Skeletonize the model by reducing pipes in a series

Step-by-step guide

The InfoWater Pro Skeletonizer app can reduce the number of elements and the complexity of a model while maintaining its hydraulic equivalency. The Skeletonizer offers fully customizable trimming, reduction, merging, and network skeletonization based on user-specified criteria. After performing a network trimming operation in the Skeletonizer, the next step is to reduce pipes.

This example uses network reduction in the Skeletonizer to identify and combine pipe segments with the same diameter and roughness coefficient, as well as other specific criteria. These pipe segments are typically in series with each other.

1. From the InfoWater Pro ribbon, Project panel, click Apps.
2. From the App Manager, select Skeletonizer.
3. Click Run.

When using the Skeletonizer it is usually best practice to create a domain of a smaller portion of the model to which the network trimming operation will be applied.

4. In the Skeletonizer app, click Edit Domain.

5. Use the Domain Manager tools to add model elements to a desired domain.
6. Close the Domain Manager.
7. In the Skeletonizer, click Options.
8. In the Network Skeletonization Options dialog box, set the Series Pipe Reduce Options.

9. In the Pipe ID/Attribute Retain Choice drop-down, select the criteria to be used to establish the ID of the new combined pipe.
10. In the Demand Distribution Method drop-down, select the method by which demands on existing nodes will be reallocated to new pipe end nodes.
11. Optional: Enable Re-calculate Pipe Length.
12. Enable Apply Max. Reduction Levels to specify the number of iterations to be performed on pipes in series meeting the other specified criteria.

If no maximum trim level is specified, the process continues until no additional reduction levels are found.

13. Select Apply Elevation Difference to prevent combining pipes with end nodes that have elevation differences greater than the specified criteria.
14. Select Apply Diameter Difference to prevent combining adjacent pipes with diameters that differ by more than the specified criteria.
15. Under Common Options, it is typical to enable Confirm between Segmentation Levels and Exclude Pipes with Controls.

This ensures continuity and reduces the risk of deleting pipes with either simple or logical controls.

16. Click OK.

To select the Series Pipe Reduction criteria:

17. In the Skeletonizer, under Matching Data Fields Selection, hold CTRL and click to select multiple data fields.
18. Click Reduce.

19. Click Yes to proceed, if prompted.
20. Close the Skeletonizer when the operation is complete.
21. Spot check the network to verify that the desired pipes were combined, and that demands were automatically transferred from deleted nodes to the main line nodes to which the reduced pipes now connect.