What function do connectivity rules serve in a utility network?

Connectivity rules in a utility network are crucial for defining how different features interact with one another within the network. These rules establish the relationships between various elements, such as pipes, valves, and equipment, ensuring that the components can connect appropriately based on their characteristics and the rules defined for the system. By determining feature interactions, connectivity rules help in modeling the flow of utility services and the behavior of the network under different scenarios.

This aspect of connectivity ensures that the network behaves logically and accurately represents real-world utility systems. For example, a connectivity rule might specify that a water main can only connect to certain types of valves, impacting how water can flow through the network and how the network is maintained.

The other options, while relevant to data management and governance, do not directly pertain to the fundamental purpose of connectivity rules within a utility network. Data storage methods, user access rights, and external data imports relate to how the data is handled rather than how elements of the network interact with each other.