Piping design support system, piping design support method, and program

Abstract

To save an input of the information of a piping structure which is necessary for a calculation related to piping design.SOLUTION: A piping design support system is constituted by comprising: a piping member information storage part for storing piping member information being information related to a piping member including the member specification information of the piping member, and a member type; a leg part joint specification part for specifying the piping member whose member type is that of a leg part joint out of the piping member in a drawing on the basis of the member specification information and the piping member information which are imparted to each of the piping members in the drawing in which piping design in which the piping member is arranged is indicated in a three-dimensional space; and a pipe type specification part for retrieving a pipe which may be connected in a vertical upper direction with the piping member which is specified as the leg part joint by the leg part joint specification part as a base point, specifying the retrieved pipe as a vertical pipe, retrieving a pipe which may be connected in a horizontal direction with the piping member which is specified as the leg part joint by the leg part joint specification part as a base point, and specifying the retrieved pipe as a horizontal main pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a piping design support system, a piping design support method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A drainage load calculation support system is known in which a central device calculates drainage loads based on information about each specified item of piping input by a customer using a customer information device (see, for example, patent documents). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5940787 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, it is necessary to input information about the piping structure when calculating the wastewater load, etc. It is preferable to input such information about the piping structure as labor-saving as possible.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to reduce the labor required for inputting information on piping structures required for calculations related to piping design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems is a piping design support system that includes a piping component information storage unit that stores piping component information, which is information related to piping components, including component identification information and component types of the piping components; a leg joint identification unit that identifies piping components whose component type is a leg joint from among the piping components in a drawing that shows a piping design in which piping components are arranged in three-dimensional space, based on the component identification information assigned to each piping component and the piping component information; and a pipe type identification unit that searches for pipes that are connected vertically upward using the piping component identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, identifies the searched pipes as vertical pipes, and searches for pipes that are connected horizontally using the piping component identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a piping design support method including: a leg joint identification step of identifying piping members whose member type is a leg joint from among the piping members in the drawing, based on member identification information assigned to each piping member in a drawing showing a piping design in which piping members are arranged in three-dimensional space, and piping member information stored in a piping member information storage unit, the information relating to the piping member including the member identification information and the member type of the piping member; and a pipe type identification step of searching for pipes connected vertically upward using the piping member identified as a leg joint in the leg joint identification step as a base point, identifying the searched pipes as vertical pipes, and searching for pipes connected horizontally using the piping member identified as a leg joint in the leg joint identification step as a base point, and identifying the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer provided in a piping design support system to function as: a piping component information storage unit that stores piping component information, which is information related to piping components, including component identification information and component types of the piping components; a leg joint identification unit that identifies piping components whose component type is a leg joint from among the piping components in a drawing showing a piping design in which piping components are arranged in three-dimensional space, based on the component identification information assigned to each piping component and the piping component information; and a pipe type identification unit that searches for pipes that are connected vertically upward using the piping component identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, identifies the searched pipes as vertical pipes, and searches for pipes that are connected horizontally using the piping component identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the labor required to input information about piping structures required for calculations related to piping design. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a piping design support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a design support server according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a drainage piping structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a wastewater load calculation service screen in the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sanitary fixture allocation operation screen in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing examples of display modes in a three-dimensional viewer area in this embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the design support server in the present embodiment in relation to identifying a standpipe. [Figure 8]10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the design support server in the present embodiment in relation to identifying a horizontal main pipe. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the identification of a sub-horizontal main pipe in this embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the design support server in this embodiment in response to sanitary fixture connection processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a piping design support system according to this embodiment. The piping design support system according to this embodiment includes a client terminal 100 and a design support server 200. The client terminal 100 is a terminal used by a construction company or the like that receives the piping design support service provided by the design support server 200. The client terminal 100 may be, for example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal.

[0012] A design drawing application 101 (an example of an application for creating drawings) and a web browser 102 are installed on the client terminal 100. The blueprint application 101 is an application that creates a three-dimensional model (blueprint) of a building to be constructed using BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology. The blueprint created by the blueprint application 101 also includes a drainage piping structure. In the blueprint, each piping component that forms the piping structure is assigned a piping component identifier (GUID) that is unique within the blueprint. The file format of the drawing created by the design drawing application 101 may be, for example, IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). IFC is a file format common to various design drawing applications that create drawings of 3D models in accordance with BIM.

[0013] The web browser 102 is an application that has a function for accessing websites. In this embodiment, the web browser 102 logs in and accesses a piping design support website provided by the design support server 200. By the web browser 102 accessing the design support server 200, the user can receive the piping design support service provided by the design support server 200. In addition, the connection from the client terminal 100 to the design support server 200 may be performed by a dedicated application running on the client terminal 100, or by add-on software installed in the design drawing application 101 and running on the design drawing application 101.

[0014] The design support server 200 may be capable of providing piping design support services to a plurality of client terminals 100, each of which corresponds to a different construction company, etc. The client terminal 100 may be provided as a terminal on which the design drawing application 101 is installed and a terminal to which the web browser 102 is connected, each of which is a different device.

[0015] 2 shows an example of the configuration of a design support server 200. The design support server 200 in the figure includes a communication unit 201, a control unit 202, and a storage unit 203. The functions of the design support server 200 shown in the figure are realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in the design support server 200 as hardware executing a program. The communication unit 201 performs communication via a network.

[0016] The control unit 202 executes various controls in the design support server 200. The design support server 200 of this embodiment is capable of executing a drainage load calculation as piping design support. The drainage load calculation is a process of calculating a load flow rate in a drainage piping structure and deriving the type of piping material and the pipe diameter according to the calculated load flow rate. The control unit 202 includes a data acquisition unit 221, a sanitary fixture allocation unit 222, a leg joint identification unit 223, a system discrimination processing unit 224, a drainage load calculation unit 225, and a data provision unit 226 as functional units corresponding to drainage load calculation.

[0017] To receive the piping design support service, the user accesses the design support server 200 using the web browser 102 and then uploads the design drawing file of the design drawing application 101 to the design support server 200 using the web browser 102 . In the design support server 200, the data acquisition unit 221 acquires the uploaded design drawing file. The data acquisition unit 221 stores the uploaded design drawing file in the design drawing file storage unit 233.

[0018] The sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 executes a process of assigning a type to each sanitary fixture present in the drainage piping structure indicated by the design drawing file. A sanitary fixture is a fixture that has the function of washing something with water and draining it. Types of sanitary fixtures include, for example, toilets, bathtubs, washbasins, etc.

[0019] The leg joint identification unit 223 executes a process of identifying a leg joint from among the pipe members (components) that form the drainage piping structure indicated by the design drawing file. The leg joint is a joint that is bent at 90 degrees and connects the bottom of the vertical pipe and the horizontal pipe in the drainage piping structure.

