Duplicate Geometry and Vertex Validation

Duplicate Geometry Validation is a critical step in maintaining data accuracy and integrity within utility networks. This powerful test identifies duplicate geometries for points, lines, and polygons, ensuring that data remains consistent and reliable.

In the context of geometric networks, it is worth noting that duplicate features may exist and still allow for tracing and analysis. However, stacked features, which should not occur in the Geometric Network, pose challenges within the Utility Network. If stacking features becomes necessary for the Utility Network, assigning a vertical Z value or horizontal XY offset becomes essential to clear any Dirty Areas that may arise.

By conducting thorough Duplicate Geometry Validation, utility companies can proactively address any potential duplication and stacked features. Ensuring data accuracy optimizes network performance and supports efficient utility operations and reliable service delivery.

Duplicate Vertex Validation is an equally important aspect of maintaining data integrity within geometric networks. This test focuses on detecting duplicated vertices for edges.

In the context of geometric networks, it’s essential to recognize that duplicate vertices may exist and still allow for tracing and analysis. However, each edge with a duplicated vertex will create a Dirty Area that requires attention and clearing.

All of the errors detected by the Duplicate Geometry and Duplicate Vertex test will create Dirty Areas in the Utility Network and must be addressed so full utilization of advanced Utility Network functions can be realized.

This is just one of many Spatial Relationship Tests that GeoData Sentry can run.

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Subtype Domain Validation plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of subtype-level coded and range domains within a geodatabase. This GeoData Sentry Test Suite focuses on verifying the validity of values within domain-controlled columns at the subtype level. By automatically generating the test suite from both subtype and domain rules defined in the geodatabase, organizations can effectively assess the accuracy of their data.

Similar to Domain Validation, Subtype Domain Validation ensures that values within domain-controlled columns are valid. This test suite includes a subtype filter, making it essentially a domain test with the added layer of subtype specificity.

In the context of the Utility Network, the aggregation of multiple subtypes into line, junction, and device feature classes is a critical aspect of migration. The assignment of domains by subtype becomes crucial for successful migration. Errors related to subtype-dependent domains are likely to have a significant impact on the migration process to the Utility Network.

By conducting thorough Subtype Domain Validation, organizations can verify the validity of values within domain-controlled columns at the subtype level. This ensures data integrity, streamlines migration efforts, and supports the successful implementation of the Utility Network.

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Geometric Validation plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth migration from Geometric Network to Utility Network architectures. The two architectures handle geometry errors differently, making the detection and correction of these errors important for a smooth and successful transition.

In the Geometric Network architecture, tracing and analysis are possible with the existence of low-level geometry errors. The Utility Network architecture, most geometry errors create a Dirty Area. To establish Utility Network subnetworks, it becomes necessary to clear all Dirty Areas in the network topology. It is important to detect and correct these issues well before they become Dirty Areas in the Utility Network.

GeoData Sentry offers several tests that validate feature geometry.  These tests can be run on your current production geodatabases to detect these errors and proactively make corrections prior to migration.

• Duplicate Geometry Validation – detects duplicate geometries for junctions and edges.
• Duplicate Vertex Validation – detects duplicated vertices for edges.
• Overshoot/Undershoot Validation – detects small gaps, undershoots, or overshoots between edges.
• Overlapping Edge Validation – detects overlap between edges, both within a feature class and between feature classes.
• Intersect Validation – detects where junctions do not intersect with edges.
• Invalid Geometry Validation – detects 13 different types of invalid geometry.
• Disconnected Edge Detection – detects edges that do not connect to any other edge. These orphan edges will become untraceable features in the Utility Network.
• Cutback Validation – detects where an edge cuts back at an acute angle creating jagged geometries.
• Minimum Feature Length Validation – detects edges that fall below a user-defined feature length threshold that may present as nearly zero-length edges.

The significance of identifying and rectifying geometry errors cannot be emphasized enough. Each of these tests is designed to detect problems that create Dirty Areas, ultimately hampering subnetwork creation and restricting the full utilization of advanced Utility Network functions. By taking proactive steps to resolve errors, utilities can streamline the migration process and establish an accurate Utility Network right from the outset.

Need some help with your data validation? Learn more about Geodata Sentry, or reach out today—we’re happy to help!

Edge Edge Junction Validation is a crucial component in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of geometric networks. This advanced test identifies instances where two edges are incorrectly connected at a junction, violating the defined connectivity rules.

Geometric networks rely on specific rules to govern edge-to-edge connections at junctions, ensuring a cohesive and efficient utility system. For example, according to the connectivity rules, Steel Distribution Main should only connect to Steel Distribution Main at a Regulator, and Overhead Conductors should exclusively link to Underground Conductors at Riser junctions.

