Tutorial 2: Building a Basic 2D Flow Schematisation

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will build a schematisation to model basic 2D flow in 3Di. We will start from scratch with an empty sqlite and build a schematisation step by step. The final product will be a working 3Di model that can be used on the 3Di Live site. The schematisation will be a representation of the Laugharne and Pendine Burrows, which are located in Carmarthenshire (Wales). The burrows enclose a flat area of reclaimed salt marshes that are currently used as farmland. Although the schematisation represents a real-world area, some processes will be simplified for the sake of this tutorial. Please keep this in mind while analysing the results of your simulations.

In this tutorial you will:

  • Re-practice the workflow of creating a new schematisation.

  • Couple a digital elevation model (DEM) to your schematisation.

  • Configure the settings of a 2D model.

  • Validate your model input with the raster checker.

  • Validate your model schematization with the schematization checker.

  • Generate a 3Di Model and play with it on the 3Di Livesite.

Before you start, please make sure to:

  • Install the 3Di Modeller Interface. Please see Installation manual for instructions.

  • Install the 3Di toolbox in the Modeller Interface. Please see Plugin Installation for instructions.

  • Gain access to the 3Di Live Site. Please see Login to the Live Site for instructions.

  • Download the Taf dataset , which contains a digital elevation model (DEM) of the Laugharne and Pendine Burrows called dem_2m_LPB.tif and an empty .sqlite database, which can be ignored.

    The digital elevation model contains United Kingdom public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0.

Building the Schematisation

Creating a new Schematisation

As we are building a schematisation from scratch, the workflow explained in Tutorial 1 will be used to initialize a new schematisation. If you haven’t followed this tutorial yet, please do so before continuing this tutorial.

Name your newly created schematisation ‘Tutorial2_<your_name>’, select the correct organisation and check the ‘Create new Spatialite’ box. Press the ‘Next’ button twice and fill in the data as provided in Fig. 35. Select your downloaded DEM .tif file for the Digital elevation model field.

Initial Schematisation settings.

Fig. 35 Initial Schematisation settings

Setting up your QGIS project

When your schematisation has successfully been generated, it can be added to your QGIS project. During this process, you might get a warning prompt on an outdated database schema version. If so, select Yes. Your spatialite should now be visible in your Layers panel.

It is convenient (but not required) to add the DEM to your project as well. This is simply done by navigating to the folder of your schematisation, navigate to ‘work in progress’>’schematisation’>’rasters’ and finally drag your DEM file into your QGIS project. Please make sure that you use the DEM file from your project folder in stead of your download folder. Changes made to your DEM file will not be tracked if you use the wrong file.

Another way to make building your schematisation visually easier is to add a background. A good option would be the Google Satellite background map:

  1. In your browser panel, right-click on “XYZ Tiles” and select “new connection”. If the browser panel is not visible in your 3Di modeller interface, select “view” > “panels” > “browser panel” from the top menu bar. [1]

  2. Fill in Name as “Google Satellite” and URL as https://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=s&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}. [2]

  3. Select “OK”. The Google Satellite layer should now be visible in your browser panel. You may need to click the small triangle to the left of “XYZ tiles” if the layer does not become immediately visible. [3]

  4. Double-click the Google Satellite layer to load it into your project. [4]

  5. Reorder the layers such that the Google Satellite layer is below the 3Di model. This will ensure the visibility of the model components at later stages. [5]

Lastly, it is advised to set your project reference to EPSG:27700 (British National Grid) for this tutorial. This can be done in the bottom right of your QGIS/MI window.

Your QGIS project should now look like this:

QGIS project setup.

Fig. 36 The proposed setup of your QGIS project including i) your Spatialite loaded, ii) the DEM added, iii) a background layer, and iv) a projection of 27700.

Set up your Schematisation settings

The most fundamental element to building a schematisation is choosing your correct settings. We will go through all required settings for a basic 2D flow model. A list of mandatory settings and detailed descriptions can be found in the database overview. Extra elements, such as 1D channels, levees or hydraulic structures, are discussed in the other tutorials.

Complete the global settings

The global settings are found in the v2_global_settings table. Open the settings by

  1. Right-click the v2_global_settings table. [1]

  2. Select Open attribute table. [2]

Global settings
  1. Select Switch to form view in the bottom right corner. [1]

  2. Select Toggle editing mode and in the top right corner. [2]

Toggle editing

Now everything is set up to configure the global settings. 3Di requires you to complete all mandatory settings before changes can be saved. These are recognized by the orange color when not filled in. For an overview of the mandatory settings, checkout the database overview pdf. Attempts to save the settings before all mandatory field have been completed will result in an error message.

The settings that we will use for the 2D flow simulations in the Laugharne and Pendine Burrows Model are as follows (some settings allready have been filled in due to the settings that you have set during the Schematisation creation):

