Key Capabilities

Eliminate the Spreadsheet

The traditional storm drain design workflow looks like this: export pipe data from Civil 3D, paste it into a spreadsheet, run your HGL calculations, then go back to Civil 3D to update pipe sizes and inverts. Every design iteration means another round trip.

HydraStorm replaces that entire loop. Your pipe network loads directly from the drawing. Calculations run instantly as you edit. Changes apply back to Civil 3D with one click. And if you still want a spreadsheet to verify results or submit with your drainage report, use Output ▾ > Export to Excel... for the full Storm Calcs workbook or Export to CSV for a quick grid dump. See Export for the export formats.

Pipe Sizes from the Parts List

When you change a pipe size in HydraStorm, the available sizes come directly from the Civil 3D parts list assigned to that network. If your parts list includes 18", 24", 30", and 36" RCP pipes, those are the only sizes available in the dropdown. This ensures that every pipe size you select in HydraStorm corresponds to a real part in Civil 3D that can be applied back to the drawing. When you change part families (e.g., switching from RCP to HDPE), the available sizes update automatically.

Smart Memory

HydraStorm learns from your choices to speed up future projects. When you assign a junction loss type to a Civil 3D part (for example, setting a "45 Degree Bend" structure to a specific energy loss equation), HydraStorm remembers that association. The next time you load a project using the same loss library and encounter the same part description, the loss type is suggested automatically. This same learning applies to inlet type assignments — matching Civil 3D structure descriptions to the appropriate inlet capacity method. Memory is scoped per library, so switching between HEC-22 and iSWM projects won't cause cross-contamination.

Design Standards & Criteria

Each junction loss library can carry optional design criteria — municipality-specific design parameters such as storm return periods, velocity limits, pipe cover, minimum diameter, and HGL cover requirements. When you apply a design standard that includes criteria, HydraStorm prompts you with a checklist showing which settings differ from your current project. Accept or decline each recommendation individually to quickly configure your project for a specific jurisdiction's requirements.

Compliance Checking

After each calculation, HydraStorm evaluates every pipe against your design criteria and reports a pass/fail summary. The compliance column in the results grid shows a score like "4/6" (4 of 6 checks passed). Hover over the cell for details on each individual check. If a failure is intentional (e.g., an existing pipe you can't resize), you can acknowledge it. Acknowledged failures turn the indicator yellow instead of red, distinguishing reviewed exceptions from unresolved issues.

Tables for Fast Data Entry

The Tables menu provides spreadsheet-style grids for bulk editing. Instead of clicking through pipes one at a time, open a table and edit Manning's n values, hydrology inputs, or junction loss assignments across your entire network at once.

• Pipe Table — bulk edit Manning's n values
• Hydrology Table — enter peak flows or configure rational method parameters
• Structures Table — assign loss types and Kj overrides

Live Profile View

The interactive profile canvas shows your pipe network in profile with optional overlays:

• HGL (Hydraulic Grade Line) — see where the water surface sits relative to pipe crowns
• EGL (Energy Grade Line) — visualize energy losses through the system
• Ground — ground surface profile for cover verification
• Crossings — detect and display pipe crossing conflicts with clearance violations

As you edit pipe geometry, the profile and calculations update in real time so you can see the impact of your changes immediately. The profile also displays the check storm HGL when multi-storm analysis is enabled, with configurable colors and line styles for each overlay.

Typical Workflow

1. Type HYDRASTORM at the Civil 3D command line to open the plugin
2. Select your pipe network from the dropdown
3. Open Settings to configure hydrology mode and storm events
4. Set alignment design types — mark each alignment as Storm Drain, Culvert, or None
5. Enter flows via the Hydrology Table (or link to HydraLink / parcels)
6. Choose a design standard and assign junction loss types via the Structures Table
7. Configure inlet types if the inlet module is enabled
8. Click Calculate (or press F5) to run the analysis
9. Review results in the profile view, results grid, and compliance summary
10. Edit pipe geometry as needed — the profile updates live
11. Optionally run Auto Design for an initial pipe sizing
12. Click Apply to write changes back to the drawing
13. Use the Output menu to create HGL Profiles and apply Label styles for plan production
14. Export results for verification or submittal

Target Audience

Support

Need help building a custom loss library or inlet library? Have a feature request or found a bug? Reach us at support@bezaleldesignlab.com.