How to Calibrate a WaterCAD Model

[jahodges01]

Have laid a hydraulic model for a community and attained hydrant flow test data. How do I calibrate the model to verify it matches field data? Do I just run fire flow analysis and adjust the demand / roughness as the manual suggests until model matches field data? Do I include flows in my calibration model (max / average day). Please help....

thanks

 

[howertoneng]

when we calibrate our watercad models, the most important thing the getting the elevation of nodes correctly. This would require GPS'sing their locations. Next we also use continous digital pressure loggers at key points in the system. These will give you the daily pressure, and tell you how much draw-down their during the 24 hour cycle. We also use the water systems tank depth data plots. All this data, plus fire flow tests, all come together to get you a truly repesentative model. You can then tweak the friction factors, and demands. We actually create a demand curve on demand nodes, that will truly reflect the hydraulics in the system. This is great for doing if/then scenarios in extended period simulations.