Introduction*to*Geometric*Networks*

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GIS*Database*Fundamentals*
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Prepared*By:*Naman*Malhotra*
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Date:*December*5th,*2013*
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Geometric)network)
In*ArcGIS**a*geometric*network*is*a*set*of*connected*edges*and*junctions*with*connectivity*rules,*that*
are*used*to*represent*and*model*the*behavior*of*directed*flow*network*systems*such*as*water*
networks,*electrical*gas*lines,*internet*or*telephone*services.*Geometric*networks*are*built*using*the*
feature*classes*stored*in*the*same*feature*dataset.*Roles*and*rules*of*various*features*are*defined*by*the*
user*which*define*the*geometric*network*and*determine*how*resources*flow*through*the*geometric*
network.*
Network*junctions*and*edges*of*a*geometric*network*are*bases*upon*the*feature*classes*in*the*feature*
dataset*in*the*geodatabase.*Geometric*coincidence*of*the*features*determines*the*network*connectivity*
of*the*features*in*the*feature*classes*used*as*data*sources.*Each*geometric*network*is*comprised*of*a*
logical*network*which*is*based*upon**a*collection*of*tables*in*the*geodatabase*that*stores*connectivity*
relationships*and*other*information*about*the*features*in*the*geometric*network*as*individual*elements*
for*use*in*tracing*and*flow*operations.*
Two*types*of*features*make*a*geometric*network,*these*are*edges*and*junctions.*Edges*and*juctions*are*
characterized*as*special*types*of*features*in*the*geodatabase*called*network*features.*These*features*
have*behavior*such*as*domains*and*default*values*similar*to*other*features*in*the*geodatabase.*Edges*
must*connect*to*other*edges*at*junctions:*in*the*network,*the*flow*from*one*edge*to*another*is*
transferred*through*junctions.*(ArcGIS*Desktop*Help*10.0)*
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Preparation)of)Data)for)this)project)
The*purpose*of*this*project*was*to*familiarize*ourselves*with*Geometric*Network.***A*geometric*network*
was*built*from*the*feature*classes*in*the*Water*feature*dataset*in*the*Motgomery*geodatabase.**
Connectivity*in*WaterNet*Geometric*Network*was*set*using*ArcCatalogue*for*service*laterals.*Service*
laterals*were*joined*to*Cap*or*Riser*at*the*end.*Tee*was*set*as*default*for*the*other*end,*which*
connected*to*the*distribution*main*with*Tap*and*Plug*as*optional*connections.**
To*achieve*these*goals*a*coded*value*domain*was*created*for*Contractors*with*default*values*and*fields*
for*each*subtype*in*ArcCatalog*(Fig*1*below).*The*contractors*were*then*set*as*a*domain*for*both*
hydrant*laterals*and*sercive*laterals,*so*that*a*contractor*name*could*be*assigned*for*each*of*the*lateral*
types.*

*Figure*1:*Domain*created*for*Contractors*with*codedUvalues.*
In*the*next*part*service*laterals*were*modified*using*ArcCatalog.*This*was*done*by*editing*the*properties*
of*the*WaterNet*personal*geodatabase*geometric*network*contained*within*the*water*personal*
goedatabase*feature*dataset.**Figure*2*below*shows*the*subtypes*selected*to*achieve*the*desired*
connections*for*the*geometric*network.*

Figure*2:*Service*Lateral*for*distribution******
mains*end.*

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Figure*2:*Service*laterals*for*the*end*with*Cap*or*Riser.*
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The*default*fitting*type*is*shown*with*a*blue*icon*with*D*in*the*middle.*The*default*fitting*type*can*be*
changed*or*selected*by*right*clicking*on*the*fitting*type.*
Using*laterals*an*edit*session*was*started*and*for*Eastern*Genetta*Court*region*and*Western*Genetta*
Court*region.*Service*laterals*were*added*for*each*home*on*Genetta*using*various*Diameters*and*
material*and*contractor*were*assigned*to*these*features*using*the*drop*down*list*selected*in*attributes.*
Tee*fitting*was*default*for*the*distribution*main*and*Cap*and*Riser*were*used*at*the*house*end.*The*
angle*of*the*fittings*were*changed*according*to*the*geometry*of*the*homes.*This*was*accomplished*by*
going*in*properties*of*laterals*layer*then*selecting*symbology*tab*and*rotation*and*defining*the*attribute*
associated*with*rotation.*
To*validate*features*editor*toolbar*was*clicked*and*validate*features*was*selected.*If*successful*All*
features*are*valid*message*was*displayed.*The*edits*were*then*saved*and*editing*session*was*stopped.*
A*map*was*created*of*the*complete*street*which*shows*various*service*and*hydrant*laterals*showing*
connectivity*of*service*laterals*using*variety*of*fitting*types*and*other*information*displayed.*
Hence*geometric*network*are*extremely*important*part*of*GIS*database*fundamentals*and*provide*
insight*into*the*uses*of*various*elements*of*databases*to*model*flow*of*materials.*
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