The Hydrologic Engineering Center

The Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)
Nowadays, diverse softwares specific for hydraulic modelling simplify

data entry and allow observing the results graphically, even exporting
them in table format, making their interpretation easier. Among all of
them, there is no doubt that HEC-RAS software stands out (developed by
Hydrologic Engineering Centre of the US Army Corps of Engineers) being
one of the reference programs in its area.
HEC-geoRAS (Hydrological Engineering Centre – Geospatial River

Analysis System) is an extension for ArcGIS developed by Hydrologic
Engineering Centre of the United Army Corps of Engineering together
with the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI).
It consists of a series of procedures, tools and uses designed

to process georeferenced data that allow preparing geometric data to
import to HEC-RAS.
This HEC-geoRAS file gathers geometric data of the study area

including the riverbed, cross sections, water flow lines, etc. When
this file is imported to HEC-RAS, we can obtain velocity and depth
results through hydraulic calculations. Finally, these results can be
exported to ArcGIS to be processed and therefore obtain flood and risk
maps.
The HEC-RAS system contains several river analysis components

for: (1) steady flow water surface profile computations; (2) one- and
two-dimensional unsteady flow simulation; (3) movable boundary
sediment transport computations; and (4) water quality analysis. A key
element is, that all four components use a common geometric data
representation and common geometric and hydraulic computation
routines. In addition to these river analysis components, the system
contains several hydraulic design features that can be invoked once
the basic water surface profiles are computed.
 Steady Flow Water Surface Profiles

The system can handle a full network of channels, a dendritic
system, or a single river reach. The steady flow component is
capable of modeling subcritical, supercritical, and mixed flow
regimes water surface profiles.
The basic computational procedure is based on the solution of the
one-dimensional energy equation. Energy losses are evaluated by
friction (Manning's equation) and contraction/expansion
(coefficient multiplied by the change in velocity head). The
momentum equation may be used in situations where the water
surface profile is rapidly varied. These situations include mixed
flow regime calculations (i.e., hydraulic jumps), hydraulics of
bridges, and evaluating profiles at river confluences (stream
junctions).
 One- and Two-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Simulation
This component of the HEC-RAS modeling system is capable of

simulating one-dimensional; two-dimensional; and combined
one/two-dimensional unsteady flow through a full network of open
channels, floodplains, and alluvial fans. The unsteady flow
component can be used to performed subcritical, supercritical,
and mixed flow regime (subcritical, supercritical, hydraulic
jumps, and draw downs) calculations in the unsteady flow
computations module.
Special features of the unsteady flow component include:

extensive hydraulic structure capabilities Dam break analysis;
levee breaching and overtopping; Pumping stations; navigation dam
operations; pressurized pipe systems; automated calibration
features; User defined rules; and combined one and two-
dimensional unsteady flow modeling.
 Steady Transport/Movable Boundary Computations
This component of the modeling system is intended for the

simulation of one-dimensional sediment transport/movable boundary
calculations resulting from scour and deposition over moderate
time periods (typically years, although applications to single
flood events are possible).
The sediment transport potential is computed by grain size

fraction, thereby allowing the simulation of hydraulic sorting
and armoring. Major features include the ability to model a full
network of streams, channel dredging, various levee and
encroachment alternatives, and the use of several different
equations for the computation of sediment transport.
The model is designed to simulate long-term trends of scour and

deposition in a stream channel that might result from modifying
the frequency and duration of the water discharge and stage, or
modifying the channel geometry. This system can be used to
evaluate deposition in reservoirs, design channel contractions
required to maintain navigation depths, predict the influence of
dredging on the rate of deposition, estimate maximum possible
scour during large flood events, and evaluate sedimentation in
fixed channels.
 Water Quality Analysis

This component of the modeling system is intended to allow the
user to perform riverine water quality analyses. An advection-
dispersion module is included with this version of HEC–RAS,
adding the capability to model water temperature. This new module
uses the QUICKEST-ULTIMATE explicit numerical scheme to solve the
one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation using a control
volume approach with a fully implemented heat energy budget.
Transport and Fate of a limited set of water quality constituents
is now also available in HEC-RAS. The currently available water
quality constituents are: Dissolved Nitrogen (NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-
N, and Org-N); Dissolved Phosphorus (PO4-P and Org-P); Algae;
Dissolved Oxygen (DO); and Carbonaceous Biological Oxygen Demand
(CBOD).
 Data Storage and Management
Data storage is accomplished through the use of "flat" files

(ASCII and binary), the HEC-DSS (Data Storage System), and HDF5
(Hierarchical Data Format, Version 5). User input data are stored
in flat files under separate categories of project, plan,
geometry, steady flow, unsteady flow, quasi-steady flow, sediment
data, and water quality information. Output data is predominantly
stored in separate binary files (HEC and HDF5). Data can be
transferred between HEC-RAS and other programs by utilizing the
HEC-DSS. Data management is accomplished through the user
interface. The modeler is requested to enter a single filename
for the project being developed. Once the project filename is
entered, all other files are automatically created and named by
the interface as needed. The interface provides for renaming,
moving, and deletion of files on a project-by-project basis.
Graphics and Reporting
Graphics include X-Y plots of the river system schematic, cross-

sections, profiles, rating curves, hydrographs, and inundation
mapping. A three-dimensional plot of multiple cross-sections is also
provided. Inundation mapping is accomplished in the HEC-RAS Mapper
portion of the software. Inundation maps can also be animated, and
contain multiple background layers (terrain, aerial photography,
etc…). Tabular output is available. Users can select from pre-defined
tables or develop their own customized tables. All graphical and
tabular output can be displayed on the screen, sent directly to a
printer (or plotter), or passed through the Windows Clipboard to other
software, such as a word-processor or spreadsheet.
RAS Mapper
HEC-RAS has the capability to perform inundation mapping of water

surface profile results directly from HEC-RAS. Using the HEC-RAS
geometry and computed water surface profiles, inundation depth and
floodplain boundary datasets are created through the RAS Mapper.
Additional geospatial data can be generated for analysis of velocity,
shear stress, stream power, ice thickness, and floodway encroachment
data. In order to use the RAS Mapper for analysis, you must have a
terrain model in the binary raster floating-point format (.flt). The
resultant depth grid is stored in the .flt format while the boundary
dataset is store in ESRI's Shapefile format for use with geospatial
software.

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The Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)

Nowadays, diverse softwares specific for hydraulic modelling simplify

HEC-geoRAS (Hydrological Engineering Centre – Geospatial River

It consists of a series of procedures, tools and uses designed

This HEC-geoRAS file gathers geometric data of the study area

The HEC-RAS system contains several river analysis components

 Steady Flow Water Surface Profiles

 One- and Two-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Simulation

This component of the HEC-RAS modeling system is capable of

Special features of the unsteady flow component include:

 Steady Transport/Movable Boundary Computations

This component of the modeling system is intended for the

The sediment transport potential is computed by grain size

The model is designed to simulate long-term trends of scour and

 Water Quality Analysis

 Data Storage and Management

Data storage is accomplished through the use of "flat" files

Graphics and Reporting

Graphics include X-Y plots of the river system schematic, cross-

HEC-RAS has the capability to perform inundation mapping of water

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