[0020] The system determination processing unit 224 (an example of a pipe type specifying unit, a system setting unit, and a sanitary fixture connecting unit) executes system determination processing. The system determination processing unit 224 executes a pipe type identification process as the system determination process. The pipe type identification process is a process for identifying a vertical pipe and a horizontal main pipe in the drainage piping structure indicated by the design drawing file. Furthermore, the system determination processing unit 224 executes a system setting process as the system determination process. The system setting process is a process for setting a piping system (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "system") in a drainage piping structure shown by a design drawing file. In a drainage piping structure, a piping section including a vertical pipe extending upward from a leg joint as a base point and a sub-horizontal main pipe extending horizontally from the leg joint and the base point is treated as one system. Note that the above "horizontal direction" in this embodiment is a concept that also includes the inclination due to the "drainage gradient." As part of the system setting process, the system determination processing unit 224 classifies the drainage piping structure into system units and assigns a system number (an example of a piping system identifier) ​​to each classified system.

[0021] In addition, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not a sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of a pipe in the drainage piping structure shown in the design drawing file. Normally, a sanitary fixture is connected to each upstream end of a pipe in the drainage piping structure. However, in the drainage piping structure shown in the design drawing file, there are cases where a sanitary fixture is not connected to the upstream end of the drainage piping structure. For this reason, the system determination processing unit 224 is configured to determine whether or not a sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of the pipe.

[0022] When the system determination processing unit 224 determines that a sanitary fixture is not connected to the upstream end of a pipe, it executes a process of connecting the sanitary fixture to the upstream end of the pipe determined not to have a sanitary fixture connected. When a sanitary fixture is not connected to the upstream end of a pipe, for example, due to an incomplete drawing created by a user, a sanitary fixture may be located near the upstream end of the pipe but is not connected to the upstream end of the pipe. Such a sanitary fixture can be considered to be originally connected to the upstream end of a nearby pipe. Therefore, when a sanitary fixture is located near the upstream end of a pipe, the system determination processing unit 224 sets the sanitary fixture as being connected to the upstream end of the pipe.

[0023] The drainage load calculation unit 225 executes drainage load calculation. As the drainage load calculation, the drainage load calculation unit 225 calculates the load flow rate in the drainage piping based on the number of sanitary fixtures in the drainage piping structure and the arrangement of vertical pipes, horizontal main pipes, etc., and derives the type of pipe member and pipe diameter according to the calculated load flow rate.

[0024] The data providing unit 226 provides the client terminal 100 with system number information indicating the system number set for the drainage piping structure by the system discrimination processing unit 224, and various drainage load related information (drainage load calculation, estimate, component list, countermeasure proposal, etc.) based on the results derived by the drainage load calculation unit 225. Specifically, the data providing unit 226 may be configured to transmit data such as system number information and wastewater load-related information to the web browser 102 in response to a download request from the web browser 102 of the client terminal 100. The web browser 102 may locally store the transmitted data.

[0025] The storage unit 203 stores various types of information supported by the design support server 200. The storage unit 203 includes a piping component master storage unit 231, a sanitary fixture master storage unit 232, a design drawing file storage unit 233, a line number information storage unit 234, and a processing progress information storage unit 235.

[0026] The piping component master storage unit 231 (an example of a piping component information storage unit) stores piping component master data (an example of piping component information). The piping component master data is a database that stores predetermined information for each piping component, which is a part used in drainage piping. The piping components are components used in piping, and include tubular pipe components, joints, elbows, leg joints, etc. Information corresponding to one piping component in the piping component master may include, for example, information such as name, manufacturer, model number, type classification, specifications, etc. The specification information may include information regarding size such as length and pipe diameter (inner diameter, outer diameter).

[0027] The sanitary fixture master storage unit 232 stores the sanitary fixture master. The sanitary fixture master is a database that stores predetermined information for each sanitary fixture. The information corresponding to one sanitary fixture in the sanitary fixture master may include, for example, the name, manufacturer, model number, type classification, specifications, etc.

[0028] The design drawing file storage unit 233 stores the design drawing file uploaded from the client terminal 100.

[0029] The system number information storage unit 234 stores system number information. The system number information is information indicating a system number associated (set) with each piping system in the drainage piping structure.

[0030] The processing progress information storage unit 235 stores the processing progress information. The processing progress information is information obtained in response to the execution of the procedure for calculating the wastewater load.

[0031] The design support server 200 of this embodiment configured as described above can provide a drainage load calculation service as a piping design support service. The drainage load calculation service is a service that performs a drainage load calculation for a drainage piping structure designed by a user using the design drawing application 101, and provides the user with information based on the drainage load calculation results.

[0032] Figure 3 shows an example of a drainage piping structure corresponding to one system. This figure is a two-dimensional side view of the drainage piping structure. A leg joint LPJ is provided at the lowest part of the drainage piping structure in the same figure. A pipe (standpipe) extends vertically upward from the leg joint LPJ. The standpipe is formed by connecting standpipes DPv, joints that connect the standpipes DPv to each other, and collecting pipe joints CPJ that are provided for each floor in the vertical direction above the leg joint LPJ. In addition, a vent pipe VP is provided at the upper end of the pipe.

[0033] The collecting pipe joint CPJ is a joint that merges the wastewater from the sanitary fixtures on the corresponding floor into the vertical pipe. The connecting part on the merging side of the collecting pipe joint CPJ is connected to the horizontal branch pipe section BPh. The horizontal branch pipe section BPh is further connected to a horizontal branch pipe BPv corresponding to each sanitary fixture SN installed on the corresponding floor, and the sanitary fixture SN is connected to the upstream end of the horizontal branch pipe BPv.

[0034] The sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S is connected horizontally to the leg joint LPJ. The figure shows two sub-horizontal main pipes DPh-S connected by a socket SK. The sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S is the horizontal main section up to the tee CHu where it joins with the sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S1 of another system, and the horizontal main section downstream of the tee CHu is the main horizontal main pipe DPh-M.

[0035] As can be seen from Figure 3, one system in the drainage piping structure is formed by a piping structure portion extending upward from one leg joint LPJ as a base point and a sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S extending horizontally from the same leg joint LPJ as a base point. In other words, each system in the drainage piping structure is formed by one specific leg joint. Therefore, one system is identified by one leg joint.

[0036] The design drawing file shows a drainage pipe structure with multiple systems as shown in Fig. 3. The drainage load calculation in this embodiment is a process of identifying the drainage piping structure for each system as shown in Fig. 3 and deriving the type and pipe diameter of the piping components to be installed in the identified drainage piping structure.

[0037] Therefore, the following describes the operations that the user performs on the client terminal 100 in response to the wastewater load calculation service and the processing that the design support server 200 executes.

[0038] To receive the drainage load calculation service, the user logs in the web browser 102 to the website of the piping design support service provided by the design support server 200, and the web browser 102 is placed in a state of accessing the website. Then, the user uses the web browser 102 to upload a design drawing file (design drawing file) showing the drainage piping structure to be the subject of the drainage load calculation to the drainage load calculation site. The design drawing file uploaded to the drainage load calculation site may contain the entire design content contained in the original design drawing, or it may be an extracted portion related to the piping structure, such as piping components and sanitary fixtures, required for the drainage load calculation. At this time, the data acquisition unit 221 of the design support server 200 acquires the design drawing file transmitted from the web browser 102 as upload data, and stores the acquired design drawing file in the design drawing file storage unit 233 .

