SMS:Quick Tour - Conceptual Models
There are two main methods for building models in SMS, the direct approach and the conceptual modeling approach.
With the direct approach, the first step is to create nodes and then connect the nodes to form elements. The model parameters, source/sink data, and boundary conditions are assigned directly to the nodestrings, nodes, and elements of the mesh. Because the number of nodes and elements increases very quickly as the complexity of the project grows, this approach is only suited for very simple models.
The most efficient approach for building realistic, complex models is the conceptual model approach. With this approach, a conceptual model is created using GIS objects, including points, arcs, and polygons. The conceptual model is constructed independently of a mesh or grid. It is a high-level description of the site including geometric features such as channels and banks, the boundary of the domain to be modeled, flow rates and water surface elevations of boundary conditions, and material zones with material properties such as Manning's n value. Once the conceptual model is complete, a mesh or grid network is automatically constructed to fit the conceptual model, and the model data are converted from the conceptual model to the elements and nodes of the mesh network.
