Objectives

The course provides an introduction to the Hydrologic Modeling System, HEC-HMS, focusing both on using the program and performing watershed studies. The course starts with a summary and overview of the program and the mechanics of constructing watershed models. Then, components of the software are studied in detail. Major modules include GIS tools, data entry, historic precipitation approaches, computing infiltration and excess surface runoff, transforming excess precipitation to runoff, baseflow, and channel routing. Parameter estimation techniques are taught throughout with instruction about model calibration. Instruction material is supported with workshops that illustrate the basic steps of building a model for project applications. A final project is included that ties together topics to create a calibrated model from scratch.

The table below provides the schedule of instruction. Links to lectures, workshop pages located in the HEC-HMS Tutorials and Guides spaces, and YouTube videos are provided. All workshop files can be downloaded from the workshops pages. Watching the YouTube videos prior to the class is optional. You will need HEC-HMS version 4.12-beta.3 or newer and HEC-DSSVue version 3.3.29 to open the workshop files. You can download the software from https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/downloads.aspx and https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-dssvue/downloads.aspx.

Links to PROSPECT Forms

https://learn.llc.army.mil/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_8712631_1&course_id=_101809_1

ULC Course #178

Session #2401

Zip of Course Files

FY2024_Basic_HMS_Lectures.zip

Instructors

Daniel Black (Black_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Avital Breverman (Course Coordinator - Breverman_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Lauren Coe (Coe_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
David Ho (Ho_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Melissa Mika (Mika_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Natasha Sokolovskaya (Sokolovskaya_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Nick Van (Van_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Josh Willis (Willis_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)

Day 1

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30	Admin	Welcome, Goals, Class Structure
08:30	09:00	30	Admin	Pre-Test		See Links to PROSPECT Forms
09:00	09:15	15		Break
09:15	10:30	75	L 1	Introduction to HEC-HMS	Avital Breverman	L1_Introduction_to_HEC-HMS.pptx	Overview of Hydrologic Modeling for Studies Introduction to HEC-HMS Playlist
10:30	11:30	60	W 1	Creating a Simple Model	Nick Van Avital Breverman	Creating a Simple Model Introduction Creating a New Meteorologic Model Creating a New Control Specifications Creating and Computing a Simulation Run Viewing Model Results Viewing Observed Flow
11:30	11:45	15	Q 1	Quiz covering L 1	Avital Breverman
11:45	12:45	60		Lunch
12:45	14:30	105	L 2	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Lauren Coe	L2_HEC-HMS_GIS_Delineation Tools.pptx	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	16:15	90	W 2	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Lauren Coe Nick Van	Introduction Creating and Linking Terrain Data into a Basin Model Preprocessing Terrain Data to Delineate Subbasin and Reach Elements Using Merge and Split Tools to Customize Subbasin and Reach Delineation Finalizing the Hydrologic Network
16:15	16:30	15		Quiz covering L 2	Lauren Coe
16:30	16:45	15		Review	Lauren Coe

Day 2

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30	Review
08:30	09:15	45	L 3	Shared Data Components	Natasha Sokolovskaya	L 3 Shared Data Components_2023.pptx	HEC-HMS Shared Data Components Playlist
09:15	09:30	15		Break
09:30	10:15	45	W 3	Creating Shared Data Components	Natasha Sokolovskaya Daniel Black	Introduction Creating Time Series Data Creating Paired Data Creating Grid Data
10:15	10:30	15	Q 3	Quiz covering L 3	Natasha Sokolovskaya
10:30	10:45	15		Review - Creating Shared Data Components	Natasha Sokolovskaya
10:45	11:45	60	L 4	HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	David Ho	L 4 Basin_Characteristics_Parameter_Expression_Calculator.pptx	HEC-HMS Parameter Estimation Tools Playlist
11:45	12:45	60		Lunch
12:45	13:15	30	W 4	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	David Ho Daniel Black	Introduction to HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools Computing Subbasin and Reach Characteristics Estimating Parameters with GIS Datasets
13:15	13:30	15	Q 4	Quiz covering L 4	David Ho
13:30	13:45	15		Review HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	David Ho
13:45	15:00	75	L 5	Meteorologic Models - Historic Precipitation	Melissa Mika	L5_Meteorologic_Models.pptx	HEC-HMS Meteorologic Models Playlist
15:00	1515	15		Break
15:15	16:15	60	W 5	Setting up a Meteorologic Model	Melissa Mika Avital Breverman	Modeling Historical Precipitation Overview Gage Weights Precipitation Method Gridded Precipitation Method Creating an Inverse Distance Precipitation Model
16:15	16:30	15	Q 5	Quiz covering L 5	Melissa Mika
16:30	16:45	15		Review Meteorologic Models - Historic Precipitation	Melissa Mika