[0039] The user operates the accessed website, selects the drainage load calculation service from among the multiple service items in the piping design support service, and starts up the 3D viewer. In response to the operations up to this point, the client terminal 100 displays a drainage load calculation service screen including a 3D viewer screen that displays in 3D the drainage piping structure indicated by the uploaded design drawing file.

[0040] 4 shows an example of a wastewater load calculation service screen, in which a three-dimensional viewer area AR1 and a procedure item area AR2 are arranged. The three-dimensional viewer area AR1 is an area where the drainage piping structure shown in the design drawing from the uploaded design drawing file is displayed in three-dimensional space.

[0041] The procedure item area AR2 is an area showing the procedures in the wastewater load calculation service and the progress status for each procedure. In the procedure item area AR2, procedure item buttons BT1 (BT1-1 to BT1-6) corresponding to each procedure are arranged. In the wastewater load calculation service, when the user operates any of the operable procedure item buttons BT1, the process corresponding to the procedure corresponding to the operated procedure item button BT1 is executed.

[0042] The first procedure item corresponding to the procedure item button BT1-1 is sanitary fixture allocation, which will be described later. The second procedure item corresponding to the procedure item button BT1-2 is leg joint identification, which will be described later. The third procedure item corresponding to the procedure item button BT1-3 is a system discrimination process, which will be described later. The fourth procedure item, which corresponds to the procedure item button BT1-4, is the confirmation and input of horizontal main / standpipe information. The confirmation and input of horizontal main / standpipe information will be explained later. The fifth procedure item corresponding to the procedure item button BT1-5 is the process of calculating the wastewater load, which will be described later. The sixth procedure item, which is corresponding to the procedure item button BT1-6, is the process of generating a deliverable, which will be described later.

[0043] Among the procedures corresponding to each procedure item button BT1, there are some that use the processing results of a previously executed procedure. In other words, among the procedures corresponding to each procedure item button BT1, there are some that cannot be executed unless a predetermined procedure has been completed first. Therefore, the procedure item button BT1 is displayed in a manner that indicates that the corresponding procedure can be executed at the current stage, and that the corresponding procedure cannot be executed at the current stage, for example, by being grayed out, indicating that the corresponding procedure cannot be executed.

[0044] A progress display area AR11 (AR11-1 to AR11-6) is located on the left side of each procedure item button BT1 (BT1-1 to BT1-6). The progress display area AR11 indicates whether the corresponding procedure has been completed. For example, one progress display area AR11 displays "Not yet" if the corresponding procedure has not been completed, and displays "Complete" if the corresponding procedure has been completed.

[0045] Additionally, the procedure item area AR2 includes a temporary save button BT2, which is operated by the user when temporarily saving the results obtained through the procedures up to that point while the procedures are progressing under the wastewater load calculation service.

[0046] The user first operates the procedure item button BT1-1, which corresponds to the procedure item for sanitary fixture allocation, among the procedure item buttons BT1. In response to the operation of the procedure item button BT1-1, the web browser 102 transmits a request for executing sanitary fixture allocation to the design support server 200.

[0047] In response to receiving the sanitary fixture allocation execution request, the sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 of the design support server 200 executes the process corresponding to the sanitary fixture allocation as follows. That is, the sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 searches for sanitary fixtures from the design drawings in the design drawing file stored in the design drawing file storage unit 233. The sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 may search for sanitary fixtures from among the objects to be placed on the design drawing by comparing the name (or model number) of the sanitary fixture indicated in the sanitary fixture master stored in the sanitary fixture master storage unit 232 with the name (or model number) given to the object to be placed on the design drawing. Furthermore, the sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 assigns, to each of the searched sanitary fixtures, the type of the corresponding sanitary fixture (sanitary fixture type) indicated in the sanitary fixture master.

[0048] The sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 displays the sanitary fixture type assigned to each retrieved sanitary fixture object in the 3D viewer area AR1. By viewing the 3D viewer area AR1 displayed in this way, the user can confirm the arrangement of the sanitary fixtures in the design drawing and the sanitary fixture type of each of the arranged sanitary fixtures.

[0049] For example, the assignment of sanitary fixture types shown in the 3D viewer area AR1 may differ from the actual assignment due to incorrect names given to the sanitary fixtures at the design drawing stage. If the assignment of sanitary fixture types differs in this way, the user can perform operations to correct the assignment of sanitary fixture types. In this case, the user performs a predetermined operation to display the sanitary fixture allocation operation screen on the drainage load calculation service screen.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows an example of a sanitary fixture allocation operation screen. A list of sanitary fixture types is displayed on the sanitary fixture allocation operation screen. The sanitary fixture type list item LST includes information on part name, model number, and type classification (toilet, washbasin, laundry, etc.). The sanitary fixture type is identified by the part name, model number, and type classification. In addition, an allocation change button BT11 is located on the list item LST.

[0051] The user performs an operation in the 3D viewer area AR1 to specify sanitary fixtures that have different assignments of sanitary fixture types, and then operates the assignment change button BT11 located in the list item LST of the sanitary fixture type to be assigned to the specified sanitary fixture on the sanitary fixture assignment operation screen. The sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 changes the allocation of the sanitary fixture type to the sanitary fixture object specified in the three-dimensional viewer area AR1 to the sanitary fixture type corresponding to the list item LST for which the allocation change button BT11 has been operated. For example, the user changes the assignment of each sanitary fixture type for sanitary fixtures that previously had different assignments, and then operates the OK button BT12. In response to the operation of the OK button BT12, the sanitary fixture assignment unit 222 stores the results of the changes to the sanitary fixture type assignment so far as processing progress information in the processing progress information storage unit 235, and ends the sanitary fixture assignment procedure so far. With the completion of the sanitary fixture assignment, the sanitary fixture assignment operation screen that was displayed so far is erased. In addition, the sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 may update the design drawing file stored in the design drawing file storage unit 233 so that the change in the allocation of sanitary fixture types is reflected in response to the operation of the OK button BT12.

[0052] If the user wants to cancel the change in the allocation of the sanitary fixture type, the user operates the cancel button BT13. In response to the operation of the cancel button BT13, the sanitary fixture allocation unit 222 ends the sanitary fixture allocation procedure so far without storing the results of the change in the allocation of the sanitary fixture type so far in the processing progress information storage unit 235.

[0053] As the sanitary fixture allocation procedure is completed in this manner, the progress display area AR11-1 corresponding to the sanitary fixture allocation procedure in the procedure item area AR2 on the wastewater load calculation service screen changes from displaying "Not yet" to displaying "Completed."

[0054] Next, the user operates the procedure item button BT1-2 corresponding to leg joint identification in the procedure item area AR2 to proceed to the leg joint identification procedure. In response to the operation of the procedure item button BT1-2, the web browser 102 transmits a request to execute leg joint identification to the design support server 200. In response to receiving a request to execute leg joint identification, the leg joint identification unit 223 of the design support server 200 executes processing according to leg joint identification as follows. That is, the leg joint identification unit 223 identifies the leg joint LPJ. Specifically, the leg joint identification unit 223 identifies the leg joint LPJ by searching for piping components that form the drainage piping structure in the design drawings in the design drawing file stored in the design drawing file storage unit 233, for example, a piping component whose type classification or name is a leg joint LPJ.

