XPSWMM Conversion TUFLOW Structure

Convert XPSWMM Model to Recommended TUFLOW Structure

When XPSWMM writes its TUFLOW files, it consolidates all the information into a single folder, typically the 2D\Data folder. This is not the standard TUFLOW structure. The standard structure used by the majority of TUFLOW modelers globally includes the following subfolders:

	Folder	Folder Purpose
	Folders typically saved to the network within a folder titled TUFLOW
	runs	TUFLOW Control File(s) (.tcf), the primary file(s) used to run TUFLOW simulations, are saved here.
	runs\log	TUFLOW simulation log and error/warning message files are written here during a model simulation.
	bc_dbase	Input boundary condition database(s) and time-series data for 1D and 2D domains are saved here.
	model	TUFLOW's second level control files (.tgc, .tbc, .tscf, .ecf) are saved here.
	model\gis model\grid model\mi model\swmm	GIS layers defining the input spatial datasets are saved here.
	Folders typically saved to a computers local drive in a Project folder
	results	TUFLOW simulation results are written here during a model simulation.
	check	TUFLOW simulation check files are written here during a model simulation.

To simplify the process of converting the XPSWMM model to the recommended TUFLOW SWMM folder structure, we have developed a processing tool. This tool converts the GIS format written by XPSWMM (mif/mid) into a more user friendly GeoPackage Database format, creates the recommended TUFLOW folder structure, and saves the converted model files to their correct locations.

For more information on the processing tool, see Convert TUFLOW Model GIS Format.

1. Open QGIS. If you do not have QGIS installed:

   • Install QGIS 3.34 or later: Latest 64-bit version of QGIS.
   • Install the QGIS TUFLOW Plugin by following the instructions, QGIS TUFLOW Plugin Installation.

2. In QGIS, go to Processing > Toolbox from the top dropdown menu options to open the Processing Toolbox.
3. Go to 'TUFLOW' in the processing tool list and select 'Convert TUFLOW Model GIS Format'. This opens the dialog shown below.

   • TCF: Click '...' and navigate to the XPSWMM .tcf. This should be located in the 2D\Data folder.
   • Output Vector Format: 'GPKG'
   • Output Raster Format: 'GTIFF'
   • Output Profile: Any option can be used. 'ALL IN ONE' is used in this example for model design consistency with the TUFLOW SWMM Tutorials.
   • Output Folder: Click '...' and navigate to an appropriate location to save your TUFLOW model. In this location, create a new folder called TUFLOW and select it.
   • Advanced Parameters:

   • Tick on 'Write empty files'.
   • Output CRS: Select an appropriate Coordinate Reference System (CRS) for the model. For the demonstration model, the CRS is 'EPSG:32760 - WGS 84 / UTM zone 60S'.
   • Tick on 'Force TUFLOW Directory Structure'.
   • TUFLOW Directory Structure Settings: Click '...'. Under 'Folder Structure', click the icon to add a folder. Set 'Key' to swmm, and 'Path' to ./model/swmm. Tick on this new swmm folder.

4. Click 'Run'. Once the tool is finished, click 'Close'.
   
   

   
   

5. Inspect the tool output to familiarize yourself with the TUFLOW model folder and file structure.
   
   

   
   

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