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, 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 4.13-beta.4 or newer and HEC-DSSVue version 3.3.29 or newer to open the workshop files.

Instructors

Tom Brauer (Brauer_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Jay Pak (Pak_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)

Download all lecture PowerPoint files here: https://drive.hecdev.net/share/LxSyiZEs

Download all workshop starting and ending files here: https://drive.hecdev.net/share/D2rZvxFL

Day 1

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:30	09:30	60	Admin	Welcome, Goals, Class Structure	Tom Brauer
09:30	10:30	60	L1	Introduction to HEC-HMS	Tom Brauer	L1_Introduction_to_HEC-HMS.pptx	Overview of Hydrologic Modeling for Studies Introduction to HEC-HMS Playlist
10:30	10:45	15		Break
10:45	11:45	60	W1	Creating a Simple Model	Jay Pak	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
11:45	12:00	15	Q1	Review Creating a Simple Model	Jay Pak
12:00	13:00	60		Lunch
13:00	14:30	90	L2	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Tom Brauer	L2_HEC-HMS_GIS_Delineation Tools.pptx	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	16:15	90	W2	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Tom Brauer	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	16:45	30	Q2	Review HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Tom Brauer

Day 2

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:30	09:30	60	L3	Shared Data Components	Tom Brauer	L3_Shared_Data_Components.pptx	HEC-HMS Shared Data Components Playlist
09:30	09:45	15		Break
09:45	10:30	45	W3	Creating Shared Data Components	Tom Brauer	Introduction Creating Time Series Data Creating Paired Data Creating Grid Data
10:30	10:45	15	Q3	Review Shared Data Components	Tom Brauer
10:45	11:30	45	L4	HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	Jay Pak	L4_Basin_Characteristics_Parameter_Expression_Calculator.pptx	HEC-HMS Parameter Estimation Tools Playlist
11:30	12:30	60		Lunch
12:30	13:00	30	W4	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	Jay Pak	Introduction to HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools Computing Subbasin and Reach Characteristics Estimating Parameters with GIS Datasets
13:00	13:15	15	Q4	Review HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	Jay Pak
13:15	14:30	75	L5	Meteorologic Models - Gridded Precip & Temperature, Hamon ET	Tom Brauer	L5_Meteorologic_Models.pptx	HEC-HMS Meteorologic Models Playlist
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	15:30	45	W5	Setting up a Meteorologic Model	Tom Brauer	Modeling Historical Precipitation Overview Gridded Precipitation Method
15:30	16:00	30	Q5	Review Met Model	Tom Brauer

Day 3

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:30	09:00	30	L6	Snow Methods -Temperature Index ONLY	Tom Brauer	L6_Snowmelt_Modeling_Methodologies.pptx
09:00	10:15	75	W6	Point Snowmelt Calibration	Tom Brauer	Introduction Temperature-Index Method
10:15	10:30	15		Break
10:30	10:45	15	Q6	Review Point Snowmelt Calibration	Tom Brauer
10:45	11:15	30	L7	Loss Methods - Deficit & Constant ONLY	Jay Pak		HEC-HMS Loss Rate Methods Playlist
11:15	11:45	30	W7	Applying Loss Methods - Deficit & Constant ONLY	Jay Pak	Introduction to the Loss Rate Tutorials Applying the Deficit and Constant Loss Method
11:45	12:00	15	Q7	Review Loss Methods - Deficit & Constant ONLY	Jay Pak
12:00	13:00	60		Lunch
13:00	13:30	30	L8	Transform Methods - Clark ONLY	Tom Brauer	L8_Transform_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Transform Methods Playlist
13:30	14:30	60	W8	Estimating Clark Unit Hydrograph Parameters	Tom Brauer	Introduction Estimating Time of Concentration and Storage Coefficient Time and Concentration and Storage Coefficient Impacts to the Hydrograph
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	15:00	15	Q8	Review Transform Methods - Clark ONLY	Tom Brauer
15:00	15:30	30	L9	Baseflow Simulation - Linear Reservoir ONLY	Jay Pak	L9_Baseflow_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Baseflow Methods Playlist
15:30	16:00	30	W9	Baseflow Methods - Linear Reservoir ONLY	Jay Pak	Introduction Applying the Linear Reservoir Baseflow Method
16:00	16:30	30	Q9	Review Baseflow Methods	Jay Pak

Day 4

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:30	09:30	60	L10	Channel Routing	Jay Pak	L10_Open_Channel_Flow_within_HEC-HMS.pptx	HEC-HMS Channel Routing Methods Playlist
09:30	10:30	60	W10	Applying Channel Routing Methods	Jay Pak	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	Q10	Review Channel Routing Methods	Jay Pak
11:00	12:00	60	L11	Model Calibration	Tom Brauer	L11_Model_Calibration.pptx moriasimodeleval.pdf EXTRA Calibration Metrics.pptx	HEC-HMS Model Calibration Playlist
12:00	13:00			Lunch
13:00	15:00	120	W11	Demonstration of Indus River HEC-HMS Project	Tom Brauer
15:00	15:30	30	Admin	End of Course Discussion	Tom Brauer

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Hydrologic Modeling with HEC-HMS | Pakistan (2025)