TUFLOW Check Files

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Introduction

If the Write Check Files == command is included in the .tcf (2D check files) and/or .ecf (1D check files) will be output from TUFLOW. These are a series of output files in both GIS (MapInfo or Shapefile format) and tabular data in .csv format. These check files contain information on the data processed by TUFLOW, for example the _zpt_check file contains the final elevation at each zpt in the model.

Managing Check Files

The 2D and 1D check files can be controlled separately by having the Write Check Files == in both the .tcf and .ecf files. However, Write Check Files == in the .tcf file will automatically also write the 1D check files. There is no need to specify Write Check Files == in the .ecf file unless a different folder path for the files is desired.
The check files for big models can get very large and consume quite a lot of hard drive space. It is possible to exclude or include certain check file types. This is done by specifying either "Include" or "Exclude" to the left of the equals sign:
Write Check Files Exclude == <file list>
Write Check Files Include == <file list>
The file list is a space separated list of files. To exclude the large grd, uvpt and zpt files specify:
Write Check Files Exclude == zpt uvpt grd
To output only the gridded elevations (DEM_Z) the command would be :
Write Check Files Include == DEM_Z

Tips for Visualising Check Files

Depending on the size of the model, the check files may contain a large amount of data, for example the _grd_check file may contain thousands or millions of cells. As a modeller you probably won't inspect each cell to ensure that the data is value, however you may want to view this for the entire model. Thematic mapping or styling the input layers can be used in your GIS software to do this. Some tips are given below for a range of GIS platforms, however, the functionality is likely to be available in almost all GIS platforms:

• QGIS style check files
• MapInfo style check files
• ArcMap style check files

Check File Types

The check files are separated into 2D and 1D check files. The output location for these is controlled by commands in the .tcf and .ecf as described above. Not all check file types will be output for all models, if a model has no 2D Z Shape (2d_zsh) format topography modifiers then the _zsh_zpt check file type will not be output by TUFLOW. A list of the check file types is provided below. For more information on each of these please click on the page link.
It is also worth noting that the attributes of the check file may also change depending on the features in the model. If a model has soils specified (for infiltration) then the _grd_check file will contain the soil type for each grid cell. If no soils are specified this attribute is not output.

1D Check Files

The table below contains a complete list of 1D check files.

Filename prefix / suffix	Brief Description
_1d_bc_tables_check.csv	Contains the inverts of the 1D nodes and at the ends of the 1D channels. Very useful for checking for smooth transitions from one channel to another and with the nodes.
_pit_inlet_tables_check.csv	Similar to the _1d_bc_tables_check.csv. It contains tabular data as read from the pit inlet database.
_ta_tables_check.csv	Tabular data as read from tables via the 1d_tab layers for cross-section, storage and other data. Provides full traceability to original data source and additional information such as hydraulic properties determined from a cross-section profile. Flood Modeller XZ processed, and MIKE 11 processed cross-section data included. Refer also to the _xsl_check layer.
_bc_check.mif _bc_check_P.shp	GIS .mif/.mid or .shp files of the final 1D boundary conditions (BC). If no boundary conditions were specified, empty .mif/.mid or .shp files are written that can be used to set up a new layer.
_hydroprop_check.mif _hydroprop_check_L.shp	Contains the hydraulic properties at the top of the hydraulic properties tables as attributes of the 1D channels. Other information such as the primary Manning’s n is also provided. Very useful for carrying out quality control checks on the 1D channels.
_inverts_check.mif _inverts_check_P.shp	Contains the inverts of the 1D nodes and at the ends of the 1D channels. Very useful for checking for smooth transitions from one channel to another and with the nodes.
_iwl_check.mif _iwl_check_P.shp	GIS .mif/.mid or .shp files of the initial water levels at the 1D model nodes.
_mhc_check.mif _mhc_check_P.shp	GIS layer of manholes including any automatically created manholes.
_nwk_C_check.mif _nwk_C_check_L.shp	GIS .mif/.mid or .shp files of the final 1D model network. This check layer contains the channels of the 1D domain only. The _nwk_N_check layer contains the nodes. The layers lines are coloured based on the channel type (available for the .mid/.mif format only). Any generated pit channels are shown as a small channel flowing from north to south into the pit node. The upstream pit channel node that is generated is also shown. The length of the pit channel is controlled by Pit Channel Offset == command.
_nwk_N_check.mif _nwk_N_check_P.shp	GIS .mif/.mid or .shp files of the final 1D model network. This check layer contains the nodes of the 1D domain only. The _nwk_C_check layer contains the channels. The node symbology is displayed as a red circle for nodes connected to two or more channels, a larger magenta circle for nodes connected to one channel and a large yellow square for nodes not connected to a channel (available for the .mid/.mif format only). This is very useful for checking for channel ends or nodes that are not snapped. The top and bottom elevations of the NA table at nodes is now shown using the Upstream_Invert and Downstream_Invert attributes.
_WLLo_check.mif _WLLo_check_L.shp _xWLLo_check.mif _xWLLo_check_L.shp	GIS layer of all the WLL objects read. The attributes provide information on which nodes that area associated with, etc. The _WLLo_check layers are written for ESTRY 1D domains, whereas the _xWLLo_check layers are written for external 1D domains, such as Flood Modeller or XP-SWMM.
_WLLp_check.mif _WLLp_check_P.shp _xWLLp_check.mif _xWLLp_check_P.shp	GIS layer of where the points were generated along the WLLs. These points can then be used for Read GIS WLL Points == command. The _WLLp_check layers are written for ESTRY 1D domains, whereas the _xWLLp_check layers are written for external 1D domains, such as Flood Modeller or XP-SWMM.
_xsl_check.mif _xsl_check_L.shp	GIS layer containing tabular data as read from 1d_xs input layers. Contains the XS ID and other useful information on the cross-section properties, etc. Refer also to _ta_tables_check.csv.
_x1d_chans_check.mif _x1d_chans_check_L.shp	GIS layer containing the location of 1D channels from an external 1D domain.
_x1d_nodes_check.mif _x1d_nodes_check_P.shp	GIS layer containing the location of 1D nodes from an external 1D domain.