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Risk

Management

Center

Hydro-Metrologic Modeling

Tools for Water Management

and Analysis

June 2016

William Charley

US Army Corps of Engineers

Hydrologic Engineering Center

Institute for Water Resources

Modeling in the 1930’s – 1950’s

More Recently….

Now

Computer Modeling Programs

Model Full Name Agency

VIC Variable Infiltration Capacity University of Washington

SSARR Streamflow Synthesis and Reservoir Regulation Corps of Engineers

Sacramento Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting NOAA - NWS

SWMM Storm Water Management Model EPA

MIKE SHE Système Hydrologique Européen DHI

PRMS Precipitation Runoff Modeling System USGS

HSPF Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran Stanford, EPA

SWAT Soil and Water Assessment Tool USDA, Texas A&M

HEC-HMS Hydrologic Modeling System Corps of Engineers

What is a “Computer Model”?

A computer model is the interaction of a

modeling program and its input data and

parameters, which attempts to accurately

simulate a system under given conditions

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Since 1964, Technical Center of Expertise (TCX) in hydrologic engineering and planning

analysis executing a balanced program of technical assistance, research, software

development, training and special studies. Located in Davis, California.

Organization within the Institute for Water Resources.

Institute for Water Resources

Hydrologic Engineering Center

Training and

Software Support

Technical Assistance Research

Software Development

HEC Basic Precepts 'HEC Business Model'

HEC exists to help the Corps perform it's CW mission in

a world-class manner.

● The work of the Corps is performed at the field office level.

● HEC products and services are for field use and application.

● Generic Software can be used anywhere worldwide.

● Software is used worldwide for 5 major reasons.

Goal is to take "State-of-the-Art" and turn it into

"State-of-the-Practice".

Hydrologic Engineering Center

35 full-time professionals;

hydraulic engineers, a few

computer specialists, mostly

MS degrees, a few PhDs.

Five to ten University of

California – Davis students.

Primarily support USACE; some other Federal agencies;

growing international assistance; increasing number of

MoU's; visiting scholars – U.S. and international

HEC Software Activities

Solve problems in a general

manner for use everywhere.

Complete product line for

hydrologic engineering and

planning analysis in HEC

software library:

Hydrologic Statistics to River

Hydraulics to Reservoir

Analysis to Flood Risk

Management to Consequence

Analysis to Watershed and

System Analysis

HEC-HMS Hydrologic Modeling System

■ Computes

streamflow

throughout a river

basin given

precipitation and

watershed

characteristics.

■ Gaged or gridded rainfall is

the main input data

The Rainfall Runoff Process

Snow

Infiltration

Precipitation

Water Table

Lake

Spring

Surface

Transpiration

Evaporation

Condensation

Groundwater

River Ocean

runoff

Groundwater Flow

■ Industry standard hydrologic

modeling tool that is used worldwide.

■ Used by all District and some Division

Offices. Important tool for levee and

dam safety studies. Typical usage is

over 180 studies totaling 19M/year.

HEC provides HMS training to ~100

engineers annually

■ Certified for FEMA studies. Adopted

by multiple agencies.

■ Software provided free of charge

(paid by USA taxpayers)

■ ~ 27,000 downloads last year

HEC-HMS Hydrologic Modeling Software

Flood Event Modeling

Interior Drainage

Snowmelt

Reservoirs

Low Flow

Environmental

HEC-RAS River Analysis System

■ Computes river

velocities, stages,

profiles, and

inundated areas given

streamflow and

geometry.

■ Sediment Transport

■ Water Quality &

Temperature

■ Two-dimensional

capabilities added

River Modeling

Sediment – Water

Quality Modeling

Hydraulic Structures

Levee Failures

Floodplain Mapping

■ Industry standard hydraulic tool used

worldwide

■ Used by all District and Division Offices.

Important tool for dam and levee safety

studies. Used on over 300 studies totaling

$41M/year. HEC provides RAS training to

~150 engineers in annually and ~100,000

worldwide downloads/year

■ NWS, NRCS, USGS and FHWA adopted

RAS for 1D River Hydraulics. 80% of

FEMA Floodplain/Floodway analyses are

performed with HEC-RAS

HEC-RAS Hydraulic Modeling Software

HEC-RAS (River Analysis System)

Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

April/May 2011

HEC-RAS Mapper

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HEC-RAS Mapper

■ Simulates reservoir operations

throughout a river basin given

streamflows and reservoir

operating rules and computes

downstream hydrographs.

