About tracing tools
InfoWorks WS Pro includes a number of tracing tools. These can be used to help locate problems or anomalies in the network, or to identify isolated areas.
Boundary trace
You can trace outwards from a single starting point - a selected node or link - until the tracing tool reaches pre-defined boundary points. In addition, you can choose to pause the trace if it crosses the border between two areas (as defined using the node Area Code fields) without encountering a boundary point.
There are several kinds of nodes and links that you can optionally choose as boundary points, where the trace will stop. These are:
- transfer nodes
- fixed head nodes
- reservoir nodes
- closed pipes
- pumping stations
- meters
- some or all valve types (additional options are available for valves)
For full details, see Boundary Trace.
Connectivity trace
Connectivity tracing scans the model and finds all the physically separate sub-networks within it. This is a useful check to see if your model is fully connected.
You can select, and if you want delete, any or all of the sub-networks found by the trace.
See Connectivity Trace for further details.
Proximity trace
The proximity test tool tries to detect nodes, with only one pipe connected, that lie within a certain distance of another pipe. This may indicate a connectivity problem, and the node should in fact be connected into the pipe.
The tool gives you the option to analyse each occurrence, and, if you wish, to automatically split the adjacent pipe and connect the node in at the nearest point.
See Proximity Trace for more information.
Isolation trace
The Isolation Trace functionality is used to determine the nearest valves to be closed in order to isolate a selected pipe(s). The trace works outwards from selected links until the tracing tool reaches pre-defined boundary points.
See Isolation Trace for more information.
Isolation analyser
The Isolation Analyser is used to identify sections of the network that are isolated from supply. Closed links are identified from Control Data. In addition, a selection of links to be regarded as closed may be included for use in Isolation Analysis.
See Isolation Analyser for more information.
Upstream trace / Downstream trace
The Upstream Trace and Downstream Trace tools can be used on simulation results to analyse direction of flow through the network. The trace selects objects in the upstream / downstream direction of flow from a selected link.
See Upstream / Downstream Trace for more information.
