What does downstream tracing allow a user to analyze?

Downstream tracing is a critical analysis tool used within utility networks to understand how resources or effects propagate through a system. When one performs downstream tracing, the focus is on how the flow from a specific feature—such as a pipe or a transformer—affects other features that are located further along that pathway.

This tracing allows users to determine the sequence of features that receive flow or energy from the original source. For example, if you trace a water line from a reservoir to various households, downstream tracing will reveal which homes are connected to that reservoir and how changes to the reservoir might impact water supply to each home. This process is essential for understanding the operational implications of network changes, identifying potential outages, or evaluating service delivery.

The other options present related concepts, but they do not directly address the specific function of downstream tracing. Analyzing the impact of external systems pertains more to integration and impact studies. Assessing annual utility costs focuses on the financial aspect of the utilities, which is not part of the tracing process. Lastly, reviewing the history of feature changes deals with version control or historical data, rather than the real-time flow analysis that downstream tracing enables. Each of these aspects is valuable in utility management, but they fall outside the primary purpose of