Optionally, Information Exchanges can be formed between activities within the same node. However, Needlines are ONLY formed from Information Exchanges between two activities at two different nodes.

One approach to forming Needlines within a node is to decompose the node into sub-nodes and then assign these sub-nodes to the activities as appropriate. For example, the activity Access is decomposed into two activities within the node Wash DC. Usually, there would be no Information Exchanges formed between Act 41 and Act 42.

However, if we decompose the Wash DC node into, say, McLean and Alexandria, and reassign the activities to these sub-nodes, then new valid IEXs and Needlines will be formed within the Wash DC node.

And when we connect these new Needlines between the existing nodes (LA, External Pull Node) and sub-nodes (Alexandria, McLean) within the Wash DC node, we can see the new OV-2 diagram with the valid intranode Needlines.