Export WMF from Autocad to use in EPANET

[smithsiteconsultants]

so just as the title states, I'm trying to successfully export a .WMF from Autocad of just the site's parcel lines, right of way and water main to use in EPANET for analysis. But unfortunately when I bring it into EPAnet, the scale does not seem to convert correctly?

I have found a way to manipulate the scale of the backdrop image but when doing so the backdrop image's clarity isn't that great, so whenever I trace over the watermains back shown in the .wmf the imagery, it leads to pipe lengths that can sometimes be off a few feet. While this sounds trivial in the modeling analysis, I have had a reviewer make comments about the plan's stated pipe lengths & what's stated on the permit differing some from that of the EPANET model's reports for the various water model runs. Anybody encountered this or a better way to do things? 

And yes, I'm aware that haesteds/waterCAD will import a file but I like the simplicity of EPANET and the fact that it doesn't require an annual subscription to operate.

[ecfernandez · Accepted solution]

Hi, you should try with a DXF file or use EpaCAD which is also a free tool for Epanet.

I hope this helps. 

Regards! 

[smithsiteconsultants]

apologies for the delay in response - I downloaded/installed EPACAD and it appears to do exactly what I need which is import linework from a .dxf into premade pipe lengths with nodes that are much closer to the correct dimensions- so again thank you! But is there a user manual that can be downloaded for the program? When I click on "Help" it tries to launch a PDF in Adobe but gives an error message with just several blank pages. When I went to EPACAD's website, I didn't notice any user manuals that could be downloaded or clicked on. Also, is there a way to keep the curvature of the polylines in my .dxf file? the EPACAD's output doesn't show curved polylines the same as how they're drawn in a drawing.

If nothing else, I can live with it not looking perfect if it will get the pipe lengths corrected. But having it show the water main's slight curvature/deflection with a horizontal curve in a road is always a plus

[ecfernandez]

Hi again. @smithsiteconsultants 

I'm glad you found my comments useful. Regarding your last question, I'd recommend you search the author's website. These two programs were developed by the ITA from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, and I guess they can provide more information about their developed tools.

However, I quick-searched the internet and found something that can be useful:

Link: Manual 

Have a good day!

[ChicagoLooper]

Hello @smithsiteconsultants 

To download a manual go here

EPANET | US EPA

https://www.epa.gov/water-research/epanet

Scroll down and you’ll see this

 

[smithsiteconsultants]

@ChicagoLooper hey thanks for that! I actually meant EPACAD's user manual but I might as well download EPANET's as well so thank you for sharing it. I wish there were some more comprehensive books out there that helped the EPANET user model unique demand scenarios meant for land development - I purchased an older Haestad book titled Water Distribution Modeling and a Bentley book (forgot the name but it's for modelling also). But seeing other examples worked out in a program always gives me reassurance that I'm using the program effectively

I've kind of taught myself how to use EPANET as I used to use Bentley's Watergems program several years ago at another firm and had those scenarios to use as a basis on how to make EPANET report the same scenarios. But the licensing for Watergems was fairly expensive for a solo shop like myself where I might only turn out a half dozen reports a year at best (rather save that money for C3D as I use it daily) and EPANET does the same thing essentially for free (without all the frills of course). Plus review agencies are usually used to seeing EPANET report format 

[smithsiteconsultants]

@ecfernandez thank you for that manual - going to see if I can convert it to english