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 4.12-beta.5 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

Mike Bartles (Bartles_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Tom Brauer (Brauer_bio_2024_Prospect.pdf)
Alex Flanigan
David Bogema
Josh Melliger

Download all lecture PowerPoint files here: https://drive.hecdev.net/share/OCk3elbr

Download all workshop starting and ending files here: https://drive.hecdev.net/share/KCxsbEX6

Day 1

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:45	45	Admin	Welcome, Goals, Class Structure
08:45	10:00	75	L1	Introduction to HEC-HMS	Mike Bartles	L1_Introduction_to_HEC-HMS.pptx	Overview of Hydrologic Modeling for Studies Introduction to HEC-HMS Playlist
10:00	10:15	15		Break
10:15	11:15	60	W1	Creating a Simple Model	Mike Bartles Tom Brauer	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
11:15	11:30	15	Q1	Review Creating a Simple Model
11:30	12:30	60		Lunch
12:30	14:15	105	L2	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Tom Brauer	L2_HEC-HMS_GIS_Delineation Tools.pptx	HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools
14:15	14:30	15		Break
14:30	16:00	90	W2	Applying HEC-HMS GIS Delineation Tools	Tom Brauer Mike Bartles	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

Day 2

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30	Q2	Review Day 1 Materials	Tom Brauer
08:30	09:30	60	L3	Shared Data Components	David Bogema	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	Mike Bartles Tom Brauer	Introduction Creating Time Series Data Creating Paired Data Creating Grid Data
10:30	10:45	15	Q3	Review Shared Data Components	Mike Bartles
10:45	11:30	45	L4	HEC-HMS GIS Parameter Estimation Tools	Tom Brauer	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	Tom Brauer Mike Bartles	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	Tom Brauer
13:15	14:30	75	L5	Meteorologic Models - Historic Precipitation	Alex Flanigan	L5_Meteorologic_Models.pptx	HEC-HMS Meteorologic Models Playlist
14:30	14:45	15		Break
14:45	15:45	60	W5	Setting up a Meteorologic Model	Mike Bartles Tom Brauer	Modeling Historical Precipitation Overview Gage Weights Precipitation Method Gridded Precipitation Method Creating an Inverse Distance Precipitation Model

Day 3

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30	Q5	Review Day 2 Materials	Mike Bartles
08:30	09:30	60	L6	Loss Methods	David Bogema	L6_Loss_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Loss Rate Methods Playlist
09:30	10:30	60	W6	Applying Loss Methods	Tom Brauer Mike Bartles	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
10:30	10:45	15		Break
10:45	11:00	15	Q6	Review Loss Methods	Tom Brauer
11:00	12:00	60	L7	Transform Methods	Mike Bartles	L7_Transform_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Transform Methods Playlist
12:00	13:00	60		Lunch
13:00	14:00	60	W7	Estimating Clark Unit Hydrograph Parameters	Mike Bartles Tom Brauer	Introduction Estimating Time of Concentration and Storage Coefficient Time and Concentration and Storage Coefficient Impacts to the Hydrograph
14:00	14:15	15	Q7	Review Transform Methods	Mike Bartles
14:15	15:00	45	L8	Baseflow Simulation	Alex Flanigan	L8_Baseflow_Methods.pptx	HEC-HMS Baseflow Methods Playlist
15:00	15:15	15		Break
15:15	16:00	45	W8	Applying Linear Reservoir Baseflow	Tom Brauer Mike Bartles	Introduction Applying the Linear Reservoir Baseflow Method Applying the Recession Baseflow Method

Day 4

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials	Supplementary Pre-recorded Lectures
08:00	08:30	30	Q8	Review Day 3 Materials	Tom Brauer
08:30	09:30	60	L9	Channel Routing	Mike Bartles	L9_Open_Channel_Flow_within_HEC-HMS.pptx	HEC-HMS Channel Routing Methods Playlist
09:30	10:30	60	W9	Applying Channel Routing Methods	Mike Bartles Tom Brauer	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	Q9	Review Channel Routing Methods	Mike Bartles
11:00	12:00	60	L10	Model Calibration	Mike Bartles	L10_Model_Calibration.pptx moriasimodeleval.pdf EXTRA Calibration Metrics.pptx	HEC-HMS Model Calibration Playlist
12:00	13:00			Lunch
13:00	14:00	60	W10	Calibrating a Simple Model	Tom Brauer Mike Bartles	Introduction Populate Initial Parameters Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 1 Calibrate a Basin Model to Event 2
14:00	14:15	15	Q10	Review Model Calibration	Tom Brauer
14:15	14:30	15		Break
14:30	15:30	60	L11	Model Calibration - Complex Studies	Tom Brauer	L11_Advanced_Model_Calibration.pptx

Day 5

Start	End	Duration (min)	Module	Topic	Instructor(s)	Links to Materials
08:00	08:30	30	Q11	Review Day 4 Materials	Mike Bartles
08:30	09:15	45	L12	Flood Forecasting with HEC-HMS	Mike Bartles	L12_Flood_Forecasting_with_HEC-HMS.pptx
09:15	10:15	60	L13	Flood Forecasting Demonstration	David Bogema
10:15	10:30	15		Break
10:30	11:30	60	L14	Demonstration of ACP HEC-HMS Project	Alex Flanigan
11:30	12:00	30	Admin	End of Course Discussion

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Hydrologic Modeling with HEC-HMS | Panama Canal Authority (2024)