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.

The table below provides the schedule of instruction. Links to lectures, workshop pages located in the HEC-HMS Tutorials and Guides spaces are provided. All workshop files can be downloaded from the workshops pages. The Asynchronous table contain additional content and workshops. We highly suggest watching the YouTube video and reviewing the workshop as part of the course. You will need HEC-HMS version 4.13-beta.4 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.

Instructors

Daniel Black (Black_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
David Ho (Ho_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)

Asynchronous

Topic	Notes	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures	Presentation Slides
HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools			HEC-HMS Parameter Estimation Tools Playlist	Basin_Characteristics_Parameter_Expression_Calculator.pptx
Applying HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools		Introduction Computing Subbasin and Reach Characteristics Estimating Parameters with GIS datasets
Model Calibration - Complex Studies				Advanced_Model_Calibration.pptx
Project	Final Project Working Session - Develop a Calibrated Model From Scratch	Basic HEC-HMS Class Final Project
Optimizing Storms	Using the Optimization Compute to maximize discharge using historic storms.	Optimizing Gridded Precipitation

Tuesday

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Presentation Slides	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:45	45	Admin	Welcome, Goals, Class Structure	Daniel		Admin.pptx
08:45	09:45	60	L 1	Introduction to HEC-HMS	Daniel		L1 Introduction to HEC-HMS.pptx	Overview of Hydrologic Modeling for Studies Introduction to HEC-HMS Playlist
09:45	10:00	15		Break
10:00	11:00	60	W 1	Creating a Simple Model	Daniel, David	Introduction Creating a New Basin Model Creating a New Meteorologic Model Creating a New Control Specifications Creating and Computing a Simulation Run Viewing Model Results Viewing Observed Flow
11:00	11:15	15	R 1	Review W 1	Daniel
11:15	12:00	45	L 2	Shared Data Components	David		L2 Shared Data Components.pptx	HEC-HMS Shared Data Components Playlist
12:00	13:00	60		Lunch
13:00	13:45	45	W 2	Creating Shared Data Components	David, NWK Staff Member	Introduction Creating Time Series Data Creating Paired Data Grids Creating Grid Data Downloading, Importing, and Processing Gridded Data
13:45	14:00	15	R 2	Review W 2	David
14:00	15:15	75	L 3	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Daniel		L3 GIS Delineation Tools.pptx	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools
15:15	15:30	15		Break
15:30	16:30	60	W 3	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Daniel, David	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
16:30	16:45	15	R 3	Review W 3	Daniel
16:45	17:00	15	Q 3	Quiz covering L1 and L2 and L3	Daniel/David

Wednesday

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Presentation Slides	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	09:15	75	L 4	Meteorological Models - Gridded Precipitation and Hypothetical Storm	David		L4_Meteorologic_Models.pptx	HEC-HMS Meteorologic Models Playlist
09:15	09:30	15		Break
09:30	10:30	60	W 4	Setting up a Meteorological Model	David, Daniel	Introduction Gridded Precipitation Method Hypothetical Storm
10:30	10:45	15	R 4	Review Meteorologic Models - Historic Precipitation	David
10:45	11:45	60	L 5	Loss Rate Methods	Daniel		L5 Loss Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Loss Rate Methods Playlist
11:45	12:45	60		Lunch
12:45	13:45	60	W 5	Applying Loss Methods	Daniel, NWK Staff Member	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
13:45	14:00	15	R 5	Review W 5	Daniel
14:00	14:15	15		Break
14:15	15:15	60	L 6	Transform Methods	David		L6 Transform Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Transform Methods Playlist
15:15	16:15	60	W 6	Estimating Clark Unit Hydrograph Parameters	David, Daniel	Introduction Estimating Time of Concentration and Storage Coefficient Time and Concentration and Storage Coefficient Impacts to the Hydrograph Switch to SCS Method Switch to ModClark Method
16:15	16:30	15	R 6	Review W 6	David
16:30	16:45	15	Q 6	Quiz on L 4, L 5, L 6	Daniel/David

Thursday

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Presentation Slides	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	09:00	60	L 7	Baseflow Simulation	David		L7_Baseflow_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Baseflow Methods Playlist
09:00	09:15	15		Break
09:15	10:15	60	W 7	Applying Linear Reservoir Baseflow	David, NWK Staff Member	Introduction Applying the Linear Reservoir Baseflow Method Applying the Recession Baseflow Method
10:15	10:30	15	R 7	Review W 7	David
10:30	11:30	60	L 8	Channel Routing	Daniel		L8 Open Channel Flow.pptx	HEC-HMS Channel Routing Methods Playlist
11:30	12:30	60		Lunch
12:30	13:30	60	W 8	Applying Reach Routing Methods	Daniel, NWK Staff Member	Introduction Applying the Lag Routing Method Applying the Muskingum Routing Method Applying the Muskingum-Cunge Routing Method
13:30	13:45	15	R 8	Review W 8	Daniel
13:45	14:45	60	L 9	Model Calibration	David		L9 Model Calibration.pptx	HEC-HMS Model Calibration Playlist
14:45	15:00	15		Break
15:00	16:00	60	W 9	Calibrating a Simple Model	David, Daniel	Introduction Populate Initial Parameters Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 1 Use Optimization Option on Transform and Loss Rate parameters Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 2
16:00	16:15	15	R 9	Review W 9	David
16:15	16:30	15	Q 7, 8, 9	Quiz covering L 7, L 8, L 9	Daniel/David
16:30	16:45	15		Supplemental Workshop Recommendations	Daniel
16:45	17:00	15	Admin	Feedback Session	Daniel

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Hydrologic Modeling with HEC-HMS 3-day (Kansas City)