• InfoDrainage
  • Civil 3D

Creating rainfall data

Create rainfall data to be used in drainage studies.


Step-by-step:

Once you have decided on which rainfall methodology will work for your site, you can begin to create the drainage network in your model, starting with the no-surcharge state.

This model already has catchment areas set up, with a manhole in each and pipes connecting the manholes. The flow arrows between the pipes designate the flow direction. The next step is to create rainfall data to be used in the Network Design Wizard.

IMPORTANT: The rainfall method you use is dependent on your local standards. This example is in the UK and uses the FSR data.

  1. On the ribbon, Rainfall/Pollutants tab, Rainfall panel, click Rainfall Manager.
  2. In the Rainfall Manager Tree View, expand the Design Storms node and select FSR.
  3. In the toolbar, click Add.
    The InfoDrainage Rainfall Manager, with a callout pointing to the Add button in the toolbar. Also, the FSR node is active in the Rainfall Manager Items list.
  4. Click the Parameters tab.
  5. In the Label type box, name the test “Rain 1”.
  6. Under the Parameters, enable both Summer and Winter.
  7. Keep the England and Wales region active.
  8. For the M5-60 (mm) type box, enter 20.0.
  9. For the Ratio R value, enter 0.400.
    The Rainfall Manager, set to the Parameters tab. The user has set up the name of the rainfall study, as well as several other general parameters, such as the location and seasons.
  10. Click the Return Periods tab.
  11. Enable the Use
  12. Under Return Period (years), enter 2.
    The Rainfall Manager, set to the Return Periods tab. The user is entering a two-year return period.
  13. Click the Storm Durations

Here, you choose the storm durations you want to include in your design. (It is not necessary to choose them all.) When you click Default, a nice range of storm durations are chosen for you, from only 15 minutes, up to a whole day. Note that some catchments are susceptible to short storms and others longer events, so it is important to select a range of storm durations.

  1. Select Default.
    The Rainfall Manager, set to the Storm Durations tab. The user is choosing the Default storm durations to include in this rainfall study.
  2. In the Toolbar, click Save.

InfoDrainage has the ability to save the rainfall separately from the catchment data. The advantage is, you can create a rainfall event here and then use that same rainfall data across different studies.

  1. The Rainfall Manager file dialog box opens. Browse to the folder where you want to save the rainfall study, name the file “design rainfall”, and click Save.
    The Rainfall Manager file dialog box, where the rainfall study is named and saved. It can be used later for other studies as well.
  2. In the Rainfall Manager, click OK to finish creating the rainfall data.
    The Rainfall Manager, set to the Storm Durations tab. The rainfall data is now configured, and the user is about to click OK.