The figure below shows an example of how HEC-FIA organizes the directories and files that are created in the project directory. In this example, the study directory is /NB_project. As data is entered, other files and subdirectories are created.

Figure: Example HEC-FIA Project Directory Structure

The table below describes each directory and file that is shown in the above figure.

File or Directory Name

Contents

NB_project

Project directory that is created when a user creates a new project (see Managing Projects).

NB_project.prj

NB_project.prj.bak

ASCII text file created by HEC-FIA when a project is created. Contains the name and description of the project, what user created the project, map coordinate information, and references to HEC-FIA project elements. The *.bak file is an automatic backup file of the *.prj file.

Default.ag

Default.ag.bak 

ASCIISerializer text file created by HEC-FIA when a project is created. Contains information for a default analysis group. The Default.ag.bak file is an automatic backup file of the Default.ag file.

programOrder.xml

programOrder.xml.bak 

An XML file created by HEC-FIA when a project is created. The programOrder.xml.bak file is an automatic backup file of the programOrder.xml file.

NB_project.projection
NB_project.projection.bak 

ASCII text file created by HEC-FIA when the projection for the project is set. Contains the projection information for the HEC-FIA project. The *.bak file is an automatic backup file of the *.projection file.

alternatives

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when an alternative is created.

ALT_CrossSections.alternative

ALT_Reconstruction.alternative

ALT_Grids.alternative 

An XML file that is created by HEC-FIA when an alternative is created. This file contains information on an HEC-FIA alternative.

fia

Sub-directory copied by HEC-FIA for a project created in Version 3.0.1 (or older). Contains legacy files that define data items for life loss calculations, global data, and impact area data for life loss calculations.

ActivityTypeDistributions.dat

Global.fdg

ImpactArea.lifesim

ActivityTypeDistributions.dat is an ASCII text file that contains user entered information for life loss calculations.
Global.fgd is an ASCII text file that contains global information (boundary information, agriculture and urban price index factors, monetary units, system units).
ImpactArea.lifesim is an ASCII Serializer text file that contains impact area data for life loss calculations.

geographic data 

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when geographic data is created. Several sub-directories are created:
boundaries - this directory contains all of the information about boundary data.
emergency planning zones - this directory contains all of the information about EPZ including impact areas data updated from HEC-FIA Version 3.0.1 (or older).
impact areas - this directory is copied by HEC-FIA for a project created in Version 3.0.1 (or older). Contains original impact area information.

inundation data 

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when inundation data is defined. Also, created are sub-directories depending on which inundation type is selected - CCP only; cross sections only configuration; grids cross sections configuration; grids only configuration; holdouts cross sections, holdouts grids, and Holdout - RAS HDF.

inventory

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a structure inventory is created. Several sub-directories are created:
Structure inventories - this directory contains all of the information about the structure inventory, damage categories and structure occupancy types.
Critical infrastructure - this directory contains all of the critical infrastructure information.
Agricultural Data - this directory contains all of the agricultural data information.
Impact response - this directory contains all of the impact response information.

layouts

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a project is created. This folder contains the saved layouts for the Desktop Pane.

maps

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a project is created and is used to store map layers and GIS coverages associated with a project. It is strongly encouraged that all maps (of any type) related to the HEC-FIA project be added to this directory. When adding map layers to a HEC-FIA, maps are the location where the maps are copied (Select Map Layer to Add dialog box with Create Copy option selected).

runs

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a simulation is created. Contains sub-directories that are created (with name of alternative that is associated with the simulation) for each simulation that is computed. All HEC-FIA results are stored to this directory.

shared

Sub-directory created by the HEC-FIA when a study is created. This folder is a place to store files that might be used by the study.

simulation

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a simulation is created.

Reconstruction.simulation

ASCII text file created by HEC-FIA when a simulation is created. Contains the name and description of the simulation, the name of the associated HEC-FIA alternative, event name, and the time window name.

study

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA for a project created in Version 3.0.1 (or older). Contains legacy database files (*dbf, *dbt, *.mdx) that contain the data when creating measures, impact areas, and common computation points.

time windows

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a Time Window is created.

TimeWindow.timewindow
TimeWindow.timewindow.bak 

ASCIISerializer text file created by HEC-FIA when a time window is created. Contains the name and description of the time window, and the start and end dates of the time window. The *.bak file is an automatic backup file of the *.timewindow file.

warning issuance scenario

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a Warning Issuance Scenario is created.

watershed

Sub-directory created by HEC-FIA when a project is created. Sub-directories are created for each HEC-FIA watershed element that is defined – computation points, reservoirs, storage areas, stream alignments, terrain grids, watershed configurations, and cross sections.