Carter & Burgess, Inc. created a Water Distribution System Master Plan (the Plan) for the City of Hurst, Texas. The Plan included computerized modeling of the water system, a written report, modeling and GIS software acquisition, and training. Having a GIS as the delivery tool for the Plan is an innovative approach gaining favor among municipalities. ArcView GIS was chosen for this project because it is inexpensive, easy to use and has the spatial data conversion, analysis, and visualization functions required. City of Hurst’s water distribution GIS currently contains pipes, valves, junctions, dBase tables of CybernetÒ output and spatially linked site photos.

Carter & Burgess, Inc. prepared a Water Distribution System Master Plan for the City of Hurst, Texas, which included computerized modeling of the water system, a written report, modeling and GIS software acquisition, and training. The project was performed to evaluate existing systems and to plan for future expansion and growth. Since the City of Hurst is more than 90 percent built-out and does not anticipate expansion of its current boundaries, a future growth plan was less of a priority. More attention was given to operational issues such as energy efficiency, reduction of peaking charges for purchased water and quality issues resulting from mixing well water and surface water. The project was performed in two parts: 1) an analysis and modeling of City’s water systems; and 2) a study of state and federal regulatory issues. Because part one involved creation of GIS databases and links of model output to GIS, it will be the focus of this article. The Plan involved computer modeling to analyze the system's operational efficiency and to determine the most cost effective enhancements. This phase included data collection from water system maps, topographic maps, parcel maps, older water distribution system master plans, water-use studies, population figures, and as-built construction plans.

Current and future water usage were analyzed and a system evaluation model was created using CybernetÒ. The model reflects proposed configuration, operations and water demand changes. For the modeling exercise, Carter & Burgess digitized water system and parcels maps into AutoCADÒ . CybernetÒ links directly to the AutoCAD drawings. The model's link to system elements (e.g., pipelines, valves, junctions) is established with a "handle", which is a unique identifier for each graphic elements. Our engineers selected various operational scenarios for analysis by computer modeling. Modeling results were presented in a written report. In addition, key public works staff were trained on the details of the water system modeling. The staff's training occurred throughout the development of the Plan. Finally, model results were prepared for use in a GIS.

Having a GIS as the delivery tool for The Plan is an innovative approach gaining favor among municipalities (Figure 1). ArcView GIS was chosen for this project because it is inexpensive, easy to use, and has the spatial data conversion, analysis, and visualization functions required. Paper maps and documents were digitized into AutoCAD, linked to CybernetÒ, and then converted into ArcView shapefiles. An AutoLisp routine was written that formats the CybernetÒ output for integration with the shapefiles. The AutoLisp routine recovers the "handle" originally used by CybernetÒ to associate model parameters with AutoCad files. The data conversion process (Figure 2) can be repeated each time that a different water distribution configuration is evaluated. The water distribution GIS currently contains pipes, valves, junctions, dBase tables of CybernetÒ output, and spatially linked site photos. Spatial and visual interpretation of the model results has been improved with ArcView. Figure 3 illustrates the use of graduated symbols to represented modeled system conditions. To finalize the Plan, Carter & Burgess staff provided ArcView training for key city personnel.

We acknowledge and thank Teresa Granger for assistance in preparation of this document. The City of Hurst staff was a positive and constructive influence, and we thank them for their knowledgeable and forward-thinking ideas. We also acknowledge the assistance and leadership of Gretchen Williams and Steve Veal.