By conducting the Edge Edge Junction Filter Test, organizations can swiftly detect any deviations from these rules, guaranteeing that edge-to-edge connections at junctions align precisely with the defined geometric network guidelines.

Maintaining accurate geometric network connections is paramount for efficient utility operations, effective data analysis, and seamless network tracing. Leveraging Edge Edge Junction Validation allows utility companies to uphold data consistency, enhance network performance, and deliver reliable utility services.

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Domain Validation plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of feature-level coded and range domains within a geodatabase. This GeoData Sentry Test Suite focuses on verifying the validity of values within columns that are domain controlled. By automatically generating the test suite from the domain rules defined in the geodatabase, organizations can effectively assess the accuracy of their data.

Domain errors detected during validation can have implications for migrating to the Utility Network. It is essential to ensure that all values within domain-controlled columns are valid to guarantee a smooth migration process. Specific values related to valve or switch status, active or abandoned flags, pressure or phasing, for example, can significantly impact the creation of subnetworks in the Utility Network.

While some domain errors may have little to no effect on migration, they could still impact symbology or definition queries in the ArcGIS Pro Project for the Utility Network. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate all domain errors, considering their potential impacts on both the Utility Network and the ArcGIS Pro Project.

By conducting comprehensive Domain Validation, organizations can ensure the accuracy of their data values, mitigate migration challenges, and maintain the functionality of their geodatabase in the Utility Network.

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In an era driven by data-driven decision-making, the accuracy and reliability of geospatial information have become non-negotiable. The introduction of the Utility Network has focused a spotlight on data quality. Creation of a Network Topology without dirty areas requires significant up front data assessment, error prioritization and cleanup.

GeoData Sentry is a geodatabase quality assessment tool. GeoData Sentry can be quickly configured to test and report key data issues that may impact current operations or migration of data. The benefits of proactively assessing the quality of the entire geodatabase are:

• Error Prioritization to eliminate the most critical errors
• Error Trend Analysis
• Continuous Process Improvement

GeoData Sentry has an extensive Test Inventory including Attribute Tests, Spatial Relationship and Logical Connectivity Tests.  These tests detect errors ranging from the simple invalid values with Domain and Subtypes to Invalid or Duplicated Geometries to Critical Business Rule testing for Pressure Classes or Phase Mismatch.

With GeoData Sentry, Test Suites can be generated from the geodatabase to rapidly configure a test configuration that can be run for a quick data assessment, or as an input into a ongoing scheduled validation to support Continuous Process Improvement. Over time, Trend Analysis can be executed to identify repeated errors, new errors, and areas of vulnerability within application workflows and user training.

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Junction Edge Validation is a vital aspect of maintaining the accuracy and integrity of geometric networks. This powerful test identifies instances where a junction is erroneously connected to an edge where it should not be, based on the defined connectivity rules.

In the world of geometric networks, specific rules govern junction-to-edge connections to ensure data consistency and functionality. For example, according to the connectivity rules, Service Location junctions can only connect to Service Pipes, and Overhead Service Taps can solely link with Overhead Conductors. By conducting the Junction Edge Test, organizations can promptly detect any violations of these rules, ensuring that junction-to-edge connections remain in line with the defined geometric network guidelines.

Maintaining accurate geometric network connections is crucial for efficient data analysis, network tracing, and accurate representation of utility systems. By leveraging Junction Edge Validation, utility companies can enhance the reliability of their geometric networks and deliver optimized utility services.

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Managing the geodatabase involves essential tasks such as Data Model updates and their implementation. Each of these steps is important to ensuring a successful data model update, and although different organizations may have their own specific methods, the overall process follows a general pattern.

This diagram outlines the key steps involved in promoting a data model update to the production environment. The process begins with Requirements Gathering, where the next set of changes is identified. This includes discovering the necessary changes, analyzing them, and deciding when they are ready for development.

The Development phase comes next, where tasks are completed, and unit testing is conducted to determine the readiness of each item for testing.

Following that is the Test Promotion phase, which assesses whether the items are prepared for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Quality Assurance (QA).

The UAT/QA Promotion phase thoroughly tests the changes to ensure they are production ready. At this point, the development team and business create release notes to communicate the updates.

Finally, in the Production Deployment phase, the approved changes are deployed to the production environment. The team confirms the consistency of these changes with the UAT/QA database, performs smoke testing for a quick validation, releases the updates to production, and shares the release notes with the users.

Please reach out with any questions or comments, or learn more about how GeoData Modeler can have a positive impact on your organization.