This is a new feature that has been rolled out to a limited number of customers initially. In the future this will be rolled out to all customers.
Standard structures is a concept of grouping of assemblies, stays and aerial stays to create a complete structure model that can be used repeatedly within a model.
To access the Standard click Library -> Standard Structures
How to Create a Standard Structure Through the Library
To create a new standard structure, in the library click + New Standard Structure in the top left corner.
General Properties
The general properties of the Standard Structure are as follows:
Structure Key is the name of the structure in the library (this is editable), Structure Usage shows the number of assemblies used by the standard structure and how many conductors each assembly has, Max Voltage and Min Voltage are read only values that are derived from the voltage limits set in the assemblies.
Poles
The Poles section allows poles to be added and removed from the Standard Structure and their properties to be edited. Note the origin of the Standard Structure is defined as 0,0 and hence if multiple poles are added the transverse offset of the first pole will probably need to be updated to ensure the poles are in the correct place relative to the origin.
Below is an explanation of all the fields in the poles section.
Ref | Description |
1 | To add another pole to the Standard Structure click the plus button. Note all Standard Structures have a minimum of 1 pole. |
2 | The Fixed Pole Tip Offsets check box will mark a multipole as inconsistent if the pole tips do not retain the offsets in the library. This feature is intended to be used to keep a cross arm level for a h-frame structure. |
3 | Each pole within a Standard Structure can have a label which will populate the Label / Asset Number when the Standard Structure is placed. |
4 | The Pole Type can be used to either specify a specific pole type or can be set to
If a pole type has already been selected from the library then to return to  |
5 & 6 | The Use Custom Sinking Depth check box allows a different Sinking Depth to be used than what is specified in the pole library for the selected Pole Type. If Use Custom Sinking Depth is not checked then it will either show |
7 & 8 | The Transverse Offset and Longitudinal Offset sets where the pole is relative to the origin (which is at 0,0). |
9 | The |
Assemblies
The Assemblies section allows assemblies to be added and removed from the Standard Structure and their properties to be edited.
Ref | Description |
1 | To add assemblies to the Standard Structure click the plus button to the right of the Assemblies section heading. |
2 | This will open the assembly type picker |
3 | The pole that the assembly is attached to. Note if it is a multipole assembly it will say "N/A - Multipole Assembly" |
4 | Distance below the top of the pole for the assembly |
5 | This will mirror the assembly in the longitudinal direction |
6 | This will mirror the assembly in the transverse direction |
7 | Any additional rotation angle for this assembly. This rotation angle will populate the rotation field in the assembly be found in the Attach Points. Note for assemblies across multiple poles such as a h-frame this angle will not rotate the assembly. |
8 | For a standard structure in the model if the
Note this setting can be modified on any structure within the model in the Attach Points section (in the General properties) and selecting the Orientation Mode.
This setting can be useful if there is a line deviation of an existing line and the cross arm cannot rotate to the bisector. Generally for new lines the setting should be set to |
9 | This allows a default conductor type to be selected. This will pre populate when using the stringing tool |
10 | This allows a default cable bundle arrangement to be selected which will pre populate when using the stringing tool |
11 & 12 | If Custom Default Hor. Cbl % is not checked then the field Default Horz. Cbl % is read only with the value coming from the default stringing tension in the project settings. If Custom Default Hor. Cbl % is checked then the field Default Horz. Cbl % can have a value entered into it. The value in Default Horz. Cbl % will pre populate the stringing tool. |
13 | This is the default voltage of the strain sections created by this. It will pre populate the stringing tool and can be edited there. |
14 | This allows a prefix to the section label. This can be useful to fill in as it can allow sections to be found easily in reports and bulk edited if necessary. |
Ground Stays and Aerial Stays
The Ground Stays and Aerial Stays section allows stays to be added and removed from the Standard Structure and their properties to be edited.
