Preparing input data for Power Design

A high-fidelity design needs high-fidelity input data. In Power Design, this is where much of your work happens. This article walks through the Input data step and links to the detailed article for each part.

What your project needs

Layer	Required?	How you usually get it	More information
Addresses	Yes	Area Select, Upload, or Draw	Addresses
Parcels	Yes	Area Select, Upload, or Draw	Parcels
Streets	Yes	Area Select, Upload, or Draw	Streets
Poles	Optional	Upload or Draw	Aerial spans and poles
Underground path and points	Yes	Data preparation	Underground path and points
Leadins	Yes	Data preparation	Leadins
Sources	Yes	Upload or Draw	Sources (central offices)

Import addresses, parcels and streets

If you are working on a project in North America, the easiest way is often to use Area Select to import all three datasets for your area at once. See Import data with Area Select.

If you are working elsewhere in the world or have your own data that you know to be accurate, you can choose to import these datasets instead. Contact our support team if you have a data source that you are unsure how to convert to FOND's input data requirements.

If you are working in an area where these datasets are difficult to find or simply don't exist - such as a new subdivision - you may choose to draw them on the map instead.

Optionally import poles

If your network has poles, add them either by: Uploading your own data, or drawing the features on the map.

Import sources

Source hubs are where power enters the network. Draw or upload them. They snap to underground points and poles. They also need to be located on a point that does not have a leadin connected to it.

You'll also have the option to do this later, in the Design step.

Clean up your base data

Generated layers are only as good as the data they’re built from, so fix these first:

Addresses: add missing addresses, remove addresses that aren't real service locations, and move any that aren’t on their building.
Parcels: run Review problematic parcels to remove street parcels, then fix lot lines where needed.
Streets: add any missing roads. FOND only generates underground path along roads that have a centerline.

Add reference data (optional)

Under Reference data, add overlays such as existing utilities or no-build zones, to guide your decisions in the next steps. Or, upload an image and overlay it on the map, to help giude your review of addresses, parcels, and streets.

Run data preparation

If your network needs to run along parking aisles, driveways or alleys, turn on Include Service Roads.
Under Choose what to generate, select Underground path and points, Leadins, or both.
Click Run data preparation.

FOND generates your underground path and points, and a leadin to each address.

Review and refine the candidate network

Refine › Modify data opens the drawing tools for underground path and points, poles, leadins and addresses together. See Drawing tools.

Check that:

Path follows the right of way
There are enough crossings in constructible places
Every address has a sensible leadin
Nothing is shown in red

Continue to Design

When every required layer is complete, you’ll see Your design is ready to be generated. Click Continue.