Pipe Maker

Pipe Maker is used to design pipelines. Ground long section data is extracted using MODEL MAKER where it is then imported into PIPE MAKER. Although PIPE MAKER does not do network analysis and optimization, the program do however import a network of pipes of which accumulated flows is calculated throughout the network te determine capacities. The graphical input capabilities makes PIPE MAKER an extremely easy program to do Long Sectional designs. This program contains all the different input data to cater for the design of water, stormwater or sewer pipes. Earthworks and pipe quantities are calculated according to SABS 1200 or COLTO specifications and results can be output to a file or printer. Long-sectional drawings can be plotted directly to a plotter, plot file or various CAD data exchange formats.

PIPE MAKER MODULES

Why modules? - So that each user can customize his own package and thus saving cost by not having to buy un necessary/unused software functionality.

The ground long-section profile may be entered manually or imported from ASCI-files. Data may be manipulated by a user friendly editor or graphically on-screen. The long-section drawing may be plotted directly to an online plotter, a HPGL plot file or various CAD drawing exchange format files, in addition to the ground profile two more profiles may be defined to represent different material type profiles for example rock or intermediate material. These profiles may also be represented using DTM data from Model Maker. Import an additional terrace surface (to represent road etc) or Cadastral town layout.

The pipe profile data allows for sewer, water and storm water pipe long-section design. With the basic graphical definition of reference points for example :- manholes, peg distances and invert levels, the long-section drawing will be completed showing depths, gradients, flows, capacities and velocities for different pipe sections. From a basic ground profile and horizontal alignment an automatic design will be done to user specified design parameters for example cover depth, slope limits and pipe diameters. This design may then be edited on the graphic screen using the functions to edit, add and delete manholes, re-align pipe-sections or place manholes according to fixed slope lengths. The layout of the resulting construction drawing is completely user definable and allows for the definition of headings in different languages. The geometric alignment strings module (11) from Model Maker may be used to create the layout of a complete network to be designed in Pipe Maker. Pipe clashes may then be checked in Model Maker.

A new feature recently added is the ability to view pipe clash positions in plan view or view all pipe data in a interactive 3D environment where al pipe clashes are highlighted.

The design parameters allow for the definition of bedding types, excavation and manhole depth intervals and trench widths. Where a rock profile is defined it will also calculate overbreak volumes. SABS 1200 specifications are used to calculate excavation and bedding material volumes, excavation depth categories and pipe lengths. This is done from manhole to manhole and the results for each section may be printed or saved to a file. The function calculates and saves the quantities to a file for each section of pipe between two manholes, this module may then be used to combine all these individual results into one file. At the bottom of this file it will then also summarize all the different calculation items to give totals for all the pipe sections in the project. The single file may be loaded into most spreadsheet programs for further manipulation.