What function do barriers serve in a utility network?

Barriers in a utility network play a crucial role in dictating which features are included or excluded during a trace. When performing trace operations, understanding how barriers function helps manage the flow of the tracing process. Barriers act as constraints, meaning that they impose limits on how the tracing algorithm interacts with relevant features in the network.

For example, if a barrier is applied to a specific section of the utility network, the trace will either stop at that barrier or exclude any features located beyond it. This is essential for accurately modeling network behavior and is particularly useful for making decisions based on specific scenarios, such as isolating a segment of the network for maintenance or analysis.

The other options do not encapsulate the primary role of barriers effectively. Barriers do not eliminate all trace possibilities—rather, they define the parameters around what is included in a trace. While the presence of barriers can influence the flow, they don’t directly enhance it but rather guide it. Lastly, the notion of creating a uniform tracing process does not accurately represent the function of barriers, as they introduce variability based on the criteria set for the trace analysis.