Configurations allow us to "wire up the brain" of Optioneer so it gives the appropriate weighting to constraints and calculates all the relevant metrics.

Creating a Basic Configuration

The details of configurations are covered in advanced training. If you do not know which one to pick carry out the following steps to create a basic configuration.

  1. Go into the parameters page (this may send a warning message to you that you will lose the line you have selected for analysis, select 'ok'.)

  2. Click on the '+' icon. Name the configuration 'Evaluation_[your initals]'. Of course, you can pick any name that suits but as the best practice, you should ensure that the name describes the purpose of the configuration you're making.

  3. Click on your new configuration. At the top, you will see a List of Required Datasets. Click on each one in turn and selected the correct dataset. You may not have all of them to ensure the following are linked to datasets. The definition of your datasets may differ.

    1. Constraints: A dataset containing physical constraints that are usually man-made. For example, buildings, monuments and wind turbines.

    2. Environment: Data layers which describe the environment. Generally, this dataset includes natural physical constraints, geology and zones with designations.

    3. Linear Features: Data that represents linear infrastructure such as roads, utilities and networks.

  4. Below the List of Required Datasets you will find a list of Design Rules. Design Rules are units of logic that allow Optioneer to implement certain behaviours or carry out calculations. These are discussed more in advanced training, but for now, toggle on the following design rules. Tip: you can use the search bar to find these.

    1. Routeing Constraints - calculate penalty score

    2. Environmental Constraints - calculate penalty score

    3. Linear Feature Crossing

    4. Constraint features within catchment area of route

    5. Environmental constraint features within catchment area of route

    6. Linear features within catchment area of route

    7. Distance to nearest constraint feature

    8. Distance to nearest environmental constraint feature

    9. Distance to nearest linear feature

  5. Then click 'update configuration' and then 'save configuration'.

  6. You can now carry out initiating evaluation mode.

This configuration will return the:

  1. Presence of constraints on the centreline

    1. Check if constraint present

    2. Total distance through the constraint of a given type

  2. Presence of constraints in the proximity of the route

    1. Distance to the nearest constraint feature

    2. Number of features within a specified distance

  3. Crossings of roads and utilities

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