Post-Processing with RAS Mapper: Exporting a Large Number of Results Maps

Written by Shaina Sabatine  |  Watershed Science & Engineering, Seattle, WA

Copyright © The RAS Solution 2016.  All rights reserved.

The new and improved RAS Mapper interface in HEC-RAS 5.0 makes managing and exporting model results like an inundation extents shapefile or a depth grid for use outside of HEC-RAS/RAS Mapper easy.  The process (which is described in detail in Chapter 5 of the HEC-RAS 5.0 2D Modeling User’s Manual) requires the user to add desired results maps one by one using the ‘Add New Map’ button in the ‘Manage Results Maps’ window shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Manage Results Maps window for the results of a completed simulation.  Two results layers have been exported: an inundation boundary shapefile and a depth grid.

Imagine you have a large number of outputs from a simulation that need to be exported.  Because only one new results map can be added to the list in the ‘Manage Results Maps’ window at a time using the ‘Add New Map’ button, the process can become tedious.  One way to make the process

HEC-RAS 2D Training in Portland Oregon

I'll be teaching our very popular 2D HEC-RAS course in my home town of Portland Oregon, just in time to feature the official release of HEC-RAS 5.0.  

If you live in the area, or you've always wanted to figure out why everyone is talking about Portland (and HEC-RAS 5.0!), read on for more information and to register.  

This course is being hosted by River Restoration Northwest.  Please contact them for course registration questions.

River Restoration Northwest Presents
 a course in HEC-RAS 2D Modeling
JOIN US in Portland, Oregon!

April 11-13, 2016
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Every Day

Fee: $700

Registration is now open. 

Location: Cheatham Hall at the World Forestry Center in Portland

Instructor: Chris Goodell, WEST Consultants

NOTE:  Course fees are non-refundable except in the event that minimum course registration numbers are not met.  

Download Course Instructions Here  

The Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) has been updated to include two dimensional modeling capabilities. This intensive 3-day workshop will introduce the experienced HEC-RAS user to these new 2-D capabilities.

Through attending this workshop, participants will:

• Learn how to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS (River Analysis System) computer program to model two-dimensional unsteady flow hydraulics.
• Get an overview of two-dimensional flow theory and the differences between one-dimensional and two-dimensional modeling.
• Gain hands-on HEC-RAS experience by participating in practical computer workshops.
• Understand how to develop a stable and calibrated two-dimensional flow model.
• Obtain valuable insights in methods for minimizing computation errors and instabilities for two-dimensional unsteady hydraulic models.
• Learn from real world projects and applications.

Instructor:

Christopher R. Goodell, P.E., D.WRE, is a senior hydraulic engineer with WEST Consultants with over 20 years of experience in computational hydraulics, river hydraulics and hydraulic design. He spent two years at the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) actively working on the development of HEC-RAS. In addition, Mr. Goodell is a contributing author to the HEC-RAS manuals and has applied HEC-RAS to a wide range of complex problems, including dam breaks, bridge and culvert hydraulics, spillway and outlet works design, stable channel design, and floodplain mapping. Mr. Goodell earned his B.S. degree in civil engineering at Oregon State University and his M.E. degree in hydraulic engineering from the International Institute for Hydraulic Engineering (IHE) in Delft, The Netherlands. Mr. Goodell has taught HEC-RAS courses and provided technical support for HEC-RAS since 2000.

CLASSROOM LOCATION:

Your class will be held in the WORLD FORESTRY CENTER at 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221. The office phone number is 503-228-1367. Our class will be held in Cheatham Hall that is located to the south of the Discovery Museum and Plaza.

DIRECTIONS:

By Car
Located in Portland's Washington Park, the World Forestry Center is just five minutes from downtown Portland. For detailed driving directions please visit the World Forestry Center’s website at:http://www.worldforestrycenter.org/organization/visitus.php

Portland Parks and Recreation owns and manages parking spaces in Washington Park. They have implemented pay-by-space meters for all patrons who use the park, including those attending events.

