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The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has granted access to the information on this webpage for instructional purposes only. The training material is intended for individual instruction and may be used, copied, and redistributed freely. However, the Hydrologic Engineering Center (CEIWR-HEC) should be attributed as the source of the training materials in any subsequent re-use. Technical support on the training material within USACE is provided through an annual subscription service. Support is not provided to non-USACE individuals and organizations; however, if any issues with the training materials or with the software while running the workshops is encountered, from the Support Policy webpage, please report issues to the appropriate software development team.

Available PROSPECT Courses:
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#352 - Advanced 1D 2D Unsteady Flow Modeling (July 2019) This is an advanced course in applying the computer program HEC-RAS. The course provides participants with the knowledge to effectively use HEC-RAS to analyze difficult hydraulic conditions in natural and constructed channels, utilizing one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) modeling techniques. Topics include: developing terrain models for 2D modeling; creating a 2D computational mesh; boundary conditions for 2D flow areas; hooking up 1D elements to 2D flow areas; running a combined 1D/2D model; viewing 1D/2D results with RAS Mapper; hydraulic structures inside of 2D areas; and detailed channel and floodplain modeling with 2D flow areas. Special topics for dam and levee breaching and using 2D modeling for hydraulic structures are included as well. HEC-RAS version 5.0.5, or a more recent version, should be used when working through the workshop examples. Due to file size, some of the solution files were deleted prior to posting the material to the website. The solution projects should be re-run using HEC-RAS 5.0.5 to generate results for comparison to the workshop solutions.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#369 - Advanced Applications of HEC-HMS (March 2023) The course covers a variety of areas that go beyond the Basic HEC-HMS course which focuses on event-based flood hydrology. This course contains modules on continuous simulation, including the details of modeling water content in the soil, evaporation and transpiration, and details of the components included in HEC-HMS for representing these processes. This course also contains modules on model calibration and validation, snow processes and snowmelt modeling, parameter optimization, uncertainty analysis, modeling frequency and hypothetical storms, and ensemble analysis. A final project is included that ties together the various lecture and workshop topics that were introduced throughout the week.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#155 - CWMS Modeling for Real-Time Water Management (January 2019) This class provides water managers the training necessary to effectively use hydrologic, hydraulic, reservoir, and flood impact modeling software within HEC-RTS (Real Time Simulation) for real-time water management. Students will learn how to setup an HEC-RTS Watershed for modeling capabilities. Students will also learn the advanced features of modeling within HEC-RTS, including real-time calibration and execution of modeling programs to support Corps project operations decisions. This class does not address the installation of HEC-RTS or the development of individual models for use in HEC-RTS.

Please note this course was originally intended for training in the Corps Water Management System (CWMS) Control and Visualization Interface, or CAVI software. HEC-RTS is the public version of the CWMS CAVI with the key difference being the use of an Oracle database for data storage and retrieval in CMWS. Due to these differences, some of the original course content has been removed. For this course please use the latest version of HEC-RTS available on the HEC website.

Download Course Agenda
Download Course Manual (141 MB)
Download Course Workshops (7.44 GB)

