The observed sediment data changed substantially in HEC-RAS version 6.0. Previous versions only included one generic observed profile. Current versions allow multiple profiles which can persist throughout the simulation or be associated with particular dates and can be associated with standard HEC-RAS, sediment output variables (to plot with computed results of the same kind) or novel observations that will show up in the sediment results under their own heading.

Observed Profile Data

Select Observed Profile data by selecting *OptionsObserved DataProfile. This will launch the dialogue below. Press the *Add Observed Profiles button to add observed data. To designate observed data as one of the standard HEC-RAS sediment output variable types (so it shows up just below the computed results with an _obs tag) select one of the variables from the list by double clicking or pressing the arrow. The date and time are optional. Leaving the date and time blank, will generate a persistent observed profile, which will write the observed data to every time step at the specified cross section. Adding a date and time will only write the observed data at the closest output time step to the date and time entered.

Finally, modelers can define a profile (either persistent throughout time or at a particular date) with a customized label. This can be useful if modelers want to coordinate some other system process with flow or sediment results. Type in the new variable name in the Create New Variable Name text box instead of selecting a sediment variable, add a date if appropriate, and press OK. The figure below adds observations from a hypothetical muskrat survey that will then write to the sediment results file and can be viewed with the other data.

The following is an example of a Longitudinal Volume Change Calibration, including the observed input data and the compared result: