• InfoDrainage
  • Civil 3D

InfoDrainage

InfoDrainage is a full design and analysis solution for stormwater drainage systems and hydrology simulations.


Course overview

InfoDrainage is an advanced full design and analysis solution used to design and audit drainage systems. It delivers speedy, sustainable, cost-effective, and compliant designs with tailored reports for compliance that accelerates the building information modeling (BIM) cycle.

InfoDrainage provides a true-to-site view where users can see the accurate extent of a pond, how the under-drain connects swales, and the exact lengths of pipes. The technology includes built-in detailed hydraulic analysis for pipes, manholes, storage, and green infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding downstream.

It also offers templates that make designing drainage systems easy, and validation tools that provide solutions to potential problems.

InfoDrainage easily integrates with Civil 3D, allowing for round-trip interoperability to update pipe networks and surfaces. Its 3D view allows users to display objects in 3D with real-time animations. It is recommended that users dedicate a video card with at least 1 GB of VRAM to support this. 

After completing this course, you'll be able to:

  • Prepare surface models for drainage design.
  • Add and connect drainage system objects to the model, developing a flow path.
  • Design pipe systems to meet maximum rainfall intensities and stormwater controls to prevent overflow.
  • Design for sustainable drainage systems and exceedance.

Course downloads

These downloadable resources will be used to complete modules in this course:

Course outline

20 min.

Getting Started

Learn how to use the InfoDrainage interface and how to import surface and background data.

Getting started using InfoDrainage, navigating the interface, importing surface and background data, navigating the model, configuring the display settings, importing CAD data, and trimming a surface.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Describe the functionalities of Innovyze InfoDrainage and navigate the interface.
  • Import an InfoDrainage file, which contains background surface model data, and then trim it and regionalize it.
  • Navigate and configure the display settings for an imported surface model.


1 hr. 20 min.

Model Build

Build an InfoDrainage model using Inflows, Junctions, Stormwater Controls, and Connections.

Begin building your drainage system by adding drainage system objects to the model, connecting them, then creating catchment areas. Accurately calculating the Percentage Impervious Value is key for creating catchment areas and runoff.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Add predefined drainage system objects to a model and connect them.
  • Create catchment areas and calculate the percentage impervious values for runoff.
  • Work with object properties, annotation, tables, flow paths, and profile views.


45 min.

InfoDrainage Pipe Design

Design pipes accurately for both no-surcharge and no-flood criteria.

For drainage designs to be valid, they generally have to comply with local regulations. In the UK, for example, they must meet two criteria: no-surcharge and no-flood. Pipes have to be sized and graded adequately, so that they do not exceed capacity.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the rainfall theory appropriate for your storm water drainage project and create rainfall data.
  • Design and size pipes for both a no-surcharge and no-flood criteria, complying with UK standards.
  • Run the analysis on the pipe design and read the results in the Connections Summary Report.


30 min.

InfoDrainage Data Import

Import data from many sources into a drainage model.

Data can be imported into InfoDrainage from several different sources and in different orders, allowing you to customize the process of building a drainage model. 

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Import CSV data, GIS files, and files from Innovyze MicroDrainage.


15 min.

InfoDrainage Limitation of Discharge

Limit the amount of discharge from a drainage system.

Design a drainage system that meets requirements that limit the discharge from the new design, into whichever receiving water course it discharges into, such as rivers, streams, or another pipe network. 

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Calculate the amount of water runoff in pre-developed areas, and calculate how much water a drainage system will discharge once it is built.


1 hr.

InfoDrainage Pond Design

Design a pond for stormwater control.

Calculate how much runoff is produced by the impermeable surfaces in a model, then design a pond as a stormwater control device. 

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Calculate runoff amounts that help determine the size of stormwater objects
  • Design a pond stormwater object and connect it to the drainage network.
  • Plan for an emergency overflow, simulate the pond performance, and optimize the pond's design.


40 min.

SuDs Design

Incorporate sustainable drainage systems – or SuDS – into a water drainage model.

Incorporate sustainable drainage systems – or SuDS – into a water drainage model. When properly designed and placed, SuDS can reduce flooding and improve water quality by reducing both flow rates and the amount of pollution carried to downstream watercourses.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Import sustainable drainage (SuDS) features into a drainage system model.
  • Design and incorporate a SuDS known as a swale into a drainage system model.
  • Create and customize a SuDS known as a cellular storage structure into a drainage system model.


10 min.

Exporting Results From InfoDrainage

Export project results, including to CAD, GIS, text, LandXML, and MicroDrainage.

Once your project is finished, InfoDrainage offers a variety of options for exporting the results, including to CAD, GIS, text, LandXML, and MicroDrainage.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Export InfoDrainage project data to a variety of file formats.
  • Customize report results and then print.


20 min.

Flooding simulation

Simulating flooding situations to check the model for extreme conditions.

InfoDrainage uses a 1D simulation engine to calculate the flows in the pipes, manholes, and other structures below the ground in combination with a 2D simulation engine to predict flood flows across the catchment surface, enabling it to represent the overflow.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Summarize how the 1D - 2D Analysis uses the 1D simulation engine in combination with a 2D simulation engine to enable the program to represent flooding.
  • Route flood water across the catchment surface during rare flood conditions.


15 min.

InfoDrainage 3D Views

Navigate the model in the Plan View while 3D viewing mode is active.

Learn how to navigate the model in the Plan View while 3D viewing mode is active.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Navigate the model in the Plan View while 3D viewing mode is active.


20 min.

Pipe Design Additional Requirements

Pipe design to tie in with existing infrastructure.

Designing new drainage systems to join with an existing system, or designing a system around existing conditions that must be avoided.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Design a new pipe network so that its outfall is fixed where it meets an existing pipe network.
  • Adjust pipe inverts so that the new system avoids existing services in the same location.


46 min.

Interoperability between InfoDrainage and Civil 3D

Discover the InfoDrainage plug-in to Civil 3D, and learn the workflow that can take your stormwater pipe design from Civil 3D to InfoDrainage and back again.

The InfoDrainage for Civil 3D plug-in is designed to allow engineers to exchange information with InfoDrainage by importing and exporting drainage networks within Civil 3D. Ideally, the surface model is designed first in Civil 3D, then imported into InfoDrainage for the hydrology design. There, the system is tested and simulated to ensure it is efficient and effective based on local regulations. The design is then brought back into Civil 3D to finish the final model. The tutorials in this module focus on this ‘round trip’ process for pipes and manholes. Other aspects, such as flow controls and storage structures will be added at a later date.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Discover the requirements for the InfoDrainage plug-in for Civil 3D and the workflow for taking your stormwater designs from InfoDrainage to Civil 3D and back.
  • Configure the Civil 3D drawing template, set the coordinate system, parts list, and structure data, then export the design for refinement in InfoDrainage.
  • Complete the hydraulic design in InfoDrainage, then export it back into Civil 3D to finish the design.