Automating the removal of redundant vertices on Arcs (Utility Network errors)

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m having an issue with redundant vertices on curved segments (Arcs). I have vertices where two pipes overlap or meet along an arc. I’ve already used the "Feature Vertices to Point" tool to locate these overlaps, but now I need an automated way to remove the one of the vertices which is on vertices on the straight line that are being detected as errors in the Utility Network.

Since these are part of an arc, I need to be very careful not to distort the actual curvature of the pipe. I am looking for a method to Identify and delete collinear vertices (points that sit on a perfectly straight line between two other points).

Is there a method to:

* Automatically delete vertices that are sitting on a straight line (collinear) within an arc?

* Clean up these overlapping points without manually editing every single one?

I’d appreciate any advice on a workflow that handles this automatically!

Thanks!

RobertKrisher · Answer

A shared vertex between two lines at the location where the cross does not cause the two lines to become connected in a utility network. They will only become connected if the endpoint of one line terminates on another line, or if there is a device/junction at the location where the two lines intersect.

The Migration Toolset does have the ability to identify and remove these junctions the mid-mid intersections, but we do not recommend you do this because a) it can alter the appearance of lines and b) there is not a strong technical benefit to making this change.

JoaquinMadrid1 · Answer

Additionally, if you do want connectivity between those two lines at a shared vertex, you would need to place a Junction (or a Device, depending on your use case) at that location, and provide the corresponding Junction-Edge Connectivity Association rule. (Be careful to avoid this rule to conflict with any other Edge-Junction-Edge rule you may have.)

JoaquinMadrid1 · Answer

I would first, using afile geodatabase copy of your UN, check whether those”crossings” actually create errors. (Enable Network Topology and examine the errors.)

If you are concerned about accidentally ending up with those lines UN-connected, my understanding (and experience) is that linear features may cross, even sharing a vertex at the crossing, without implying connectivity. 
Good luck.