[0055] The leg joint identification unit 223 may identify a leg joint from among the objects placed on the design drawing by comparing the name (or model number) of the piping component indicated in the piping component master stored in the piping component master memory unit 231 with the name (or model number) given to the object placed on the design drawing.

[0056] When the leg joint identification unit 223 identifies the leg joint LPJ, it displays a three-dimensional drainage piping structure in which the identified leg joint LPJ is highlighted in the three-dimensional viewer area AR1 of the drainage load calculation service screen, as shown in Fig. 6. The highlighting may be performed by, for example, displaying the leg joint LPJ in a predetermined color different from other piping components. By looking at the three-dimensional viewer area AR1 in which the leg joint LPJ is highlighted, the user can confirm whether the leg joint LPJ has been specified as designed.

[0057] For example, there may be leg joints LPJ that were not searched for because the names etc. given to the leg joints LPJ at the design drawing stage were incorrect. Such unidentified leg joints LPJ are not highlighted in the 3D viewer area AR1. When the user confirms in the three-dimensional viewer area AR1 that there is a leg joint LPJ portion that is not specified (not highlighted) even though it is a leg joint LPJ in the design, the user performs an operation to designate the unspecified portion as a leg joint LPJ. The operation to designate the portion as a leg joint LPJ may be, for example, an operation to move the cursor CS to the relevant portion and click on it. In response to the operation of designating the piping component as a leg joint LPJ in this manner, the piping component corresponding to the designated location is newly identified as a leg joint LPJ and is displayed in a highlighted state.

[0058] When the user has identified all of the unidentified leg joint LPJ locations in the three-dimensional viewer area AR1 as leg joints LPJs using the same operation as above, the user performs a predetermined operation to end the leg joint identification procedure. The operation to end the leg joint identification procedure may be, for example, operating the escape key. In response to the completion of the leg joint identification procedure in this manner, the leg joint identification unit 223 stores the identification results of the leg joint LPJ up to this point in the processing progress information storage unit 235 as processing progress information, and terminates the leg joint identification procedure up to this point.

[0059] As the leg joint identification procedure is completed, the progress display area AR11-2 corresponding to the leg joint identification procedure in the procedure item area AR2 on the drainage load calculation service screen changes from displaying "Not yet" to displaying "Completed."

[0060] After completing the leg joint identification procedure as described above, the user then executes the system identification process procedure. When the leg joint identification procedure is completed, the procedure item buttons BT1-3 corresponding to the system identification process procedure in the procedure item area AR2 are operable. The user then operates the procedure item button BT1-3. In response to the operation of the procedure item button BT1-3, the web browser 102 transmits a request to the design support server 200 to execute the system identification process. In response to receiving the execution request for the system discrimination process, the system discrimination processing unit 224 of the design support server 200 executes the system discrimination process. When the system discrimination processing unit 224 is executing the system discrimination process, for example, a pop-up is displayed on the wastewater load calculation service screen to notify the user that the system discrimination process is being executed. When the pop-up is displayed, operations on the wastewater load calculation service screen may be disabled.

[0061] The system determination processing unit 224 executes a pipe type identification process as the system determination process. The pipe type identification process is a process for identifying either a standpipe or a horizontal main pipe as a pipe type based on the drainage piping structure. When identifying a standpipe, the system determination processing unit 224 executes a process for assigning a system number to the system including the identified standpipe as necessary. Furthermore, when identifying a horizontal main pipe, the system determination processing unit 224 identifies a sub-horizontal main pipe (an example of a single horizontal main pipe) and a main horizontal main pipe (an example of a merging horizontal main pipe).

[0062] An example of a processing procedure executed by the system determination processing unit 224 in relation to identifying a standpipe will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 7. The system determination processing unit 224 identifies a standpipe for each system in the drainage piping structure. Fig. 7 shows the processing procedure for sequentially identifying a standpipe for each system.

[0063] Step S100: The system determination processing unit 224 selects one system to be processed from among the systems present in the drainage piping structure. As described with reference to Fig. 3, one system is identified by one leg joint. Therefore, the system determination processing unit 224 may select one system by selecting one leg joint from among the leg joints identified in the drainage piping structure by the previous leg joint identification procedure.

[0064] Step S102: The system number may be assigned in the design drawing of the design drawing file so as to correspond to, for example, a leg joint. The leg joint is a piping component that serves as the base point of the system. Therefore, by associating a system number with a leg joint, piping components such as a vertical pipe and a sub-horizontal main pipe that are connected to the leg joint as the base point can be treated as belonging to a system with the same system number. Note that the above-mentioned vertical pipe and sub-horizontal main pipe may each be assigned a different system number, and drainage load calculations may be performed individually. In the piping design support system of this embodiment, every time a user makes a change to the design content of a design drawing using, for example, the design drawing application 101, the user can obtain a load calculation result corresponding to the changed design content by using the load calculation service provided by the design support server 200. Therefore, for example, a design change may result in the existence of a new system in the drainage piping structure to which no system number has been assigned. Therefore, the system determination processor 224 determines whether a system number has already been assigned to the system selected in the previous step S100. Specifically, the system determination processor 224 may determine whether a system number has already been assigned to the selected system based on whether a system number has been assigned to at least one of the piping members that form the system selected this time in the design drawing in the design drawing file.

[0065] Step S104: If it is determined in step S102 that a line number has not already been assigned, the line discrimination processor 224 assigns a line number to the line selected in this step S100. That is, the line discrimination processor 224 generates a line number using a number that has not yet been assigned in the design drawing, and associates the generated line number with the line selected in this step S100. In this case, the line number may be assigned to the line by assigning a line number to the leg joints included in the line, or a line number may be assigned to each of all piping members included in the same line. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that a route number has been assigned, the process of step S104 is skipped.

[0066] For example, in the process of the figure, the system determination processing unit 224 can assign new system numbers to all systems existing in the drainage piping structure. However, according to the process of step S104 above, the assigned system numbers are maintained without being changed for systems that have already been assigned system numbers. When changing the design content in the design drawings, the user will perform the work by referring to the system numbers that have been assigned so far. Therefore, if the system numbers assigned to the systems change each time a wastewater load calculation is performed due to a redesign, this will cause a decrease in the efficiency of the next redesign work. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, systems that have already been assigned system numbers will continue to be assigned the same system numbers as before.

[0067] Step S106: If it is determined in step S102 that a line number has already been assigned, or after the processing of step S106, the line determination processing unit 224 searches for the next pipe member in the vertically upward direction, starting from the corresponding leg joint. The line determination processing unit 224 searches for the pipe member by referring to the design drawing file. In searching for the pipe member, the line determination processing unit 224 can determine whether or not the pipe member is a pipe member based on the type classification, name, model number, etc. indicated for each piping member in the design drawing. The type classification used by the line determination processing unit 224 for determination in step S106 may be, for example, one defined under the IFC file format. The first (first) step S106 in one system searches for a pipe member to be connected to the corresponding leg joint. Step S106 from the second time onward searches for a pipe member to be connected to the upper end of the pipe member searched for in the previous step S106. The pipe members may be connected to each other by joints such as sockets.