Ground Stays
Ref | Description |
1 | To add Ground Stays or Aerial Stays to the Standard Structure click the plus button to the right of the Ground Stays or Aerial Stays section heading. |
2 | Select if the stay is a |
3 | The cable type of the stay. Note this cannot be modified during stringing but can be modified in the model after stringing. |
4 | The pole the stay connects to |
5 | The height from the tip of the pole the stay connects |
6 | Ground angle of the stay |
7 | The angle the stay is relative to the structure (0 degrees the stay points in the positive longitudinal direction, 90 degrees points in the positive transverse direction). |
8 | If unchecked the stay tension will be the default tension in the project settings. |
9 | Stay tension as force, this will be read only if the default tension in the project settings is used. |
10 | Stay tension as %UTS, this will be read only if the default tension in the project settings is used. |
11 | Remove stay |
Aerial Stay
Ref | Description |
1 | To add Ground Stays or Aerial Stays to the Standard Structure click the plus button to the right of the Ground Stays or Aerial Stays section heading. |
2 | Select if the stay is a |
3 | The cable type of the stay. Note this cannot be modified during stringing but can be modified in the model after stringing. |
4 | The first pole the aerial stay connects to |
5 | The height from the tip of the first pole the stay connects |
6 | The second pole the aerial stay connects to |
7 | The height from the tip of the second pole the stay connects |
8 | If unchecked the stay tension will be the default tension in the project settings. |
9 | Stay tension as force, this will be read only if the default tension in the project settings is used. |
10 | Stay tension as %UTS, this will be read only if the default tension in the project settings is used. |
11 | Remove stay |
Coordinate System
The coordinate system of a Standard Structure is such that the positive longitudinal direction is along the line and the positive transverse direction is to the left (to match the longitudinal being the X axis and the transverse being the Y axis). The angles for the ground stays are also shown on the diagram.
How to String With Standard Structures
To string using Standard Structures select the new stringing tool icon.
From here there are two options either Standard Stringing or Long Stringing.
Standard Stringing
Standard stringing is adding a single type of standard structure one at a time. It can be used to string a new line, extend an existing line or add a standard structure mid span in an existing line (both inline and stain structures can be inserted mid span). The Standard Stringing is what might be used in urban areas where structures typically follow roads.
The UI for the Standard Stringing is explained below. When placing structures click where the origin of the structure should be placed. To finish stringing right click or ESC on the keyboard. If a compatible standard structure is selected then stringing can commence from an existing standard structure. Likewise if a compatible standard structure is selected hover over the conductors to insert that standard structure mid span.
Ref | Description |
1 | Select either Standard Stringing or Long Stringing |
2 | Standard Structure Type, this will open the library picker |
3 | Each time a Standard Structure is placed the structure number is populated and is incremented by 1. This allows the user to start at any number and it will continue numbering from this point. |
4 | The label of the assembly |
5 | The Conductor Type for the assembly. Note if this is set to |
6 | Cable Bundle Arrangement Type eg twin, quad. Note these need to be set up in the cable arrangements library before they can be used. |
7 | Horizontal Tension |
8 | Voltage |
9 | Prefix for the section label |
10 | This is where the pole types are selected. If the pole type in the standard structures library is set to |
11 | Material status that will be applied to all parts of the structure during stringing. |
Long Stringing
Long stringing allows a termination, inline and strain structure type to be selected and a max stringing interval. The user only needs to click at the start and then any angle points on the line and the end point and all structures are automatically added between them. Note that the strain structure type can contain an inline structure (such as a fly off structure). The purpose of this tool is to quickly string a new line. Note that alignments types will be set for the structures such that the termination and strain structures are control and inline structures are inline. Hence after stringing the termination and strain structures can be moved and all other inline structures between them will automatically be moved as well. See the above section on Standard Stringer for explanation of the different fields.
How to make a Standard Structure from a Existing Model
There will cases where the user wants to convert and existing model into a Standard Structure. To do this click on the existing structure and then click the three dots to the right and then Make standard structure. This will then be added to the library.
How to Change A Standard Structure Model
If there is an existing structure in the model it can be replaced with a Standard Structure. Simply click the (none) button and select a standard structure from the library using the picker. Note that flexibility has been built into this feature so it is possible to use standard structures that are not compatible (eg different number of assemblies). Using an incompatible Standard Structure could lead to conductors being dropped or other unintended outcomes.
How to Remove a Standard Structure
The associated Standard Structure can be removed from a structure by clicking the three dots and Unlink standard structure. Note removing it might impact on the orientation of the structure.
Inconsistency
Once a standard structure is placed it can be modified as any existing structure can be. However by modifying the structure a warning will come up to mark the standard structure as inconsistent.
To reset to template click the three dots and then Fix inconsistencies.
From here all the inconsistencies are listed (in this example two assemblies have different heights from the library). Inconsistencies can be fixed one at a time with the Fix button or they can all be fixed with the Reset to template button. Note some inconsistencies cannot be fixed without manual intervention such as if conductors have been removed.
Reports
Standard Structure can be updated through the poles report using the field Standard Structure Type and Standard Structure Status. These fields might need to be manually added to the poles report.
When bulk editing the Standard Structure Type the button Compatible Only will only change standard structures that are compatible (have the same number of assemblies in the library). The button All Structure will attempt to change the standard structures even if they are not compatible so this button should be used with caution.
The Standard Structure Status field also allows for bulk edition to reset any inconsistent structures back to their respective templates.