Data in the watershed that needs to be monitored will be selected from the time series icon layers, which have already been configured (Time Series Icons and Time Series Icons Layers). The time series icons will be placed at locations in the watershed that correspond with data that needs to be monitored, and will be organized into layers (groups), which will make the data readily visible. Time series icons are available in the Acquisition, Visualization, and Setup modules in HEC-RTS and provide access to functions related to data. This includes acquiring, monitoring, validating, and editing data by using the Acquisition module. The Visualization module provides a flexible set of tools that allows visualization of data (i.e., gridded precipitation data). These visualization tools help you evaluate the current state of the watershed by comparing the data to threshold values that define normal conditions. For example, let's say an upper threshold value for precipitation data of three inches has been defined. If a precipitation value is four inches, then the time series icon will alert you using a visual indicator.

Acquiring Data

In the Acquisition module, you will retrieve time-series data from gages. This data will typically include precipitation; river flows and stages; temperature; and, reservoir releases and elevations. One way you can view this data, is by defining a time window that is relative to the current time by setting look back and look ahead times (in days or hours). Another way to view data is historically, you specify a starting and ending date and time. An example of defining time window relative to current time is displayed in Figure 1.

Monitoring and Validating Data

In the Acquisition module, you will monitor and validate your time-series data. Several tools are available to show the quality and quantity of the data. Quality color bars (Figure 2) and thumbnail plots (Figure 3) provide you with a quick overview of the acquisition processes by showing you the quality (missing values needing to be filled-in) and quantity (magnitude of data and possible data outliers) of your data. If the quality color bar or thumbnail plot for a location indicates that the data are questionable, then you can check the data using plots (Figure 4) and tables (Figure 5).

You can use the Data Status Summary (Figure 6) to view groups of data (e.g., all precipitation data, all flow data). Refer to Acquisition Module and Data Status Lists for additional details for monitoring and validating data in HEC-RTS.

Editing Data

When you are checking the validity of data to verify its accuracy, you might need to edit questionable data and fill-in missing data. You use the Data Validation Editor (Figure 7) in the Acquisition module to edit time series data. Refer to Data Validation Editor for further details.

You can use text-entry editing or graphical editing to make data revisions. When there are data gaps (i.e., missing data), this tool is also convenient for estimating values using the graphical editor or the table of data values. After editing the data, you can choose to accept the changes and store the revised data values back to a DSS file. Refer to Data Validation Editor for additional details for editing data.

Visualizing Data

The Visualization module allows you to view current conditions in your watershed and the associated hydrometeorological data in a georeferenced context (e.g., gridded precipitation), as shown in Figure 8. Grid animation controls allow you to view precipitation grids for the time window you have chosen in the Visualization module. These controls (Figure 9) function as you would expect the controls to work for a video player.

Like the quality color bars used in the Acquisition module, you can use threshold color bars (Figure 10) in the Visualization module to compare current data against threshold values that you set for a location. For example, in the Acquisition module you may wish to display quality color bars to identify missing data, while in the Visualization module, you may wish to use threshold color bars or thumbnail plots to understand your watershed's hydrometeorological or operational conditions.

For example, in Figure 10, the upper left threshold color bar displays red for the parts of the time window when a gage downstream of the reservoir exceeds an operational flow threshold. The other three threshold color bars (Figure 10) display the times when key downstream gages exceed the NWS (National Weather Service) "monitor" stage (blue) or flood stage (red). You can also use thumbnail plots and tables to visualize your time-series data. For example, in Figure 10, thumbnail plots display hydrographs at gages upstream and downstream of the reservoir, and on a lateral branch of the river. Refer to Visualization Module for additional details for visualizing data.