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#123 - Flood Frequency Analysis (May 2022) This course provides users with theoretical background in hydrologic frequency analysis, as well as practice using analysis techniques and tools required for practical applications. Topics covered include univariate frequency analysis, challenges in flood frequency analysis and Federal guidance, uncertainty and use of regionalization to improve estimates, and methods for multivariate frequency analysis. Knowledge gained within the lectures is applied through the use of the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Statistical Software Package (HEC-SSP) as well as other commercial software packages in complementary workshops. The lectures and workshops were developed using HEC-SSP v2.3 which can be obtained here: HEC-SSP Downloads.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#320 - Hydrology and Hydraulics for Dam Safety Studies (September 2022) The objective of the course is for participants to perform hydrologic and hydraulic modeling in support of Dam Safety studies. Course participants will be required to run HEC-HMS, HEC-SSP, and HEC-RAS. Topics presented will include: Development of Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP); Hydrologic Modeling for PMP/PMF Events; Hydrologic Loading; Flow Frequency; HEC-RAS Model Geometry Development, Developing Dam Breach Parameters; Dam Breaching Analysis using HEC-RAS; Unsteady Flow Modeling with HEC-RAS; and Using RAS-Mapper for Inundation Mapping. Each participant will have the opportunity to prepare model input and analyze model output during course workshops. This page covers the first part of the course on Hydrology and Statistics.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#161 - Hydrologic Analysis for Ecosystem Restoration The objectives of this course are to provide participants with: 1) an understanding of the issues in restoration studies; 2) an overview of Corps policies and analysis methods for riverine ecosystem restoration studies; 3) an understanding of the role and analytical processes of hydrologic engineering required during the conduct of the studies; and 4) insights into the applicability of a range of tools for the various hydrologic analyses necessary in planning and design of these features.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#219 - Hydrologic Engineering Applications of Geographic Information Systems (April 2015) This course provides instruction in the application of GIS technologies for watershed and stream network delineation, computation of watershed and stream characteristics, hydrologic parameter estimation, development of the channel geometry for a 1-dimensional river hydraulics model, and mapping of water depths. Hands-on experience in applying ArcGIS and HEC products, HEC-GeoHMS and HEC-GeoRAS, to perform such analyses is included. Download of available course materials is provided below. The lectures and workshops utilize ArcGIS 10.2, HEC-GeoHMS 10.2, and HEC-GeoRAS 10.2. Versions 10.2 of HEC-GeoHMS and HEC-GeoRAS are available from the HEC webpage. Other versions of HEC-GeoHMS and HEC-GeoRAS can be used for the workshops; however, the workshops were specifically designed using the 10.2 versions and there might be some problems encountered when using older or newer versions of the software. Some workshops were designed to be placed in a specific directory on a computer, the directory is included in the workshop instructions. HEC is in the process of integrating GIS capabilities directly within HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS. These capabilities will replace HEC-GeoHMS and HEC-GeoRAS and the training material will be updated.

Download Course Agenda
Download Course Manual (192 MB)
Download Course Workshops (226 MB)

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#178 - Hydrologic Modeling with HEC-HMS (March 2022) This course serves as an introduction to hydrologic modeling and application of the Hydrologic Engineering Center's Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and covers topics of precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, channel routing, and parameter estimation. Knowledge gained in lectures is applied by using HEC-HMS to simulate these processes within the context of the watershed. Each segment of the class is part of a hypothetical case study where students learn the basic steps in developing an HEC-HMS model. The workshops were developed using HEC-HMS Version 4.11.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#098 - Reservoir System Analysis with HEC-ResSim This course is intended for water resource professionals who are involved in various aspects of reservoir operations studies. A primary objective of the course is to provide participants with the capability to build a reservoir simulation model using HEC-ResSim and to analyze the results generated. Topics presented in this course include: an introduction to reservoir system simulation, including data requirements and operational goals; an overview of the HEC-ResSim software; development of a shared watershed schematic, a reservoir network, and basic and advanced operating rules used to describe a reservoir operating plan including emergency gate operations; development of alternatives and simulations; analysis of results; the available hydrologic routing methods; reservoir system operations; hydropower operation; conditional rule application with IF-THEN-ELSE statements; and scripting.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#209 - Introduction to Economic Risk Assessment for Flood Risk Management Studies This course presents risk assessment methods and concepts, many of which are required by Corps guidance. The objective is to enable participants to readily adapt these methods and concepts to their own studies and projects after successfully completing the course. Policy issues, concepts in statistical analysis, and risk and uncertainty methods used in the evaluation of flood risk management projects are emphasized in the course. Workshops provide participants with the opportunity to apply the course's concepts using the Hydrologic Engineering Center Flood Damage Reduction Analysis (HEC-FDA) software program, using HEC-FDA Version 1.4.2.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#058 - Statistical Methods in Hydrology (May 2023) This course provides users with theoretical background in statistical analysis as well as practice using analysis techniques and tools required for practical applications. Topics covered include univariate and multivariate frequency analysis, regional analysis of hydrometeorological data, and regression analysis. Knowledge gained within the lectures is applied through the use of the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Statistical Software Package (HEC-SSP) as well as other commercial software packages in complementary workshops.

Online Training Materials available on Confluence

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#114 - Steady Flow Water Surface Profile Computation Using HEC-RAS (June 2019) This course teaches the concepts of open channel flow concepts, hydraulic model data requirements, HEC-RAS input requirements, laying out cross sections for 1D hydraulic modeling, application of bridge and culvert routines, calibration of a steady flow hydraulics model, floodway determination, an overview of Optional capabilities, and output analysis. The HEC-RAS software will be included in lectures and workshops. Participants have an opportunity to prepare input and analyze output during workshops. The class lectures and workshops were developed and run with version 5.0.7.