[0068] Step S108: The system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not a pipe member exists as a result of the search in step S106. Step S110: If it is determined in step S108 that a pipe member is present, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether the type of the pipe member determined to be present as a component is a ventilation pipe. The system determination processing unit 224 may determine whether the pipe member is a ventilation pipe.

[0069] Step S112: If it is determined in step S110 that the pipe member searched this time is not a vent pipe, the system determination processing unit 224 determines that the currently searched pipe member is a standpipe. At this time, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether a system number has been assigned to the identified standpipe in the design drawing. If a system including the identified standpipe is newly added when creating a design drawing using the design drawing application 101, a system number may not be assigned to the system including the identified standpipe. In this case, a system number is not assigned to the identified standpipe. Furthermore, even if a system number has been assigned to the system including the identified standpipe, if there has been a change in the corresponding system, a system number may not be assigned to the identified standpipe. Note that such circumstances in which a system number may not be assigned in the drawing also apply to sub-horizontal main pipes, which will be described later. If the system discrimination processing unit 224 determines that the identified vertical pipe has not been assigned a system number in the design drawing, it assigns the system number of the system currently being processed to the piping component identifier of the identified vertical pipe. The processing progress information storage unit 235 stores, as one piece of processing progress information, standpipe information in which standpipes are registered corresponding to each system. The system discrimination processing unit 224 associates the system number assigned to the pipe member identified as a standpipe with the pipe member and registers it in the standpipe information of the target system.

[0070] Step S114: The processing progress information storage unit 235 stores, as one piece of processing progress information, ventilation pipe information in which ventilation pipes are registered corresponding to each system. If it is determined in step S110 that the pipe member is a ventilation pipe, the system discrimination processing unit 224 registers the pipe member determined to be a ventilation pipe in this step S110 in the ventilation pipe information of the target system.

[0071] After the processing of steps S112 and S114, the process returns to step S106, and the search for pipe members in the vertically upward direction in the target system is repeated. Then, when the search has been completed up to the uppermost pipe member connected vertically upward in the target system, it is determined in the next step S108 that no pipe member exists, and the identification of the standpipe in the target system is completed.

[0072] Step S116: If it is determined in step S108 that no pipe components exist and the identification of the standpipes in the target system has been completed, the system discrimination processing unit 224 determines whether the process of identifying the standpipes for all systems has been completed. If it is determined that the identification of the standpipes for all systems has not been completed, the process returns to step S100, and the process of identifying the standpipe for the next system to be processed is performed. Then, when it is determined in step S116 that the identification of the standpipes for all the systems has been completed, the processing in the figure is ended.

[0073] 7 is completed, the system determination processing unit 224 executes a process to identify a horizontal main pipe. The process to identify a horizontal main pipe includes a process to identify a sub-horizontal main pipe for each system and a process to identify a main horizontal main pipe where the sub-horizontal main pipe joins.

[0074] The flowchart in FIG. 8 shows an example of a processing procedure that the system determination processing unit 224 executes in relation to identifying a horizontal main duct. Step S200: The system determination processing unit 224 first identifies a sub-horizontal main duct for each system, and then selects a system to be subjected to the process of identifying the sub-horizontal main duct.

[0075] Step S202: The system determination processing unit 224 searches for pipe members connected in the horizontal (lateral) direction, starting from the leg joint corresponding to the system selected in step S200. The first time step S202 is performed for one system, a search is made for pipe members connected to the leg joint. From the second time onwards, step S202 searches for pipe members connected to the pipe member searched for in the previous step S202.

[0076] Step S204: The system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not the searched pipe member exists as a result of the search in step S202. Step S206: If step S204 determines that a pipe member is present, the system determination processor 224 identifies the pipe member as a sub-horizontal main pipe belonging to the target system. At this time, the system determination processor 224 determines whether a system number has been assigned to the identified sub-horizontal main pipe in the design drawing. If the system determination processor 224 determines that a system number has not been assigned to the identified sub-horizontal main pipe in the design drawing, the system determination processor 224 assigns the system number of the system currently being processed to the piping member identifier of the identified sub-horizontal main pipe. Note that at this time, if the system number assigned to the sub-horizontal main pipe differs from the system number assigned to the leg joint connected to the sub-horizontal main pipe, the system number assigned to the leg joint may be used as the system number for the system. The processing progress information storage unit 235 stores, as one piece of processing progress information, sub-horizontal main information in which sub-horizontal main pipes are registered corresponding to each system. The system determination processing unit 224 registers the pipe member identified as the sub-horizontal main pipe in this step S206 in the sub-horizontal main information of the target system. For example, the system determination processing unit 224 may associate the piping member identifier assigned to the pipe member identified this time as the sub-horizontal main pipe with information indicating that it is a sub-horizontal main pipe and store this in the sub-horizontal main information.

[0077] Step S208: If it is determined in step S204 that no pipe member is present, or after the processing of step S206, the system determination processing unit 224 searches for a joint. Step S210: The system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not a joint exists as a result of the search in step S208. If it is determined that a joint does not exist, the process returns to step S202.

[0078] Step S212: If it is determined in step S210 that a fitting exists, the system determination processor 224 registers the currently searched fitting in the sub-horizontal main pipe information. For example, the system determination processor 224 may associate information indicating that the piping component type is a fitting with the piping component identifier assigned to the pipe component searched for as the currently searched fitting and store the information in the sub-horizontal main pipe information. Furthermore, if the currently searched fitting does not have a system number assigned, the system determination processor 224 assigns the system number of the system currently being processed to the piping component identifier of the pipe component searched for as the currently searched fitting.

[0079] Step S214: Types of fittings include sockets, elbows, tee fittings, etc. Therefore, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether the fitting found this time is a tee fitting. The system determination processing unit 224 may determine whether the fitting is a tee fitting based on the name, model number, etc. associated with the relevant piping member shown in the design drawing, or may determine whether the fitting is a tee fitting based on the number of connection ports of the piping member. If it is determined in step S214 that the food is not cheese, the process returns to step S202. If it is determined in step S214 that the joint is not a tee, for example, if the joint searched this time is an elbow that displaces vertically, the system determination processing unit 224 may calculate the offset height of the piping due to the elbow.

[0080] Step S216: If it is determined in step S214 that the cheese is present, the system discrimination processing unit 224 refers to the design drawing and determines whether or not a horizontal main pipe (sub-horizontal main pipe or main horizontal main pipe) is connected (merged) with the connection port of the cheese. If it is determined that a horizontal main pipe (sub-horizontal main pipe or main horizontal main pipe) is connected to the cheese, all sub-horizontal main pipes belonging to the target system have been identified. At this time, if the cheese searched this time does not have a system number assigned, the system discrimination processing unit 224 assigns the system number of the system currently being processed to the piping component identifier of the piping component as the cheese searched this time. Then, the process proceeds to step S220, which will be described later.

