity pipe network through AutoCAD civil 3d and want to analyze it via WaterGEMS. I thank you in advance. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 ARM

Yashodhan Joshi · Accepted Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 Civil 3D objects are more useful in the storm and sanitary networks environment which is why you can export the Civil 3D model to a LandXML file and import it into SewerGEMS easily. However, for WaterGEMS import from LandXML is not available currently. 
 If you can get shapefiles of your network then you could use ModelBuilder to build your water supply network. 
 See the below article for details on this issue; 
 Civil3D integration (Pipe network import/export) 
 
 You can also try this workflow if you have both WaterGEMS and SewerGEMS . 
 1. Export Civil 3D model to LandXML 
 2. Import LandXML into SewerGEMS (File > Import). This will build the model in SewerGEMS 
 3. Export model elements to shapefiles. See this article for reference: Open or import SewerCAD or SewerGEMS model in WaterCAD or WaterGEMS or vice-versa 
 4. Use ModelBuilder to build your network in WaterGEMS from the shapefiles exported in step 3. 
 
 This can help you build a model without any major conversion and potential loss of data. 
 Hope this helps.

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Further to Scott's reply - note that it is not your entire Office that is the problem, but rather one small component called the Access Database Engine. I would recommend following the advice in the article Scott linked to, to reinstall the Access Database Engine versions in the right order so that you can still use the 64-bit version of WaterGEMS with Excel sources in ModelBuilder. See the section entitled "Option 2 - install the 64-bit Access Database Engine"

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Abdul, if you are only seeing "pump station" as the table type to map a layer to in ModelBuilder, then your junctions are likely polygon entities in AutoCAD. The pump station is the only polygon shape type element in WaterGEMS. You may need to convert them into actual point features or blocks. See related article: Polylines or points show as Polygon in ModelBuilder

Regards,

Jesse Dringoli
Technical Support Manager, OpenFlows
Bentley Communities Site Administrator
Bentley Systems, Inc.

Yashodhan Joshi · Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 If you have the terrain data with you in terms of a Total Station file or a .csv or Excel file you can first try building the surface either in Civil 3D or any other GIS / CAD platform. With the surface created you can then use it to apply elevations to existing WaterGEMS elements such as junctions, tanks, reservoirs, pumps etc. in your WaterGEMS model using the terrain extraction tool TReX . 
 This will help you visualize profiles of your HGL and EGL based on the ground elevations. 
 However, to build the model you would have to use ModelBuilder as stated in my earlier response. The typical workflow for this would be to first create the model using ModelBuilder then assign elevations using the TReX tool.

Scott Kampa · Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 The OpenFlows Youtube channel will have videos related to this. The last two items in the link relate to building a model with spatial data. 
 Regards, 
 Scott

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Abdul, I see you put "Jesse" as a tag on your initial post, so I guess that means I should reply? 
 The videos that Scott mentioned will provide good general help with using ModelBuilder. However, if you have an Excel file with X, Y and Z, here is a specific workflow to consider: 
 1) Import the X, Y and Z as Spot Elevations with ModelBuilder (see video from Scott's reply). In the field mapping step, set the table type to spot elevation, map the X and Y fields, and map your Z field to "Elevation". Complete the steps to import spot elevation elements. These are not hydraulic elements but can be used for example to create contours, and to assign elevations to hydraulic node elements. 
 2) Assign the elevations to nearby junction elements using Terrain Extractor (see the video Scott pointed out, and the Wiki article that Yashodhan mentioned). Choose "model spot elevations" as the "data source type" 
 3) Delete the spot elevations if needed (Home tab > Drawing > By Element > Spot Elevation (to select all of them) > press delete or right click > delete.

Scott Kampa · Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 First, for the message about needing the 64-bit version of the Microsoft Access Database engine, this will occur when you are using the 64-bit version a program and have the 32-bit version of Office installed. This is not typically a major issue. The fastest solution would be to open the 32-bit version of the program. You can find this by going to C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\WaterGEMS and opening the file "WaterGEMS.exe." This is the 32-bit version of WaterGEMS. More information on this issue can be found here: ModelBuilder/SCADAConnect error: Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 64-bit is required to access this data source . 
 For the one about the data source being empty, we have seen this issue with shapefiles before (see here ), but I'm not sure with Excel. I would make sure the file is saved, or perhaps recreate it. Another thing you will need to do is to add a add column for the label of the nodes you are using. ModelBuilder will need this as the Key Field once you to the field mapping section of ModelBuilder. Just add a new column called Label or something similar and add the junction label associated with the x,y,z data. 
 Regards, 
 Scott

Scott Kampa · Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 When you says that the 32-bit version is not loading, what is happening? Are you getting an error message? I would also make sure that you have your file extension turned on. If you don't, we may be trying to open the wrong file. To make sure your file extension are turned on, in File Explorer, go to the View tab and find "File name extensions." If this is unchecked, select this, then look at the installation file for WaterGEMS and try launching WaterGEMS.exe again. 
 Regards, 
 Scott

Yashodhan Joshi · Answer

Hello Abdul, 
 You can integrate WaterGEMS with AutoCAD Civil 3D to use the CAD functionality offered by Civil 3D when designing your WaterGEMS network. This way you will see the WaterGEMS menu inside Civil 3D when you integrate. 
 However, to integrate with the AutoCAD platform your organization would require the license to allow such integration. Also if Civil 3D is installed prior to WaterGEMS installation and you have the necessary license permissions to integrate you will get a "WaterGEMS for AutoCAD Civil 3D" shortcut on your desktop automatically. If you don't have it you can simply search for "integrate WaterGEMS with AutoCAD-MicroStation-ArcGIS" in the Windows search bar and double click to run it. This will integrate WaterGEMS with Civil 3D for you. For more details see the below article; 
 AutoCAD Integration Troubleshooting 
 Hope this answers your query.

How to Export AutoCAD Civil 3D drawings with coordinates and elevations to WaterGEMS? And the other way around?

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