Online Training Materials Available

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#188 - Unsteady Flow Analysis Using HEC-RAS (June 2018) This course provides instruction to effectively utilize the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) software to analyze hydraulic conditions that require one-dimensional unsteady flow modeling. Topics include river mechanics and the unsteady flow equations; using HEC-DSS data with HEC-RAS; overview of unsteady flow modeling; data requirements for unsteady flow models; boundary and initial conditions; overview of model output; modeling bridges and culverts; inline and lateral hydraulic structures; storage areas and storage area connections; model calibration; model stability, accuracy, and sensitivity; trouble shooting; modeling urban areas; and advanced features for unsteady flow (mixed flow regime, pump stations, dam and levee breaching). HEC-RAS version 5.0.3, or a more recent version, should be used when working through the workshop examples.

Online Training Materials Available

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#152 - Water Resources Data Management with HEC-DSSVue This class is designed to provide Corps water resource professionals with the basic skills to utilize the HEC Data Storage System (HEC-DSS) to manage, analyze and display data using the HEC Data Storage System Visual Utility Engine (HEC-DSSVue) and associated programs. The procedures and programs to be presented will provide a convenient system to support a wide variety of hydrologic investigations including project planning and real-time water control. Workshops will demonstrate some of the potential applications. Upon completion, participants will have sufficient knowledge to plan applications for their studies.

Online Training Materials Available

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Available Workshops:
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New Features Coming to HEC-RAS 5.1 This series of presentations provides an introduction to new features expected with the release of HEC-RAS 5.1. Significant new features that will dramatically improve the applicability and range of modeling problems in which HEC-RAS can be used. New hydraulic capabilities will include spatial precipitation (gridded and point gage options); spatial infiltration; wind forces for 1D and 2D modeling; a new shallow water solution scheme and turbulence modeling; 1D finite volume solution algorithm; pump stations for 2D areas; bridge modeling inside of 2D areas; mud and debris flow modeling; and 2D sediment transport. There will be a new 3D viewer for terrain and model results. HEC-RAS Mapper will provide for structure layout in HEC-RAS Mapper; terrain modification tools, RASter calculator for evaluating results, and 3D Google Earth export capabilities.

Download New Features Coming in HEC-RAS 5.1
Download New RAS Mapper 5.1 Tools
Download HEC-RAS 5.1 Mud and Debris Flow
Download HEC-RAS 5.1 2D Sediment Transport

Click the links below to view new features coming in HEC-RAS 5.1:

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Workshop: Application of HEC software to Periodic Assessment Studies A series of lectures and workshops were developed for the USACE Dam Safety program to illustrate periodic assessment level of analysis and application of HEC software. The material was posted for the user community to see additional examples for how to apply both HEC-SSP and HEC-HMS to typical study applications. The training material contains publically available information and results presented in the workshops are only for learning purposes, the results do not reflect actual design events. HEC-SSP version 2.1.1 and HEC-HMS 4.2.1 were used in the development of the workshops.

Download Agenda
Download Presentations (17.8 MB)
Download Workshop Instructions and Files (2.12 GB)

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Workshop: Bulletin 17C Short Course (June 2019)
Federal Interagency Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling Conference, Reno, NV
Flood-frequency analysis of peak streamflow records provides the essential statistical interpretation of hydrologic data for estimating flood risk and for floodplain mapping. This workshop provides an overview and refresher on flood-frequency analysis of peak streamflow data, as well as introducing methods adopted in the new federal guidelines, Bulletin 17C at https://doi.org/10.3133/tm4B5. These new methods include a generalized method-of-moments estimator, the Expected Moments Algorithm (EMA), for dealing with zeroes, low outliers and historical data. It also employs a generalized version of the Grubbs-Beck test (MGB) for the identification of potentially influential low floods (PILFs). Participants will learn about methods implemented in Bulletin 17C, how to properly characterize flood peaks for inclusion in a Bulletin 17C analysis, and how to interpret Bulletin 17C flood frequency analyses. The Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Statistical Software Package (HEC-SSP) will be used along with several examples to demonstrate specific capabilities of Bulletin 17C.

Download Agenda
Download Lectures (25.2 MB)
Download Quiz

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