Problem

How can I split a pipe into multiple pipes of a specific length? For example in a system with highly varying terrain (ground elevation), you may want to include nodes at certain intervals (such as every 500 m) in order to capture significant high or low points.

Solution - SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm, StormCAD

In the above Storm and Sewer products, you can use the Element Property Inferencing tool. Remove the existing pipe, then use the tool to automatically place new pipes and nodes. These will be placed at a fixed slope. After this is done, you may need to use Terrain Extractor (Trex) or the Terrain Model feature to assign the appropriate ground elevations, then potentially run the constraint based design feature with the GVF-Rational (StormCAD) or GVF-Convex (SewerCAD) solve to adjust the inverts based on the design criteria such as cover depth.

Solution - WaterCAD, WaterGEMS, HAMMER

In the above Water products, consider creating the spaces nodes/points in an external CAD application such as MicroStation or AutoCAD. (for example with the array tool) Meaning, you could use drafting tools to create the equally-spaced points (nodes/junctions), then import them with ModelBuilder. After the ModelBuilder import, the junctions will be overlaying the pipe but not connected. To split the pipe and connect the individual pipes to the junctions, use the Batch Pipe Split tool. Once done, you can use Terrain Extractor (Trex) to assign elevations based on a terrain model / DTM / DEM.

For HAMMER, it is important to be mindful of whether you are consider the elevations of nodes to be the ground elevation of the pipe elevation. In most cases you will want to use pipe elevation, since that is the reference point for measuring pressures when comparing to the pipe rating (maximum pressure that the pipe can withstand.) See: What does node elevation represent in WaterCAD, WaterGEMS and HAMMER?

See Also

(Forum) HOW TO SPLIT THE PIPE AT EVERY 500M