■ Uses reservoir inflow and

downstream local hydrographs

computed by HEC-HMS.

■ The impact of the hydrographs

are then evaluated with HEC-

RAS and HEC-FIA.

Reservoir Operations with HEC-ResSim

HEC-FDA Flood Damage Reduction Analysis

Plan Evaluation and Plan Formulation Tool

Helps answer the question "Which proposed flood damage reduction plan is the best from an economic standpoint"?

● Evaluate the existing condition

● Analyze alternative damage reduction plans

Compare plans using Expected Annual Damage and damage reduction benefits

Since 1996, FDA uses risk analysis procedures

Economic / Impact Analysis

with HEC-FIA

Computes damages to

structures and other

contents of the floodplain

(including agricultural)

given river stages and

damage relationships.

Computes damages and

benefits between different

scenarios, and with and

without project conditions.

CWMS / HEC-RTS Corps Water Management System

Real-Time Simulation Real-Time Decision Support for Water Management

700+ Multipurpose Reservoirs and Flow Control Structures,

Weather Radar

Streamgages

Operational Decisions Inundation Forecasts

Real-Time Fully Integrated Hydrologic Models thousands of miles of Levees

To achieve the full range of authorized purposes from all of our projects

Floods to droughts and everything in between

CWMS / RTS Process

Data Processing

Data Storage Modeling Observed

Data

Water Control

Management

Decisions

Instructions

SERVERS

Public and Cooperators

Field Office

Weather Forecast

Model Linking NEXRAD

MFP

HMS

ResSim

FIA RAS

Observed Precipitation

GageInterp

Observed Precipitation

Observed & Future Precipitation

Flow

Flow Flow

Stage

Inundation Map

• HEC-HMS computes forecasted flows from

• Observed precipitation from NEXRAD and rain gages

• Future precipitation forecasts and scenarios

• Observed flow

• ResSim simulates reservoir operations and downstream flows from HEC-HMS flows.

• HEC-RAS computes stages and inundation areas from ResSim flows.

• FIA computes damages and impacts from HEC-RAS stages or ResSim flows.

• Inundation areas and depths computed by RAS Mapper

HEC-RTS vs. CWMS

HEC-RTS

Real-Time Simulation

PC Database

HEC-DSS

CWMS Corps Water

Management System

Server Database

Oracle Database

Emergency planning & response

Project evaluation (new projects, alternative projects, modified regulation)

Post-event analyses (benefits)

Floodplain studies

USACE Infrastructure Strategy

Dam and Levee Safety Program

CWMS Opportunities

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HEC-WAT Watershed Analysis Tool

An overarching

interface that allows

the PDT to perform

water resources

studies in a

comprehensive,

systems based

approach by building,

editing and running

models commonly

applied by multi-

disciplinary teams and

save and display data

and results in a

coordinated fashion.

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Development of HEC-WAT Schematic

Stream

Alignment

Consequence

Areas

CCPs

Reservoirs

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ResSim

Models

RAS Models

FIA Models

Development of HEC-WAT Model

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HEC-WAT – Result Comparison

Typical HEC International Assistance

■ Off-The-Shelf-Training – Most common and cost effective form of outreach; two or more staff members present technical materials and conduct hands-on workshops regarding the HEC product suite.

■ Consulting/Capacity Building – HEC engineers work together with participants to build models of their water resource projects and systems, and assist in the analysis of results. Usually combined with training based on customized materials, and costs more due to planning and customization efforts.

■ Technical staff exchanges – Foster long-term relationships hosting groups for up to 1-2 weeks, or individuals for months; flexible approach to depth and breadth of interactions with HEC staff or regional partners.

■ Collaborations – HEC can partner with other groups or government agencies, such as USGS or USBR, to more comprehensively address a full range of water resource engineering needs.

International Efforts in Africa

■ Nairobi, Kenya

■ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mekong River Commission, Phnom Penh, Cambodia University of Nairobi, Kenya

ITAIPU, Asuncion, Paraguay Ministry of Water, Kabul, Afghanistan

USACE

CEIWR-HEC

®

Questions?