Now that we have set up our construction libraries and project settings we can begin the modelling of our existing network.


In our existing model, we have a few poles placed through our CSV import in tutorial 2.


Pole Tool


To place poles down:

  1. Select the pole tool
  2. Select pole type to be used
  3. Left-click to place pole down



In this particular model, I will select all the poles at once and use the bulk change feature to increase my productivity.


  1. Drag a selection box around all the poles you wish to change
  2. In the properties tab select "set type" underneath "pole type" and select the type that you wish to change your poles to



You can then select a pole/s and change its characteristics:

  1. Select the pole
  2. Make changes to characteristics within the following fields (these are found in the properties tab in the far right of the software when a pole has been selected)



When you have a pole selected you can also add a transformer/pole top substation by ticking the "plant box" and adding in your specification.


Conductor Tool

When you have the conductor tool selected you can either:

  • Click to place a pole and a conductor attached
  • Click on an existing pole to string a conductor to that pole


In this instance, since we have 5 existing poles already placed I will simply string them up.

  1. Select conductor tool
  2. In the properties tab on the far right select the conductor and construction you are going to use.
  3. Left-click on the existing poles you would like to string the conductor across (if you left click on an area that is not an existing pole it will place a new pole down)
  4. Right-click to end your selection


You can then select the conductor and edit its properties. Once you have selected a conductor it's properties will appear in the far-right pane. 


The first thing we would do is make sure the attachment heights of the constructions across the poles are correct:

  1. Select the conductor
  2. Click POLES in the Properties tab
  3. Enter in a top distance or height value for each attachment


If all the values are to be the same you can click the uppermost left box to select all checkboxes and change all height values at once.



After adjusting the attachment heights of the cross-arms we can now focus on the properties of the cable. Click on the cable and in the properties pane, navigate to General.

  1. Adjust the model properties as necessary
  2. Define the catenary definition (we will be using maximum tension)
  • Maximum Tension: The tension will be such that the maximum tension across all cables at all attachment points does not exceed this value
  • Horizontal Tension: The horizontal component of the tension will be set to this value. This is a constant along the entire cable, given the assumptions that tensions equalize.
  • The ratio of Sag to ruling span: The tension will be such that the conductor sag is equal to a percentage of the span length. This sag percentage will be maintained as the span length is modified. To give meaningful results when there are uneven spans, the span length used to define the sag is the ruling span
  • Separate constrains per cable: The cables are locked to a given length. A starting tension must also be specified so that the conductors may be considered to be strained at the locked length. The length may then extend slightly due to further strain under increased load.

As you change the catenary definition different fields are provided below to enter in values such as CBL%, Tension, Sag%, Constraint, Length.



For this example, we will be deriving the tension of the cable from the measured sag. To do this we will be placing a survey conductor point underneath a span on the circuit and snap the cable sag to it:

  1. Select the Survey tool
  2. Select Conductor as a survey point type
  3. Place the conductor survey point down underneath a span (for greater accuracy do this in the Profile view).
  4. Select the Select tool and select the feature point and define the X,Y,Z as necessary
  5. Select the snap tool and click the conductor that we will snap to the feature point and select Snap Cable Sag in the properties pane
  6. Now click on the feature point to snap the cable sag down


Now we have modelled our existing line. This includes the poles, conductors and particular characteristics.


We will now move onto modelling a new extension using stays, analytic tools and more.


Click here: https://app.neara.com/powerapp#designId:dyzPonsJoJ5o for a copy of the design.