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SewerCad V8i: Automatic Design

SeweCad V8i can perform an Constraint based Automatic Design. It uses a design algorithm that attempts to minimize pipe size and excavation, which is typically the most expensive part of installing sewer piping and structures. My question is, What kind of algorithm does SewerCad use for to perform an Automatic Design?,     I mean, what is the name? Is heuristic? Where can I find information about it? literature, books, etc.

Thank you for your answers.

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  • It looks like this question was already answered in this previous post:

    communities.bentley.com/.../284742.aspx

    Was there something else that you still had a question about?

    Regards,

    Mark

    Mark

  • thank you for your answer,

    yes, I need more information about it, the last time, they sent me a topic called "Design Priorities", and in this document don't talk about design algorithm that SewerCad uses for to perform an Automatic Design. I want to know specifically about the algorithm used in this program.

    Thanks again

  • Jesus,

    What specifically do you need to know about how the algorithm works that was not answered in the other post?

    Regards,

    Mark

    Mark

  • Mark,

    I need to know, what is the name for algorithm? which is the heuristic method used? what is the history?, is there some literature where I can consult?

    I'm doing an investigation for my undergraduate thesis, called optimized design of sewerage systems and I will use SewerCad for it. I know that SewerCad try to minimize the cost, but I need to know as this program does.

    thanks

    Jesús

  • Jesus,

    I spoke to a few people and here is the best information that I can give you. The method/algorithm that we use is the heuristic method of solving the design problem, but it doesn't have an official name and not it's not really a secret. The best documentation that I can provide you with is the information that outlines our design priorities because they describe the iterative process that we use (see attached). This is a slight revision to what Jesse sent you in the last post, but for the most part it's the same information.

    Yes, you are correct in your statement that it does try to minimize the cost of the system design.

    I hope that helps out.

    Regards,

    Mark

     

    Mark

  • Mark,

    I read the document again, I understand the priorities that the algorithm used, also you tell me that the design problem is solved with an iterative process. I mean, the design alghorithm is an heuristic method that solves the problem throught  an interactive process, using the priorities are in the document.

    I will try to find more information about the heuristic method used.

    Thanks for your answer and for you time.

    Regards,

    Jesús

  • Jesus,

    You aren't likely to find more information. It is just a set of checks and adjustments that mimic what a practicing engineer would do when laying out a gravity conduit.

    It is not a formal optimization method like GA or dynamic programming and doesn't explicitly consider costs but we are confident that it gives a reasonable set of pipe sizes and invert elevations.

    An experienced engineer can probably make some adjustments to come up with an even better solution but it gives you a good starting point.  With our visualization tools, it's easy to make adjustments and simulate.

    Tom

    Answer Verified By: Jesús David Zambrano Briones 

Reply
  • Jesus,

    You aren't likely to find more information. It is just a set of checks and adjustments that mimic what a practicing engineer would do when laying out a gravity conduit.

    It is not a formal optimization method like GA or dynamic programming and doesn't explicitly consider costs but we are confident that it gives a reasonable set of pipe sizes and invert elevations.

    An experienced engineer can probably make some adjustments to come up with an even better solution but it gives you a good starting point.  With our visualization tools, it's easy to make adjustments and simulate.

    Tom

    Answer Verified By: Jesús David Zambrano Briones 

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