Spatial Network Generation Tool for Performance Analysis of Water Distribution Networks - Pattern Recognition for Reliability Assessment of Water Distribution Networks - page 86

Figure 4.18 NGT options to assign the network properties

The default values can be assigned in NGT, taken over from EPANET defaults or defined as
a range of random values. The exceptions are pipe lengths that can also be calculated from
coordinates, and pipe diameters that can be GA-optimised. NGT does not optimise the pipe
diameters directly but only prepares a number of supporting files that are further used by EO-
optimiser in a separate programme, discussed more in details in Chapter 9.

4.6.2 Non-Random Generation

The list of input settings available in non-random generation process is given in Figure 4.19.
The process of assigning the input values for nodes and links will be as in Figure 4.18.

Non-random network generation is potentially a time-consuming process that can be however
influenced by selecting specific columns in the adjacency list that eventually influences the
complexity of generated networks. The menu of available options includes:
- Required number of networks . Has the same meaning as in the random generation and is

equally tentative, because its feasibility will depend on the number of nodes and other
settings. With more nodes and columns, the process can become very long. Selecting a
smaller number of networks can make it shorter but the variety in layouts becomes
limited for the adjacency list has not been fully exhausted.

- Range of links . Has the same meaning as in the random generation.