HEC-RAS

Overview

HEC-RAS (River Analysis System) is the hydraulic modeling software package used to compute water surface profiles based on flows computed by the HEC-HMS and HEC-ResSim models. HEC-RAS is primarily used to generate inundation outputs, including polygons and depth grids, that can be used as inputs to the HEC-FIA model or displayed on an inundation map.  

Funded Activities

Accomplishments

Linking Results in HEC-FIA with HDF Files (HEC-RAS 6.5, CWMS 3.4)

The team completed the work to link results from HEC-RAS in HEC-FIA using HDF files. The team also resolved issues with HEC-RAS passing results to the CAVI, and the CAVI reading the result HDF files as linkable Data Locations. 

Bug Fixes and Testing (CWMS 3.4)

The team spent time testing HEC-RAS 6.5 within the CAVI throughout the year to ensure that the software worked as expected. There were several key bugs identified and fixed during FY24. 

RAS Mapper Terrain Display in HEC-FIA

Some HEC-RAS generated terrains contain a file type tag in the HDF file (depending on which version of HEC-RAS they were generated in). The RAS Mapper libraries used in HEC-FIA were sensitive to this tag and not displaying terrains that were missing the tag. This issue was corrected.

HEC-RAS HDF Compute in HEC-FIA

Updating the RAS Mapper libraries used in HEC-FIA caused changes to the way results were being written for depth queries at points (structures). The RAS FIA Tools were updated to reconcile the changes with the new RAS Mapper libraries.

RAS Mapper Default Results addition in HEC-FIA

By default, when a result file is added to RAS Mapper via the API instance (outside of a project), the default result maps are not generated like they would be inside of a HEC-RAS project. An enhancement was made to the software so that the default maps are added.

Technology Transfer - Working Sessions and Field Support

The MMC hosted monthly working sessions on the CWMS Modeling Group within Microsoft Teams, allowing HEC-RAS modelers to receive support from experts. The team participated in 10 meetings throughout FY24. These sessions are a valuable way to provide field support, answer questions, and demonstrate important capabilities of the software to attendees. The team also provided one-on-one support to offices on an ad-hoc basis throughout the year.  

Plan for Integration of HEC-RAS 2025 within the CAVI

This work was deferred until FY25, once an alpha version of HEC-RAS 2025 is released. This will give the team time to understand the new design of the HEC-RAS software before developing a plan for future CAVI integration.