[0081] Step S218: If it is determined in step S216 that no other horizontal main pipes are connected to the tee, the system determination processing unit 224 registers the currently searched tee in the sub-horizontal main pipe information as a joint without a merger. In addition, if the cheese searched this time does not have a system number assigned to it, the system discrimination processing unit 224 assigns the system number of the system currently being processed to the piping component identifier of the pipe component as the cheese searched this time.

[0082] Step S220: If it is determined in step S216 that another horizontal main pipe is connected to the cheese, the system discrimination processing unit 224 determines whether the process of identifying the sub-horizontal main pipe has been completed for all systems. If there are any systems for which the process of identifying the sub-horizontal main pipe has not been completed, the process returns to step S200. As a result, the sub-horizontal main pipe is identified for the next selected system.

[0083] Step S222: If it is determined in step S230 that the processing for all systems has been completed, the system discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the main horizontal main duct. In identifying the main horizontal main duct, the system discrimination processing unit 224 refers to the design drawing and identifies, as the main horizontal main duct, a horizontal main duct that is located downstream of the junction cheese of the sub-horizontal main ducts recognized by the processing up to that point. The system determination processing unit 224 may assign a main horizontal main duct identifier, such as a number or symbol, that is unique to each identified main horizontal main duct.

[0084] Step S224: The processing progress information storage unit 235 stores the main horizontal main pipe information in which the main horizontal main pipe is registered as one piece of processing progress information. The system determination processing unit 224 registers the pipe member identified as the main horizontal main pipe in step S222 in the main horizontal main pipe information.

[0085] Using the drainage piping structure shown in FIG. 9 as an example, a specific example of identifying a sub-horizontal main pipe using the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8 will be described. In the drainage piping structure shown in the figure, three leg joints LPJ1, LPJ2, and LPJ3 are arranged. In other words, three systems exist in the drainage piping structure. In the figure, the system corresponding to leg joint LPJ1 is assigned system number 1, the system corresponding to leg joint LPJ2 is assigned system number 2, and the system corresponding to leg joint LPJ3 is assigned system number 3.

[0086] For example, the line discrimination processing unit 224 selects the line with line number 1 corresponding to the leg joint LPJ1 as the processing target in the first step S200. Next, the line discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the sub-horizontal main piping DPh-S11 in the target line in the first step S202 to S206. Next, the line discrimination processing unit 224 executes the processes of steps S208 to S218 corresponding to the elbow EB1 connected to the sub-horizontal main piping DPh-S11 and returns to step S202. Next, the line discrimination processing unit 224 executes the processes of steps S202 to S206 in the target line in the second step S202 to S206 and identifies the sub-horizontal main piping DPh-S12 connected downstream of the elbow EB1. Next, the line discrimination processing unit 224 searches for the tee CH1 connected to the sub-horizontal main piping DPh-S12 in steps S208 to S214 and S216, and ends processing for the corresponding line.

[0087] Next, the system discrimination processing unit 224 selects the system with system number 2 corresponding to leg joint LPJ2 as the processing target in step S200 for the second time. Next, the system discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S21 in steps S202 to S206. Next, the system discrimination processing unit 224 searches for tee CH1 in the processes of steps S208 to S214 and S222, and ends processing of the corresponding system.

[0088] Next, the system determination processing unit 224 selects the system with system number 3 corresponding to leg joint LPJ3 as the processing target in step S200 for the third time. In this case, the system determination processing unit 224 identifies the sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S31 in the target system in steps S202 to S206 for the first time. Next, the system determination processing unit 224 identifies the elbow EB3a in steps S208 to S220 and ends the processing of the first step. The system determination processing unit 224 identifies the sub-horizontal main pipe DPh-S32 in the target system by the second round of steps S202 to S206. Next, the system determination processing unit 224 identifies the elbow EB3b by steps S208 to S218. Next, the system discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the sub-horizontal main duct DPh-S33 in the target system by performing steps S202 to S206 for the third time. Next, the system discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the tee CH3 connected to the sub-horizontal main duct DPh-S33 by performing steps S208 to S214 and S222, and ends the processing of the corresponding system.

[0089] Corresponding to the range of the drainage piping structure shown in the same figure, the system discrimination processing unit 224 identifies the horizontal main pipes located downstream of the cheese CH1, which is a cheese where sub-horizontal main pipes merge, as the main horizontal main pipes (DPh-M1, DPh-M2).

[0090] After identifying the vertical pipes and horizontal main pipes (sub-horizontal main pipes and main horizontal main pipes) according to the processing procedures of FIGS. 7 and 8, the system determination processing unit 224 executes sanitary fixture connection processing as system determination processing. In a drainage piping structure, each sanitary fixture is normally connected to the upstream end of the appropriate pipe. However, in actual design drawings, there may be sanitary fixtures that are not connected to the upstream end of any pipe. This situation occurs, for example, when the designer places the sanitary fixtures in the design drawing but neglects to connect the upstream end of the pipe to the placed sanitary fixture. The sanitary fixture connection process of this embodiment is a process for connecting a sanitary fixture that is not connected to the upstream end of a pipe in the design drawing to the upstream end of the appropriate pipe, as described above.

[0091] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the system determination processing unit 224 in response to the sanitary fixture connection processing. Step S300: The system determination processing unit 224 selects one joint from among the joints that connect the standpipes identified so far. The joints to be selected here are the collecting pipe joints used to connect the standpipes corresponding to each floor, and the leg joints that connect the branch pipes to the corresponding sub-horizontal main pipes.

[0092] Step S302: The system determination processing unit 224 searches for one of the upstream ends of the branch pipes connected to the joint's joint on the junction side, using the joint's joint on the junction side selected in step S302 as a base point.

[0093] Step S304: Normally, some kind of plumbing fixture should be connected to the upstream end of the branch pipe found in step S302, but as mentioned above, there are cases where no plumbing fixture is connected to the upstream end of the branch pipe on the design drawing. Therefore, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not a plumbing fixture is connected to the upstream end of the branch pipe found in step S302 this time.

[0094] Step S306: If it is determined in step S304 that no sanitary fixture is connected, the system determination processing unit 224 searches for a sanitary fixture (connectable sanitary fixture) that is not connected to the upstream end of any branch pipe within a certain distance range based on the upstream end of the target branch pipe. A connectable sanitary fixture is a sanitary fixture that is treated as one that should be connected to the upstream end of the reference branch pipe. Step S308: The system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not a connectable sanitary fixture exists as a result of the search in step S306.

[0095] Step S310: If it is determined in step S308 that a connectable sanitary fixture exists, the system determination processing unit 224 updates the piping structure information indicating the drainage piping structure so that the currently searched connectable sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of the currently searched branch pipe. The piping information here may be one of the processing progress information stored in the processing progress information storage unit 235. If it is determined in step S308 that there is no connectable sanitary fixture, the processing of step S310 is skipped. In this case, it may be processed as if no sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of the target branch pipe. If the user checks the design drawing at a later time and finds that no sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of the branch pipe, the user can modify the design drawing so that the sanitary fixture is connected.

