Copyright © The RAS Solution 2017. All rights reserved.
I’ve been seeing some cool applications of HEC-RAS from
around the world lately. Here are some articles showing a few ways we’ve been
putting HEC-RAS to use down under.
Making Middle Zealand
Did you know that the only thing keeping New
Zealand’s two main islands from being split into three is a little 2-km wide
piece of land just south of Auckland? What do you think would happen if you dug
a ditch through this strip? Last time I drove across it, I asked myself that question…and
then I let HEC-RAS tell me the answer! This article covers terrain manipulation
and tidal boundary conditions in HEC-RAS with the construction of a canal that
severs Northland from New Zealand’s North Island. The tides on either side of
the island are out of phase with each other, so you get some really cool mixing
with the alternating current. Have a read and give it a shot yourself!
Creating Rating Curves in HEC-RAS 2D Models
HEC-RAS does a great job providing you with rating
curves for 1D models, but how about 2D? It takes a bit of additional effort,
but this article walks you through the process of generating a rating curve
from your existing 2D model. You may find – as we did in the example covered in
the article – that the uncertainties in your rating curve are greater than you
thought. Try it yourself by following along with this example, and see if you find yourself wanting to
recalibrate your gauge!
Disappearing Terrain?
Do you get frustrated when your terrain disappears
in HEC-RAS? Don’t fret, here are some simple
workarounds
for getting it back!
My HEC-RAS Wish List
Speaking
of workarounds, the HEC Spring 2017 Newsletter included a preview of what's new in Version 5.1 (see article on Page 20). They'll be
adding some handy new features, but here's my HEC-RAS wish list that includes a compilation of
suggestions gathered from hundreds of course attendees over the last year and a
half since Version 5.0 was released. You may wish to submit your own on
the Forum Page of the The RAS Solution.
