SWMM Builder (INP assembly layer)#

Part of Agentic SWMM — install the project first for the executable toolchain (aiswmm CLI, SWMM solver, MCP servers).

Contract#

Build a runnable SWMM .inp using explicit file inputs:

• subcatchments.csv (shape/area/outlet/routing basics)
• merged params JSON from swmm-params
• network JSON from swmm-network
• rainfall/time-series references from swmm-climate
• optional options config JSON

The builder writes:

• final SWMM INP text ( --out-inp)
• manifest JSON ( --out-manifest) with source paths + SHA256 + key metadata
• strict validation diagnostics for critical sections ( [OPTIONS], [RAINGAGES], [TIMESERIES], [SUBCATCHMENTS], [SUBAREAS], [INFILTRATION], and current network sections)

Inputs#

Subcatchments CSV schema (required)#

Required columns:

• subcatchment_id
• outlet
• area_ha
• width_m
• slope_pct

Optional columns:

• rain_gage (falls back to default gage from climate/config)
• curb_length_m (default 0)
• snow_pack (default blank)

Params JSON (required)#

Expected to match skills/swmm-params/scripts/merge_swmm_params.py output:

• sections.subcatchments ( id, pct_imperv)
• sections.subareas ( id, runoff/subarea fields)
• sections.infiltration ( id, Green-Ampt fields)
• Required fields are now validated strictly with type/range checks (for example %Imperv and routing percentages must be 0..100).

Network JSON (required)#

Expected to match skills/swmm-network schema ( junctions, outfalls, conduits, etc.). Builder now validates required network fields used to emit [JUNCTIONS], [OUTFALLS], [CONDUITS], [XSECTIONS], [COORDINATES], and [VERTICES].

Climate references (required in MVP)#

Provide either:

• --timeseries-text directly, or
• --rainfall-json produced by swmm-climate/format_rainfall.py (must include outputs.timeseries_text)

For [RAINGAGES], provide either:

• --raingage-json from swmm-climate/build_raingage_section.py, or
• rely on default deterministic gage generation from rainfall series_name.

--raingage-json supports both the original single-gage form and a multi-gage form:

json

{
  "gages": [
    {
      "id": "RG1",
      "rain_format": "VOLUME",
      "interval_min": 5,
      "scf": 1.0,
      "source": {"kind": "TIMESERIES", "series_name": "TS_RG1"}
    },
    {
      "id": "RG2",
      "rain_format": "VOLUME",
      "interval_min": 5,
      "scf": 1.0,
      "source": {"kind": "TIMESERIES", "series_name": "TS_RG2"}
    }
  ]
}

The timeseries text must include rows for every referenced series_name, and each subcatchment rain_gage must reference one of the emitted gage IDs.

Validation behavior:

• Missing critical fields fail fast with explicit section-scoped errors.
• [TIMESERIES] rows are validated for series-name consistency and basic token/time/value correctness.
• Manifest includes validation plus validation_diagnostics metadata.

Scripts#

• scripts/build_swmm_inp.py
  • single entrypoint that reads all inputs and writes INP + manifest.

MCP#

MCP wrapper location:

• mcp/swmm-builder/server.js (was previously skills/swmm-builder/scripts/mcp/; moved during the mcp/ root restructure)

Exposed tools:

• build_inp — assemble a runnable SWMM INP + manifest from subcatchments CSV, area-weighted params JSON, network JSON, rainfall JSON + timeseries text, and an options-config JSON. Required args: subcatchmentsCsvPath, paramsJsonPath, networkJsonPath, outInpPath, outManifestPath. Optional: rainfallJsonPath, raingageJsonPath, timeseriesTextPath, configJsonPath, defaultGageId, waterQualityJsonPath (path to a WQ config JSON — enables [POLLUTANTS]/[LANDUSES]/[BUILDUP]/[WASHOFF]/[COVERAGES]/ [LOADINGS] sections for pollutant buildup/washoff simulation). The subcatchments CSV must carry outlet values that point to real upstream junctions (use swmm-network-mcp.assign_subcatchment_outlets first if it currently points to the literal outfall).

Smoke example#

The builder requires upstream outputs from swmm-params and swmm-climate. Generate them first, then call build_swmm_inp.py:

bash

# 1. Generate merged params from the bundled examples
mkdir -p /tmp/builder-smoke
python3 skills/swmm-params/scripts/landuse_to_swmm_params.py \
  --input skills/swmm-params/examples/landuse_input.csv \
  --output /tmp/builder-smoke/landuse.json
python3 skills/swmm-params/scripts/soil_to_greenampt.py \
  --input skills/swmm-params/examples/soil_input.csv \
  --output /tmp/builder-smoke/soil.json
python3 skills/swmm-params/scripts/merge_swmm_params.py \
  --landuse-json /tmp/builder-smoke/landuse.json \
  --soil-json /tmp/builder-smoke/soil.json \
  --output /tmp/builder-smoke/merged_params.json

# 2. Format rainfall from the bundled climate example
python3 skills/swmm-climate/scripts/format_rainfall.py \
  --input skills/swmm-climate/examples/rainfall_event.csv \
  --out-json /tmp/builder-smoke/rainfall.json \
  --out-timeseries /tmp/builder-smoke/rainfall_timeseries.txt

# 3. Build the INP
python3 skills/swmm-builder/scripts/build_swmm_inp.py \
  --subcatchments-csv skills/swmm-builder/examples/subcatchments_input.csv \
  --params-json /tmp/builder-smoke/merged_params.json \
  --network-json skills/swmm-network/examples/basic-network.json \
  --rainfall-json /tmp/builder-smoke/rainfall.json \
  --config-json skills/swmm-builder/examples/options_config.json \
  --out-inp /tmp/builder-smoke/example_model.inp \
  --out-manifest /tmp/builder-smoke/example_manifest.json

Water quality sections#

Pass --water-quality-json <path> to enable pollutant buildup/washoff simulation. The JSON must satisfy the schema in skills/swmm-water-quality/SKILL.md. Omit the flag for pure hydrology runs (Water Quality: NO in the INP).

bash

# Build an INP with water quality (TSS, 1 landuse, executed example):
python3 skills/swmm-builder/scripts/build_swmm_inp.py \
  --subcatchments-csv skills/swmm-builder/examples/subcatchments_input.csv \
  --params-json /tmp/builder-smoke/merged_params.json \
  --network-json skills/swmm-network/examples/basic-network.json \
  --water-quality-json /tmp/wq_example.json \
  --out-inp /tmp/wq_model.inp \
  --out-manifest /tmp/wq_manifest.json

The builder validates all cross-references (pollutant/landuse/subcatchment consistency) before writing the INP.

MVP limitations#

• No automatic polygon export, LID controls, snowpack, or RTC rules.
• Assumes one raingage source for all subcatchments unless rain_gage is explicitly set per row.