Utility network engineering and design rules in three-dimensional models of utility networks

A computer-readable medium containing a program which when executed by a processor, performs operations for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a utility network using two or more network parts, including the steps of:

• providing a catalog of network parts that may be used to construct the utility network, wherein each network part in the catalog is a 3D graphics object that includes network part data reflecting attributes of a corresponding part in a real-world utility network;
• associating a network part from the catalog with a design rule, wherein the design rule provides at least one user-selectable parameter regarding the use of the network part in the 3D model;
• placing an instance of the network part in the 3D model at a user-selected location;
• and
• applying the design rule to the network part.

A computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory configured to store an application that includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for constructing a computer generated three dimensional model (3D model) of a real-world utility network, comprising:
• providing a catalog of network parts that may be used to construct the utility network, wherein each network part in the catalog is a 3D graphics object that includes network part data reflecting attributes of a corresponding part in a real-world utility network;
• associating a network part from the catalog with a design rule, wherein the design rule provides at least one user-selectable parameter regarding the use of the network part in the 3D model;
• placing an instance of the network part in the 3D model at a user-selected location;
• and
• applying the design rule to the network part.