Overview

HEC-MetVue (Meteorological Visualization Utility Engine) is the primary tool used in CWMS for processing gridded meteorological data. It merges observed and forecast datasets into a single, unified input for use in HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models.

HEC-MetVue offers a range of user-friendly features, including:

  • Automated processing of observed and forecast input datasets (including filling in missing data)
  • Generating combined output datasets with consistent time intervals and spatial coverage
  • Visualizing basin-average statistics and dataset animations
  • Applying value adjustments and spatial shifts to support sensitivity analyses and “what-if” scenarios

Accomplishments

Software Maintenance

Essential HEC-MetVue bug fixes were addressed towards the CWMS 3.4 and 3.5 releases in FY25, and less critical known issues were documented in the CWMS release notes with plans to address in future CWMS versions.

Review and Acceptance of FY24 Contract Deliverables

HEC-MetVue 3.3 was released for CWMS 3.4, and included the following features:

  • Cumulus Plugin
    • New plugin tool now allows connecting to Cumulus directly from HEC-MetVue to choose and download products similar to the CAVI Extract Editor
  • New features to create zones and make zonal-based edits
    • New feature accessible from the HEC-MetVue Project Explorer to bring up a Zone Creation Manager and interactively group sub-basins into zones
  • Improved time-based editing support in the Dynamic Time Window Scanning Tool and the Zonal Editor
    • Better support for edits to individual and or groups of grid records in the Dynamic Time Window Scanning Tool
    • Application of zone-based adjustment to meteorological datasets through a new Zonal Editor
  • New Edits Tracking tool and Log feature
    • A new edits tracker tool that automatically pops up when gridsets are modified, allowing users to review, archive, and reimport archived edits.

Release HEC-MetVue 3.4

HEC-MetVue 3.4 was released for CWMS 3.5, including the following features:

  • New Project Creation Tips in the Help Menu
  • New layer for displaying a North Arrow and Scale in a Map Window.
  • Support for Basin Average Layer display in the Dynamic Time Window Animation tool
  • Support for synchronized animation among multiple Map Windows
  • Support for authenticating against the anticipated new URL for the Cumulus web service, as Cumulus hosting will be transitioning from CWBI AWS Commercial to CWBI AWS GovCloud later in 2025.
  • Support for renaming MetVue Map Windows

FY25 Contract Management

FY25 contract tasks were completed, including features that were released in HEC-MetVue 3.4 and additional features targeted for an upcoming HEC-MetVue 3.5 that will include:

  • Support for setting up and using MetInterp model alternative in CWMS/HEC-RTS 3.6
  • Simultaneous time series sampling from multiple Map Windows
  • Synchronized animation of Map Windows and time markers in Time Series Plots

Additionally, a design was completed for supporting gridded ensemble handling and computations in HEC-MetVue and HEC-RTS.

Contract Award for Basin Average Layer Scaling Feature

The basin average layer scaling feature was scoped and awarded in a contract to be implemented in FY26. 

Contract Award for Animation Video Recording Feature

The animation video recording feature was scoped and awarded in a contract to be implemented in FY26. 

Participate in Monthly CWMS NIP Working Sessions

Monthly CWMS NIP working sessions continued to be hosted throughout FY25, providing user support and software demos.

Performance Enhancements

Performance enhancements were scoped and awarded in a contract to be implemented in FY26.  Performance enhancements will focus on basin average computations and time-based editing.