Modeling & Simulation

The Modeling & Simulation tab is used to configure model settings, define requested outputs, prepare control and sensor data, build the network model and start simulations in IDA Districts.

Use this tab after the project data has been imported and preprocessed. At this stage, the spatial model should already contain the required network topology, customers, energy plants, lines, connections, pipe definitions, climate data and other project resources.

Settings

The Settings section contains general configuration options for the model and for the outputs that should be generated during or after simulation.

General modeling settings

Use this function to configure global modelling assumptions. These settings affect how the Districts model is generated and how network components are represented in the simulation model.

Typical use cases include:

• defining pipe discretization settings,
• configuring ambient boundary assumptions,
• preparing global model settings before the simulation model is built.

Requested outputs

Use this function to define which results should be available after simulation. Requested outputs can be configured for customers, energy plants, pipes and key performance indicators.

Select only the outputs that are needed for analysis, reporting or result visualization. This helps keep the result dataset focused and easier to evaluate.

Modeling

The Modeling section contains tools for preparing model logic and model parameters before the network model is built or simulated.

Sensors

Use this function to define sensor signals that should be available in the model. Sensors can represent values such as temperature, mass flow, pressure, load values from connections or custom signals.

Sensor definitions are useful when values from the model need to be observed, used in control logic or made available for analysis.

Supervisory control

Use this function to define high-level control logic for the overall system. Supervisory control can use information from model features, such as customers or energy plants, to support plant operation, merit order strategies, or load shifting.

Use this tool when the simulation should include system-level control decisions rather than only static component behaviour.

Parameter mapping

Use this function to map feature attributes to model parameters and save customer model calibration results back to feature attributes.

Three mapping directions are available:

• -->: Set model parameters from feature attributes.
• <--: Save calibration values to feature attributes.
• <-->: Apply both directions.

For mappings that write calibration values back, the Mapping Expression must specify an existing target field without additional mathematical operations.

Examples of parameter mapping

The Heating network template contains the following mappings:

These mappings set the heat exchanger’s rated capacity, the load model’s floor area and the valve’s Kvs value from customer attributes. :FEATURE references the corresponding customer template.

For calibration, mappings can also write parameter values back to attributes. For example:

• <-- saves the calibrated Kvs value to the customer attribute.
• <--> uses the attribute to set Kvs and allows the calibrated value to be saved back.

Note: These two calibration mappings are alternatives. Create the numeric field kvs_calibrated before using them and configure Kvs as a calibration parameter in the Parametric Run. For bidirectional mapping, populate the field with a valid initial value. Replace any existing mapping that sets the same parameter.

Climate version data

Use this function to assign climate data to the active project variant. Climate data is defined for each project variant

Borehole field mapping

Use this function to assign boreholes to an energy plant and define the field’s geometry, thermal properties and discretization settings for the GHX_MANY model.

Customer model calibration

Use this function to calibrate customer models against measurements or detailed simulation results using Parametric Runs in IDA Districts. Selected calibration values can be saved to customer attributes through Parameter mapping.

Simulation

The Simulation section contains tools for creating, opening and running IDA Districts models.

Build network model

Use this function to create the full network model from the active project data. This step converts the prepared GIS and database information into a model that can be used by IDA Districts.

Before building the network model, check that the active project version is correct and that topology, resources, templates, climate data, parameter mappings and requested outputs have been prepared.

Open network model

Use this function to open an existing network model. This is useful when a model has already been built and should be inspected or edited in IDA Districts.

Run network model

Use this function to start the simulation of the network model. The model should be built and checked before running the simulation.

Feature models

Use this function to create or run individual feature models for testing and evaluation. Feature models are useful for checking the behaviour of single customers, energy plants or other components before running the full district model.

Notes

Requested outputs should be selected before running the simulation. Missing output selections may make later result analysis or reporting less useful.