HEC-HMS is designed to simulate the precipitation-runoff processes of dendritic watershed systems. It is designed to be applicable in a wide range of geographic areas for solving the widest possible range of problems. This includes large river basin water supply and flood hydrology, and small urban or natural watershed runoff. Hydrographs produced by the program are used directly or in conjunction with other software for studies of water availability, urban drainage, flow forecasting, future urbanization impact, reservoir spillway design, flood damage reduction, floodplain regulation, and systems operation.
The design of most hydraulic structures (e.g., culverts, open channels, reservoirs, etc.) requires either a peak discharge or an inflow hydrograph. Hydraulic assessments (e.g., flood elevations, sediment transport, contaminant transport, etc.) are also generally preceded by hydrologic studies. How do engineers perform these hydrologic studies? Until recently, desktop methods or batch-type computer programs (requiring either a data file or the use of a preprocessing shell program) were commonly used. Take heart—HEC-HMS has arrived!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) is well known for its hydrologic and hydraulic software. HEC-1 has been one of the primary hydrologic models used by American engineers for over two decades. HEC-HMS (hydrologic modeling system) is part of the new generation software recently released by HEC that will supersede HEC-1. The thought and effort that went into this new Windows version program promise to make it as popular as their river analysis system model (HEC-RAS).
HEC-HMS takes full advantage of the multi-tasking Windows environment. It includes a graphical user interface, data storage and management features, integrated hydrologic analysis components, and graphical and tabular reporting facilities. Inputting your watershed is like working with building blocks; you grab icons representing sub-basins from a palette, place them in the workspace, and interconnect them with stream, reservoir, and junction icons. Double-clicking on these icons opens up data-input boxes, which request information like lengths, areas, infiltration parameters, etc. Finally, you input the rainfall characteristics and launch the model. It’s a highly intuitive program.
HEC-HMS provides a variety of options for simulating the rainfall-runoff process.
This training course covers the following:
- Precipitation can be modeled using either actual gauged events or hypothetical, frequency-based storms.
- Rainfall losses are represented empirically (SCS) or with physically based algorithms (Green and Ampt).
- Runoff is generated from unit hydrograph transforms or the physically based kinematic wave method. Stream routing options include the Muskingum, Modified-Puls, Muskingum Cunge, and kinematic wave methods.
- Reservoir routing, base flow, and diversions can also be modeled.
Workshop participants will receive a CD containing the HEC-HMS users manual and software.
If your work requires hydrologic modeling, for applications such as watershed studies, stormwater management projects, flood elevation determinations, and sediment or contaminant transport analyses, this workshop is for you. If you are interested in transitioning from HEC-1 to the new HEC-HMS program, you will also benefit from attending. The seminar includes lectures and class exercises on hydrologic algorithms, as well as practical hands-on applications using HEC-HMS.
This seminar is intended for people with some hydrologic background and a need for instruction in the techniques and applications of hydrologic modeling. No background in HEC-1 is required, because the algorithms used in the hands-on exercises are thoroughly explained. The seminar will give you confidence in applying HEC-HMS or other hydrologic models to water related projects.
Day One
- Hydrologic Modeling Overview
- HEC-HMS Capabilities
- Basin Delineation
- Precipitation Methodology
- Rainfall Abstractions (Losses)
- Runoff Transformations
Day Two
- Stream Routing
- Reservoir Routing
- Model Execution
- Analysis of Results
- Special Topics
“I found the pond exercises to be very useful in the HEC-HMS course. The instructor was a very clear speaker and kept the class focused. Thank you!”
Ricardo Roybal
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Santa Fe, NM
“I liked that there were excerises for HEC-HMS that we did as a class and then exercises we did on our own. It was a great learning experience.”
Rae Van Hoven
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Santa Fe, NM
“I learned how to manage the reports turned in to me by consultants and how to provide better comments based on my new understanding of HEC-HMS.”
Guillermo Martinez
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Las Cruces, NM
“The reservoir design section of the course was very helpful. I now feel confindent checking consultants work against my own knowledge. I really enjoyed having real world examples.”
Tisha Clark
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Las Cruces, NM
“The HEC-HMS course and materials will help me set up more projects with pond design and drainage areas.”
Morris Muskett
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Las Cruces, NM
“I enjoyed learning the practical applications of HEC-HMS. I will apply what I learned in this course to the drainage studies and pond designs that I manage. The instructor had a good ability to adapt to the class and what we needed to learn.”
Ben Gammie
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“After taking the HEC-HMS Course, I am more confident about pond designs and water modeling then ever before. The instructor used real world examples to drive the points home.”
Daniel Mahoney
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“I really enjoyed this class and learned how to use HEC-HMS to model systems and design ponds quicker and more efficiently.”
Bryant Bell
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“I would recommend this course to others interested in understanding basic setup and pond design using HEC-HMS.”
Taylor Gunn
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“The examples of real design projects in Austin, TX was very helpful. It was a great group learning environment.”
John Garza
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“The course material was a very good source of information for beginners with HEC-HMS. I really enjoyed seeing applicable examples with local requirements.”
Philip Bargas
Bury & Partners, Inc.
Austin, TX
“The presentation and teaching style was very good.”
Rohin Saleh, P.E., Department Head
Alameda County Public Works Agency
Hayward, CA
“The presentation went well and goes beyond our training objectives.”
Librado Cano
Alameda County Public Works Agency
Hayward, CA