[0096] Step S312: After processing in step S310, or if it is determined in step S308 that there are no connectable sanitary fixtures, the system determination processing unit 224 determines whether or not searching for all upstream ends of branch pipes starting from the currently selected joint has been completed. If it is determined that the search is not complete, the process returns to step S302, whereby the upstream end of the next branch pipe that has not yet been searched for is searched for.

[0097] Step S314: If it is determined in step S312 that the search for all upstream ends of branch pipes starting from the currently selected joint has been completed, the system discrimination processing unit 224 determines whether all joints have been selected at this stage. If not all fittings have been selected, the process returns to step S300, where the next unselected fitting is selected. If all fittings have been selected, the sanitary fixture connection process ends.

[0098] The system determination process is completed by completing the processing procedures in Figures 7, 8, and 10. Upon completion of the system determination process, the pop-up on the wastewater load calculation service screen that had previously notified the user that the system determination process was in progress changes to one notifying the user that the system determination process has ended. When the user confirms the pop-up notifying the user that the system determination process has ended, the user can close the pop-up by, for example, operating the confirmation button located within the pop-up. In response to the completion of the system discrimination processing procedure in this way, the progress display area AR11-3 corresponding to the system discrimination processing procedure in the procedure item area AR2 on the wastewater load calculation service screen changes from displaying "Not yet" to displaying "Completed."

[0099] Next, the user can perform the procedure for checking and inputting horizontal main / standpipe information. In this case, the user operates the procedure item button BT1-4 corresponding to the procedure for checking and inputting horizontal main / standpipe information in the procedure item area AR2 on the drainage load calculation service screen. In response to the operation of the procedure item button BT1-4, the web browser 102 transmits a horizontal main pipe / standpipe information confirmation request to the design support server 200. In response to receiving the horizontal main pipe / standpipe information confirmation request, the system determination processing unit 224 of the design support server 200 displays in the 3D viewer area AR1 a 3D confirmation design drawing in which the results of the system determination processing shown in Figures 7, 8, and 19 are reflected in the drainage piping structure. The user can look at the confirmation design drawing displayed in the 3D viewer area AR1 to confirm whether the vertical pipes and horizontal main pipes identified by the system identification process are as designed, and whether each sanitary fixture is connected to the upstream end of the appropriate branch pipe. In addition, the user can perform operations to correct pipe members that are designed as vertical pipes or horizontal main pipes (sub-horizontal main pipes, main horizontal main pipes) but are not reflected in the 3D viewer area AR1, so that they are set as the corresponding vertical pipes or horizontal main pipes. In this case, the user can set (input) the horizontal main pipes separately as sub-horizontal main pipes and main horizontal main pipes. In addition, if there is an upstream end of a branch pipe that does not have a sanitary fixture connected, the user can make corrections by connecting the appropriate sanitary fixture or by changing the number of sanitary fixtures connected. In addition, for example, on the lowest floor of a building being designed, plumbing fixtures may be connected to horizontal pipes without going through a standpipe. Therefore, the user can modify the plumbing fixture connections by changing or adding the number of plumbing fixtures that are connected without going through a specified standpipe.

[0100] Then, when the user performs a specified operation to indicate the end of the procedure for checking and entering horizontal master / standby master information, the progress display area AR11-4 corresponding to the procedure for checking and entering horizontal master / standby master information changes from displaying "Not yet" to displaying "Completed."

[0101] Next, the user operates the procedure item button BT1-5 corresponding to the drainage load calculation in the procedure item area AR2 to execute the drainage load calculation. In response to the operation of the procedure item button BT1-5, the web browser 102 transmits a request to execute the drainage load calculation to the design support server 200. In response to the reception of the request to execute the drainage load calculation, the drainage load calculation unit 225 of the design support server 200 executes the drainage load calculation.

[0102] The drainage load calculation unit 225 executes drainage load calculation. Based on the results of the sanitary fixture allocation, leg joint identification, system discrimination processing, and horizontal main / standpipe information confirmation and input that have been executed up to now, the number of sanitary fixtures for each system, and the drainage piping structure such as standpipes and horizontal main pipes are identified. Then, the drainage load calculation unit 225 calculates the load flow rate for each system based on the identified drainage piping structure, and derives the type of piping material and pipe diameter according to the calculated load flow rate.

[0103] When the wastewater load calculation unit 225 is executing the process of the wastewater load calculation, a pop-up may be displayed on the wastewater load calculation service screen to notify the user that the wastewater load calculation is being executed. When the wastewater load calculation process by the wastewater load calculation unit 225 is completed, the pop-up displayed on the wastewater load calculation service screen may be changed to notify that the wastewater load calculation has been completed. The pop-up may be cleared in response to a user operation. In response to the completion of the wastewater load calculation procedure in this way, the progress display area AR11-5 corresponding to the wastewater load calculation procedure in the procedure item area AR2 on the wastewater load calculation service screen changes from displaying "Not yet" to displaying "Completed."

[0104] After the wastewater load calculation is completed, the user can instruct the design support server 200 to generate the deliverables obtained by executing each procedure in the wastewater load calculation service up to that point. To do this, the user operates a procedure item button BT1-6. In response to the operation of a procedure item button BT1-6, the web browser 102 transmits a deliverable generation request to the design support server 200.

[0105] In response to receiving the product generation request, the data providing unit 226 of the design support server 200 executes a process related to product generation (product generation process). As part of the deliverable generation process, the data provider 226 first displays the results of the execution of the procedures in the wastewater load calculation service thus far (the wastewater load calculation service results) on a wastewater load calculation service screen. Although not shown, the wastewater load calculation service screen presents the pipe diameters of each pipe member serving as a vertical pipe arranged in each system and the types of joint members as wastewater load calculation service results. Furthermore, the wastewater load calculation service results also present the pipe diameters of each sub-horizontal main pipe and each main horizontal main pipe.

[0106] Furthermore, the data providing unit 226 can provide data indicating the results of the current drainage load calculation service so that the data can be downloaded by the client terminal 100. The data indicating the results of the drainage load calculation service may be in a format compatible with a predetermined application that is not compatible with the design drawing application 101, for example. Furthermore, the data providing unit 226 generates line number assignment information in which a line number is assigned to each piping member shown in the drawing, and provides the generated line number assignment information so that the client terminal 100 can download it. The system number assignment information has contents that reflect the results of system number assignment to subordinate components performed by the system discrimination processing unit 224 during the current wastewater load calculation service, in addition to the system number assignment status for piping components shown in the drawing at the stage of uploading from the client terminal 100. The system number assignment information has a structure in which system numbers are associated with piping component identifiers that uniquely identify piping components. The system number assignment information may also be in a format that can be imported by the design drawing application 101. The design drawing application 101 that has downloaded the system number assignment information updates the data of the drawing that is open for processing by assigning a corresponding system number to each piping component that has the same piping system identifier as indicated in the system number assignment information. For example, the data providing unit 226 may modify the design drawing file stored in the design drawing file storage unit 233 so that it reflects the results of the current drainage load calculation service, and provide the modified design drawing file so that it can be downloaded by the client terminal 100. In this case, the user can download the design drawing file using, for example, the web browser 102, and open the downloaded design drawing file using the design drawing application 101 to obtain a design drawing that reflects the system number assigned under the drainage load calculation service, the identification results of the vertical pipe and horizontal main pipe, the pipe diameters of the pipe components, and the like.

