Flood Modeller to TUFLOW

Introduction

Often, there is a requirement to convert aspects of a Flood Modeller model to a TUFLOW Estry model. It is possible to convert a Flood Modeller 1D model to a TUFLOW Estry format using either the fm_to_estry.exe or fm_to_estry.py utilities. The utilities are available for download from the Gitlab Website. This Wiki page lists useful examples for using the fm_to_estry.exe and fm_to_estry.py utilities.

If you have any suggestions to be included in these pages, please email support@tuflow.com.

Flood Modeller to ESTRY conversion utility using the fm_to_estry.exe

The fm_to_estry.exe utility creates a TUFLOW Estry network from FM.dat file. The utility converts:

• Flood Modeller units to Estry node/link inputs (1d_nwk)
• Flood Modeller section data to Estry cross-section GIS (1d_xs) and csv inputs
• Flood Modeller structures to Estry GIS and csv inputs

A number of structure units are supported but not all. A list of currently supported structures is shown below:

• River
• Bridge
• Conduit
• Interpolates/Replicates
• Culverts
• Orifice
  • Flood Relief
  • Inverted Syphon
  • Outfall
• Weirs
  • Weir
  • SCWeir
  • RNWeir
  • Spill
  • NotWeir
  • Labyrinth Weir
  • Crump Weir
  • Gated Weir
• Sluices
• Junction
• QH Control

Note :The utility does not currently support the conversion of either boundary condition data or logical control rules.

Utility Execution (.exe)

1. Download the following file fm_to_estry.0.9.zip from the Gitlab Website by visiting the Compiled Library section and unzip it in your preferred destination.
2. Open the file. Then, bring in the relevant files from the FM model that requires conversion, in this example the dataset.dat, dataset.gxy and projection files. The projection.shp file will help you to assign your projections and can come from an existing TUFLOW model or shape file in the correct projection. See figure below for the required files:
   
3. Create a new .bat file (To do that right click in an empty area in the file. A dialogue will open. Choose New and then Text document. Rename your new Text document by including the .bat extension at the end. For Example: fm_to_estry_example.bat).
4. Open your batch file and insert the text to convert the FM model to an Estry one. Some examples are shown in the following lines, note that if the batch file is held in a different directory to the Flood Modeller files, you will need to the full file path or relative path to reference the files.

   Examples

   1. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs projection.shp

      Converts a Flood Modeller model

   2. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs 32760

      Uses an EPSG number for the projection

   3. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs projection.shp -out .\output

      Customs Output Directory

   4. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs projection.shp -logfile

      Writes a Log File

   5. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs projection.shp -raw

      Writes GXY to GIS Prior to Conversion

   6. fm_to_estry.exe flood_modeller.gxy flood_modeller.dat -crs projection.shp -mif

      Writes to MIF Format

5. Save your preferences and close your batch file.
6. Double click the batch file.
7. The above steps will return structures from supported structures list in .shp and .csv file formats to use them to further set up a 1D TUFLOW/Estry model. The figure below illustrates Flood Modeler 1D model conversion to TUFLOW Estry.
   
   

Utility Execution (.py)

Alternatively, rather than run the executable, it is possible to run as a Python library. To run Python library, replace fm_to_estry.exe above with python fm_to_estry.py and follow the 2-6 steps which are described in Utility Execution (.exe). To download Python utility file please visit: Gitlab Website and click on the following icon:

The benefit of this approach is that you can add your own support for structures not currently supported. More details are described in Section: How to Add New Supported Units, which can be found in the following page: Gitlab Website.

Other Information

It is also possible to use the cross-sections from the FM.dat file directly within a TUFLOW/Estry simulation. Which for some simple models means that conversion of the Flood Modeller model to an Estry format is not required. Please, see the XS Database == command in the TUFLOW user manual for more information which can be downloaded from here: TUFLOW Official Website.

Summary

When there is a requirement to convert a Flood Modeller 1D network, or part of a network, to TUFLOW Estry format this can be time consuming. A set of tools have been provided for you to assist this process. Currently, the tools are restricted to network geometry but if there is user-demand, this can be extended to boundary conditions, logical rules and the production of TUFLOW control files. There are two approaches, using either an executable or a python tool, both of which undertake the same conversion. The advantage of the python tool is that it is possible to add user-specified support for additional structures which are not supported currently.