Day 3

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30		Review
08:30	09:30	60	L 6	Loss Rate Methods	Avital Breverman	L6_Loss_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Loss Rate Methods Playlist
09:30	10:15	45	W 6	Applying Loss Methods	Avital Breverman Lauren Coe	Introduction to the Loss Rate Tutorials Applying the Initial and Constant Loss Method Applying the Green and Ampt Loss Method Applying the Deficit and Constant Loss Method
10:15	10:30	15	Q 6	Quiz covering L 6	Avital Breverman
10:30	10:45	15		Review	Avital Breverman
10:45	11:00	15		Break
11:00	12:00	60	L 7	Transform Methods	Josh Willis	L7_Transform_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Transform Methods Playlist
12:00	13:00	60		Lunch
13:00	13:45	45	W 7	Estimating Clark Unit Hydrograph Parameters	Josh Willis Natasha Sokolovskaya	Introduction Estimating Time of Concentration and Storage Coefficient Time and Concentration and Storage Coefficient Impacts to the Hydrograph
13:45	14:00	15	Q 7	Quiz covering L 7	Josh Willis
14:00	14:15	15		Review	Josh Willis
14:15	15:00	45	L 8	Baseflow Simulation	David Ho	L8_Baseflow_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Baseflow Methods Playlist
15:00	15:15	15		Break
15:15	16:00	45	W 8	Applying Linear Reservoir Baseflow	David Ho Melissa Mika	Introduction Applying the Linear Reservoir Baseflow Method Applying the Recession Baseflow Method
16:00	16:15	15	Q 8	Quiz covering L 8	David Ho
16:15	16:30	15		Review	David Ho

Day 4

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:15	15		Review
08:15	09:45	90	L 9	Channel Routing	Daniel Black	L9_Open_Channel_Flow_within_HEC-HMS.pptx	HEC-HMS Channel Routing Methods Playlist
09:45	10:30	45	W 9	Applying Reach Routing Methods	Daniel Black Nick Van	Introduction Applying the Lag Routing Method Applying the Muskingum Routing Method Applying the Muskingum-Cunge Routing Method
10:30	10:45	15		Break
10:45	11:00	15	Q 9	Quiz covering L 9	Daniel Black
11:00	11:15	15		Review	Daniel Black
11:15	12:15	60	L 10	Model Calibration	Natasha Sokolovskaya	L 10 Model Calibration_2023.pptx moriasimodeleval.pdf EXTRA Calibration Metrics.pptx	HEC-HMS Model Calibration Playlist
12:15	13:15		Lunch
13:15	14:00	45	W 10	Calibrating a Simple Model	Natasha Sokolovskaya Josh Willis	Introduction Populate Initial Parameters Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 1 Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 2
14:00	14:15	15	Q 10	Quiz covering L 10	Natasha Sokolovskaya
14:15	14:30	15		Review	Natasha Sokolovskaya
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	15:30	45	L 11	Model Calibration - Complex Studies	Josh Willis	L11_Advanced_Model_Calibration.pptx
15:30	17:00	90	Project	Final Project Working Session - Develop a Calibrated Model From Scratch	Avital Breverman Josh Willis Melissa Mika	Basic HEC-HMS Class Final Project

Day 5

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	09:30	90	Project	Final Project Working Session - Develop a Calibrated Model From Scratch	Avital Breverman Melissa Mika Lauren Coe	Basic HEC-HMS Class Final Project
09:30	10:15	45		Review Final Project
10:15	10:30	15		Break
10:30	11:00	30	Admin	Post Test		See Links to PROSPECT Forms
11:00	11:30	30	Admin	End of Course Questionnaire		See Links to PROSPECT Forms

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Hydrologic Modeling with HEC-HMS (2023)