[0107] Furthermore, instead of reflecting the results of the wastewater load calculation service, such as the system number, in the design file, the results may be provided as a downloadable file in a format such as CSV. In this case, the user imports the downloaded file into the design drawing application 101. This allows the system number to be reflected in the design drawing in the design drawing file.

[0108] Alternatively, the data providing unit 226 may provide, as a result of the drainage load calculation, a downloadable file in a predetermined format as a drainage load calculation sheet that indicates the pipe diameters of pipe members such as vertical pipes and horizontal main pipes, and the products of piping members that are recommended to be adopted according to the pipe diameters.Furthermore, the data providing unit 226 may provide, as a downloadable file in a predetermined format, a product list, an estimate, a countermeasure proposal, etc., in the case where products recommended based on the drainage load calculation are adopted.

[0109] As described above, according to the piping design support system of this embodiment, when a user specifies a pipe type, such as a standpipe or a horizontal main pipe, required to obtain a result of a drainage load calculation, the user uploads a design drawing file to the design support server 200. The design support server 200 specifies the pipe type using information (component identification information) that can identify the piping component, such as the name and model number given to the pipe component shown in the uploaded design drawing file, and a piping component master (an example of piping component information). In this case, the user does not need to manually input the pipe type, such as a standpipe or a horizontal main pipe. Furthermore, when a user sets a system (piping system) based on leg joints in a piping structure and assigns a system number to the set system, the user uploads a design drawing file to the design support server 200. The design support server 200 identifies the leg joints from the drainage piping structure shown in the uploaded design drawing file, sets the system by identifying the standpipe and sub-horizontal main pipe for each leg joint, and assigns a system number (piping system identifier) ​​to the set system. In this case, too, the user does not need to perform an input operation such as specifying the standpipe and sub-horizontal main pipe for each system in order to set the system. Furthermore, when there is a branch pipe end to which no sanitary fixture is connected in the drainage piping structure shown in the uploaded design drawing file, the design support server 200 searches for a sanitary fixture that can be connected to the branch pipe end, and connects the sanitary fixture to the branch pipe end. In this case, too, the user does not need to perform an input operation to specify the sanitary fixture to be connected to the branch pipe end. That is, this embodiment reduces the effort required to input information necessary for calculations related to piping design. Furthermore, according to the piping design support system of this embodiment, if a line number has not been assigned to a piping member in a piping structure of a drawing acquired from the design drawing application 101, the design support server 200 can assign a line number to each piping member in the drawing by assigning a line number to the piping member. The design support server 200 provides downloadable line number assignment information indicating the results of assigning line numbers to each piping member. Since the line number assignment information is in a format compatible with the design drawing application 101, the designer can assign line numbers to each piping member in the drawing data (file) according to the content indicated by the line number assignment information by having the design drawing application 101 read the downloaded line number assignment information. At this time, the design support server 200 does not change the line numbers of lines that have already been assigned. As a result, the line numbers set by the designer on the design drawing application 101 are retained in the drawing, making it easier for the designer to perform subsequent design work. As such, this embodiment allows efficient management of piping members in a piping structure based on piping design.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the horizontal main ducts are divided into main horizontal main ducts and sub-horizontal main ducts and processing such as system identification is performed, but the main horizontal main ducts and sub-horizontal main ducts may also be processed as horizontal main ducts of the same type without any particular distinction being made between them. In the above embodiment, the design support is given for a drainage piping structure as an example, however, the design support of this embodiment is not limited to a drainage piping structure and may also be applied to a water supply piping structure.

[0111] For example, a part or all of the processes executed by the design support server 200 may be executed by a program such as an application running on the client terminal 100.

[0112] Alternatively, a program for implementing the functions of the client terminal 100 or the design support server 200 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be loaded into a computer system and executed to perform the processing of the client terminal 100 or the design support server 200. Here, "loading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program on a computer system. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. The term "computer system" may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network, including the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or a dedicated line. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as floppy disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks and solid-state drives (SSDs) built into a computer system. The recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The term "recording medium" also includes internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server for distributing the program. The program code stored on the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the program code executable on the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored on the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that is executable on the terminal device. The program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at different times and then combined on the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a storage medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be one that realizes part of the functions described above.Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program). [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 100 Client terminal, 101 Design drawing application, 102 Web browser, 200 Design support server, 201 Communication unit, 202 Control unit, 203 Memory unit, 206 Step, 221 Data acquisition unit, 222 Sanitary fixture allocation unit, 223 Leg joint identification unit, 224 System discrimination processing unit, 225 Drainage load calculation unit, 226 Data provision unit, 231 Piping component master memory unit, 232 Sanitary fixture master memory unit, 233 Design drawing file memory unit, 234 System number information memory unit, 235 Processing progress information memory unit

Claims

1. a piping member information storage unit that stores information about the piping member, the information including member identification information and a member type of the piping member; a leg joint identification unit that identifies a piping member whose member type is a leg joint from among the piping members in a drawing showing a piping design in which piping members are arranged in a three-dimensional space, based on member identification information assigned to each of the piping members and the piping member information; a pipe type identification unit that searches for pipes connected in a vertically upward direction using the piping member identified as the leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as vertical pipes, and searches for pipes connected in a horizontal direction using the piping member identified as the leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes; A piping design support system equipped with:

2. the pipe type identification unit identifies, as sub-horizontal main pipes, a horizontal main pipe extending from the leg joint as a base point to a tee connected to the tee, and a horizontal main pipe located upstream of a tee located most upstream among the tee pipes connected to merge with the horizontal main pipes; The horizontal main pipe arranged downstream of the most upstream tee is identified as the main horizontal main pipe. The piping design support system according to claim 1 .

3. a leg joint identification step of identifying piping members whose member type is a leg joint from among the piping members in the drawing, based on member identification information assigned to each piping member in the drawing showing a piping design in which piping members are arranged in a three-dimensional space, and piping member information stored in a piping member information storage unit and including the member identification information and member type of the piping member as information related to the piping member; a pipe type identification step of searching for pipes connected in a vertically upward direction using the piping member identified as the leg joint in the leg joint identification step as a base point, and identifying the searched pipes as vertical pipes, and searching for pipes connected in a horizontal direction using the piping member identified as the leg joint in the leg joint identification step as a base point, and identifying the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes; A piping design support method including:

4. A computer provided in a piping design support system, a piping member information storage unit that stores information related to the piping member, the information including member identification information and member type of the piping member; a leg joint identification unit that identifies a piping member whose member type is a leg joint from among the piping members in a drawing showing a piping design in which piping members are arranged in a three-dimensional space, based on member identification information assigned to each of the piping members and the piping member information; a pipe type identification unit that searches for pipes connected in a vertically upward direction using the piping member identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as vertical pipes; and searches for pipes connected in a horizontal direction using the piping member identified as a leg joint by the leg joint identification unit as a base point, and identifies the searched pipes as horizontal main pipes. A program to function as a

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