Exporting a network as GIS data

Overview

The GIS export writes the heat network as a georeferenced dataset – pipes as lines, consumers as points, each with complete factual attributes (dimension, length, demand values) and optionally the results of the steady-state calculation. This allows the network to be reused and documented in QGIS, ArcGIS or municipal GIS systems.

Opening

Menu Export > Network GIS data … (only visible when the network perspective is active).

Network and format

Option	Default	Meaning
Select network	active network	With several networks in the project: the network to be exported.
Export format	–	GeoJSON (.geojson), Shapefile (.shp) or GeoPackage (.gpkg).

Note on Shapefile: A Shapefile can contain only one geometry type – therefore either pipes or consumers can be exported, not both at the same time (note in the dialog). GeoJSON and GeoPackage support both in a single file. For Shapefiles, short attribute names are also used because of the field-name limitation (e.g. mflow_kgs instead of calculated_mass_flow_kgs).

Coordinate system

Option	Default	Meaning
Geographic coordinates (WGS84 latitude/longitude)	selected	Standard format for GeoJSON (latitude/longitude based).
Projected coordinates (UTM)	–	Export in the UTM zone of the project – common for Shapefile/GeoPackage in the German planning context. For GeoJSON, the dialog shows a warning, since UTM does not correspond to the standard there.
Export elevation coordinate	enabled	Writes 3D geometries (with z coordinate). Disabled: pure 2D geometries.

Data selection

Option	Default	Meaning
Export pipes	enabled	Routes as line features.
Export consumers	enabled	Consumers as point features.
Operating point	–	Only active if results of the steady-state calculation are available: appends the result values of the selected operating point as attributes.

Exported attributes

Pipes (lines)

Attribute	Unit	Meaning
id, name	–	ID and name of the route
da, s, di	mm	Outer diameter, wall thickness, inner diameter
DN	–	Nominal diameter
length	m	Route length

With calculation results (selected operating point), additionally among others:

Attribute	Unit	Meaning
mflow_kgs / vflow_m3h	kg/s or m³/h	Mass flux / volume flow
v_ms	m/s	Flow velocity
dp_mbar	mbar	Pressure loss of the route
dpL_Pam, dpspec_Pam	Pa/m	Pressure loss per meter
Qloss_kW, Qloss_W, qloss_Wm	kW, W, W/m	Heat loss (absolute and per meter)
Tin_C, Tout_C	°C	Inlet and outlet temperature
pin_bar, pout_bar (…ab, …ov)	bar	Pressures at inlet/outlet (also absolute and as gauge pressure)
dpfiti_Pa, dpfito_Pa	Pa	Pressure loss of the fittings at inlet/outlet

Consumers (points)

Attribute	Unit	Meaning
id, Name	–	ID and name of the consumer
power_kW	kW	Connection load
area_m2	m²	Heated area
Pheat_kW / Eheat_MWh	kW / MWh	Maximum heating power / annual heating demand
Pcool_kW / Ecool_MWh	kW / MWh	Cooling power / cooling demand (if present)
Edhw_MWh	MWh	Domestic hot water demand (if present)

With calculation results, additionally among others mass and volume flow, pressure loss, heat loss, inlet/outlet temperature, temperature difference (dT_K), pressures as well as, for heat-pump consumers, condenser power (Qcond_W) and COP.

Typical workflow

1. Perform the steady-state calculation for the relevant operating points.
2. Open Export > Network GIS data …, choose the network and format.
3. Set the coordinate system to match the target system (GIS systems in Germany mostly UTM, web maps WGS84).
4. Choose the operating point for the result attributes and export.

Related topics

• Importing a network from GIS data
• Exporting a network as DXF