Table 4 General

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

id

1

name

Tutorial_2D_flow

use_0d_inflow

0: do not use 0d inflow

Use only when point sources are present

use_1d_flow

No

This tutorial does not define 1D channels

use_2d_rain

Yes

Enables rainfall

use_2d_flow

Yes

Enables 2D flow

Table 5 Grid

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

grid_space

64

Minimum grid cell size in metres

kmax

1

See Computational grid

table_step_size

0.10

See Computational grid

Table 6 Terrain information

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

dem_file

rasters/dem_2m_LPB.tif

epsg_code

27700

British national grid

frict_coef_file

NULL

Only used for spatially varying friction

frict_coef

0.06

Farmland

frict_type

2: Manning

frict_avg

No

initial_groundwater_level_file

NULL

No groundwater

initial_groundwater_level

NULL

initial_groundwater_level_type

(NULL)

initial_waterlevel_file

NULL

Only for spatially varying initial water level

initial_waterlevel

-10

in metres; selected for a dry start

water_level_ini_type

max

interception_file

NULL

No interception

interception_global

NULL

wind_shielding_file

NULL

No wind

Table 7 Time

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

start_date

2020-01-01

start_time

2020-01-01 00:00:00

sim_time_step

30

in seconds

timestep_plus

No

Only when extra control over the timestep is required

minimum_sim_time_step

0.01

maximum_sim_time_step

30

nr_timesteps

240

for a 2 hour simulation

output_time_step

120

in seconds

Table 8 Setting id’s

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

interflow_settings_id

NULL

No interflow

groundwater_settings_id

NULL

No groundwater

numerical_settings_id

1

Reference to the model specific numerical settings

simple_infiltration_settings_id

1

Reference to the model specific infiltration settings

control_group_id

NULL

No control groups

Table 9 Extra options 1D (not relevant as this tutorial does not contain 1D elements)

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

advection_1d

0: Do not use advection 1d

No 1D elements

dist_calc_points

10000

No 1D elements

manhole_storage_area

NULL

No 1D elements

max_angle_1d_advection

NULL

No 1D elements

table_step_size_1d

NULL

No 1D elements

Table 10 Extra options 2D

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

advection_2d

1: Use advection 2d

dem_obstacle_detection

No

guess_dams

No

dem_obstacle_height

NULL

Obstacles not activated

embedded_cutoff_threshold

NULL

flooding_threshold

1e-06

table_step_size_volume_2d

NULL

Tip

Do not forget to save your changes after completing all settings, by clicking on save edits in the top left corner.

Complete the infiltration settings

The settings for the infiltration mechanism are contained in the v2_simple_infiltration table, which can be found just above the global settings. Right-click again to open the Attribute Table [1], toggle editing [2], add a new feature [3] and start editing the settings to the provided values in Table 11.

infiltration

Editing the table work in a similar manner as with the v2_global_settings table. Complete the following settings:

Table 11 General

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

id

1

Must match the simple_infiltration_settings_id in the v2_global_settings_table

display_name

infiltration

infiltration_rate

360

in mm/hour; uniform silty sand is assumed in this tutorial

infiltration_rate_file

NULL

Only used for spatially varying infiltration rates

max_infiltration_capacity_file

NULL

infinite infiltration capacity is assumed in this tutorial

infiltration_surface_option

0

See Infiltration

Complete the aggregation settings

The aggregation settings control the aggregation of model results. They are contained in the v2_aggregation_settings table.

As with the previous settings, open the attribute table, toggle the editing mode and add a feature. However, select switch to table view this time.

Aggregation Settings update

The different rows of the table refer to different model output categories. For each category, set the global_settings_id at 1 if this is not the case yet. You can either do this manually by filling in 1’s in the column [1], or by:

  1. Selecting the column global_settings_id in the drop down menu [2]

  2. Typing a 1 in the bar [3]

  3. Clicking update All [4]

  4. And pressing save edits [5]

Retain the default values for all other settings.

Complete the numerical settings

The numerical settings are contained in the v2_numerical_settings table which can be found under advanced numerics.

Numerical settings

As with the previous settings, open the attribute table, toggle the editing mode, switch to form view and add a feature if the settings do not yet contain one. Change the settings, where required, to the following values:

Table 12 General

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

id

1

Must match the numerical_settings_id in the v2_global_settings_table

Table 13 Limiters (not used in this tutorial, only for sloping areas)

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

limiter_grad_1d

1

limiter_grad_2d

0

limiter_slope_crossectional_area_2d

0

limiter_slope_friction_2d

0

Table 14 Matrix

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

convergence_cg

1e-09

convergence_eps

1e-05

use_of_cg

20

use_of_nested_newton

0: when the schematisation does not include 1D-elements …

max_degree

5: for surface flow only

max_nonlin_iterations

20

precon_cg

1

integration_method

0

Table 15 Thresholds

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

flow_direction_threshold

1e-06

general_numerical_threshold

1e-08

thin_water_layer_definition

0.05

minimum_friction_velocity

0.05

minimum_surface_area

1e-08

Table 16 Miscellaneous

Setting

Value for this tutorial

Comments

cfl_strictness_factor_1d

1

cfl_strictness_factor_2d

1

frict_shallow_water_correction

0

pump_implicit_ratio

1

preissmann_slot

0

All the settings should now be up to date, which means you are good to go validate and upload your Schematisation.

Validate and upload your Schematisation & Generate a 3Di Model

Following the basic workflow (explained in Tutorial 1), we are now checking the Schematisation, uploading it to the 3Di Management screens and generate a 3Di model by:

  1. Pressing the Upload button in the Models & Simulations plugin.

  2. Clicking the New Upload button, followed by the Next button.

  3. Clicking the Check Schematisation button. This should result in no errors. If you did get a warning or error, please thoroughly check the preceding steps. Otherwise, click Next.

  4. Select Upload for the Spatialite and Terrain Model, fill in a commit message such as “First Commit Tutorial 2 <name>”, select UPLOAD AND PROCESS and click the Start Upload button.

After waiting for about 2 minutes, you should see the following window:

successfull schematisation upload.

Run your 3Di Model on the Livesite

You can now find your 3Di Model via the 3Di Live Site or via the 3Di Modeller Interface and use it for simulations. The Schematisation can also be found in the Management screens.

Live calculation in the live site

You have now succesfully build a 2D flow model Schematisation from scratch!