Edit a utility network

A utility network is a map of interconnected physical assets, such as valves or circuits, and a commodity that flows through them, such as water, natural gas, or electricity. It uses network topology, connectivity rules, and association rules to maintain data integrity.

You can edit utility feature layers in a file geodatabase or as a feature service published with ArcGIS Enterprise. To edit network layers with a feature service, you make your changes in a named branch version that is later reconciled and applied to the Default version.

When you edit a utility network, consider the following:

• Editing tools that are network-aware include additional functionality that apply the rules and associations defined for the network.
• You can use the Attributes pane to select network features and view or edit associations and nonspatial objects.
• Creating or modifying network features, associations, or network attributes creates inconsistencies among network features, the network topology, and network diagrams. These areas are flagged as dirty areas until you validate the network topology.

This topic is a quick-start workflow that introduces you to the basic steps of editing a utility network. For detailed information about utility networks or steps for a specific workflow or tool, search the help using a keyword or phrase.

Add a utility network feature layer to a map

There are several ways to access a utility network feature layer and add it to an active map. If you have access to an existing map containing a utility network feature layer, open the project.

To add a utility network feature layer from an active portal connection, complete the following steps:

1. Start ArcGIS Pro and sign in if necessary.
2. On the start page, open a project, or create one from a project template.

   Note:

   To open a project from an active portal connection, click Open another project .

   Online project packages are downloaded and unpacked in the <User Documents>\ArcGIS\Packages folder before they are opened. You can change this path on the Project Options dialog box on the Share and Download tab.

3. On the ribbon, click the View tab. In the Windows group, click Catalog Pane .

   The Catalog pane appears.

4. In the Catalog pane, click the Portal tab and click the portal content tab containing the network feature layers you are editing, for example, ArcGIS Online .
5. Right-click the utility network feature layer, click Add To New and click Map .

   

   The utility network feature layer, for example, ClassicNapervilleElectric_Postgres_1, is added to a new map in the current project.

Create a branch version

Editing network features in a branch version isolates your edits until you're ready to reconcile and post your changes to the Default version.

Specify a name, an optional description, and the level of access you want to grant other editors. As the owner of the version, you can change these properties or delete the version at any time.

1. On the ribbon, click the View tab. In the Windows group, click Contents .

   The Contents pane appears.

2. In the Contents pane, click the List by Data Source tab , and click the feature service, for example, SDE.DEFAULT (ClassicNapervilleElectric_Postgres_1).

   

   The Versioning tab appears on the ribbon.

3. On the ribbon, click the Versioning tab. In the Versioning group, click New Version .

   The New Version dialog box appears.

4. On the New Version dialog box, click the Name text box and enter a name for the version you are creating.

   To further document the version, click the Description text box and enter a brief statement that explains the purpose of the new version.

   

5. In the Access Permission section, click one of the following:

   Private	Allow only the owner or the geodatabase administrator to view or modify the version.
   Protected	Allow anyone to view the version, but only the owner or the geodatabase administrator can edit the version.
   Public	Allow anyone to view or edit the version with read-write (update, insert, and delete) permissions.

6. Check the Change to this new version check box.
7. Click OK.

Locate the area

If you're editing a large dataset, you can use a locator to zoom to the address or street where you need to create or modify features. You don't need a specific locator to find x,y locations. Locators are automatically added to your project from your portal connection.

1. On the ribbon, click the Map tab. In the Inquiry group, click Locate .
2. In the Locate pane, type the address or street intersection, for example, W Bauer Rd & N Eagle St, and press Enter.

   A list of address candidates appears in the pane.

   

3. Double-click the address candidate.

   Alternatively, right-click and click Zoom To or Pan To .

   The map zooms or pans to the address or street name.

Create a network feature

When you create network features, they automatically conform to the rules and associations defined for the network. Group and preset templates also generate the defined network associations between the features they create.

1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Snapping group, click Snapping , enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.

   Snap settings automatically change to conform to junction and edge connectivity rules. You can turn snapping off, but you cannot change the layers to which they are snapping.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .

   The Create Features pane appears.

3. In the Create Features pane, click a feature template that creates network features.

   To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case-sensitive.

   

4. Create the network features.
5. To finish a feature, click Finish or press the F2 key.

   A dirty topology area is created around the new feature.

Validate the network topology

After editing a utility network, validate the network. This updates the network topology to include your changes and clears the dirty areas that are flagging your edits.

Note:

These steps do not represent a thorough validation workflow that typically comprise several quality assurance processes for verifying conflicts, performing an upstream trace, reconciling your version, and so on.

1. In the Contents pane, click the List by Drawing Order tab and click the utility network feature layer you edited.

   To view network feature layer properties such as rules and associations, right-click the layer and click Properties .

   

2. On the ribbon, click the Utility Network tab. In the Network Topology group, click the Validate drop-down arrow, and click Current Extent .

   

   The network topology is validated and the dirty areas are cleared.

3. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Manage Edits group, click Save .

Trace the network

After editing and validating a utility network, you can trace a network to analyze the paths that are defined by connected or associated features. The result is a selection set that you can propagate to other map views or network diagram views.

Generate a network diagram

Network diagrams are simplified schematic views of selected network features. They use the utility network and trace network as part of an integrated workflow for creating multilevel representations, checking network connectivity, and obtaining logical views of a network.