3.2.1. Data entry

There are basically two ways:

  • Data entry by constructing or digitizing in the QGEP with the QGEP-wizard or QGIS-tools itself

  • Data entry in an external program or software and then importing the position and/or technical data into QGEP e.g.:

    • coordinates from manholes from measurement

    • position and/or technical data from another GIS or CAD system

    • using data from the surveyor (e.g. property boundaries) as a basis for defining catchment borders

    • other

Data entry in QGEP needs some understanding of the underlying data model VSA-DSS, but is supported with some great data collecting wizards and forms that link the different tables correctly together. Especially the linking of manholes and reaches to a complete sewer network is highly automated and can be controlled with the network following tool.

3.2.1.1. The QGEP wizard

The QGEP wizard helps digitizing manholes and reaches with just a few clicks.

To start with data entry select the QGEP button Wizard.

../../_images/button_data_entry_wizard_selected.jpg

On the left side bottom, QGEP Data Entry window appears:

../../_images/wizard_data_entry.jpg

Click Start Data entry to enter the edit mode.

Choose Wastewater Structure or Reach. Start adding new feature in vw_qgep_wastewater_structure or vw_qgep_reach.

There is no need to select the correct layer in the layers-window, you do not need to toggle editing or to choose the add feature tool.

When adding new wastewater structures, the wizard has no additional functionality. To Reuse the last entered attribute values, it is necessary (and recommended) to enable this option in Settings ‣ Options ‣ Digitizing.

When adding new reaches, the wizard has some additional functionality:

  • Snapping on wastewater nodes and other reaches is on, even if QGIS Enable Snapping is off.

  • Snapping on nodes is always preferred to snapping on reaches.

  • When the new reach snaps, then the obj_id_links are automatically entered in the fk_fields of the reach points.

  • The Reuse the last entered attribute values - option of QGIS does not work. But the standard-fields on the general-tab (and only those fields) do reuse the last entered attribute value.

If you use another tool (e.g. the Identify Features tool) and then want to continue digitizing with the wizard, you can not select the wizard again. You have to click Stop Data Entry and then Start Data Entry and you can continue.

If you change from digitizing wastewater structures to digitizing reaches, it is recommended to stop and start data entry also. This saves the new manholes and enables the reaches to snap also on new digitized manholes.

Note

When digitizing, it is recommended to start with the point elements (wastewater structures such as manholes, special structures). Afterwards its easy to connect those points with line elements (channels with reaches).

It is possible to use the Advanced Digitizing tools together with the wizard.

3.2.1.2. QGIS standard tools

To digitize in other layers than vw_qep_wastewater_structure or vw_qgep_reach, you work with the standard QGIS tools:

  • Select the layer you want to edit

  • Toggle Editing if necessary

  • Enable snapping if necessary

  • Choose the add feature tool

It is also possible to use the standard QGIS tools with the two vw_qgep main layers. But there will be no automatic value in the fk-fields of the reach-points and no preferred snapping to wastewater nodes.