Fees: $1.60/hour (9:30AM – 9:30PM) * $4.00/day October-March * $6.40/day April - September

Please visit this link for more detail on the parking meters: http://washingtonparkpdx.org/parking/

TriMet
MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) runs through downtown from the suburbs to the west and east, from the airport, and from the Expo Center. Washington Park has its own MAX stop, which lets you off right at the World Forestry Center’s front door. Check out TriMet’s web site at www.trimet.org for route maps, fares, connections and schedules.

LODGING:
If you need a place to stay, many of the downtown Portland hotels are within easy walking distance to the MAX light rail that provides easy access to Washington Park as described above. The Portland Oregon Visitors Association (POVA) can advise you on Portland-area hotels and motels and book your reservation over the phone. Call toll-free 1-87-PORTLAND (1-877-678-5263) or visit their web site,www.travelportland.com.

HEC-RAS 5.0 Official Release is Available!!!

The wait is over!  Finally the official release of HEC-RAS Version 5.0 is here.  You can download it from the HEC website at http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/

If the download from the HEC website is slow, you can also download it from here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0bpiyLiUeRXTy1pdUNralMzZ1U/view?usp=sharing (207 MB,  Installation package without example problems)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0bpiyLiUeRXNGllMlE5V1dmQmM/view?usp=sharing (538 MB, Installation package with example problems)

This new version also comes with updated manuals (User's Manual, Hydraulic Reference Manual, and Applications Guide), as well as a new 2D Modeling Manual.

Enjoy and good luck!!!

HEC-RAS 2D Training in Melbourne Australia is Official - April 5-7, 2016

The 2D HEC-RAS class is a GO!  Who wants some HEC-RAS 2D Modelling training?   This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn how to set up and run 2D and 1D/2D HEC-RAS models.  Mr. Krey Price and I will be hosting this course in Melbourne, Australia on April 5, 6, and 7th. Please go here for more details and to register for the class.  There will be some additional courses throughout Australia later, but I will only be participating in the Melbourne class on April 5, 6, and 7th. 

Following the success of his 2015 HEC-RAS 5.0 course held in Italy, former HEC-RAS Development Team Member Chris Goodell will be travelling to Australia in April 2016 to conduct two intensive 3-day courses focused on 2D model development in HEC-RAS. 





This course will take place in  Melbourne,  5-7 April, 2016.

The course will be held in CBD conference/training facilities in downtown Melbourne. Please register for the class at http://www.surfacewater.biz/register/.

Post-Processing: Creating Inundation Maps with very Large Terrain

Written by Mikell Warms  |  WEST Consultants 
Copyright © The RAS Solution 2016.  All rights reserved.   

We often have to deal with very large models covering hundreds of river miles.  The terrain data associated with these models can be equally massive, which can cause memory/processor issues when trying to delineate inundation maps.

This post is not concerned with pre-processing our model geometry. Instead, we have a completed model with results we are happy with, and now we want to make inundation shapefiles. This is often necessary when completing dam breach analyses/flood analyses/etc. 

There are typically two ways in which flood inundation shapefiles are created: (1) using HEC-GeoRAS and (2) RAS Mapper. Both methods can face uphill battles when terrain data begin to exceed 20-30 gigabytes, depending on performance characteristics of your computer. Below are some typical errors you may see when trying to create inundation shapefiles with RAS Mapper on very large terrain.

Figure 1: RAS Mapper Memory Error Messages

There IS a way to get around this using RAS Mapper. The first thing you’ll need to do is

Is it normal with a 2D full momentum model to run without any WSEL errors? Or should I expect a few?

Written by Christopher Goodell, P.E., D.WRE  |  WEST Consultants 
Copyright © The RAS Solution 2016.  All rights reserved.   

You can have a 2D full momentum model without errors if:

• Your cell size and computation interval is appropriate
• Everything is moving very slowly
• Stages are high
• Slopes are shallow
• N values are high
• Discharge doesn’t change too suddenly
• It’s a 2D only model (i.e. no connections to 1D)
• You are a skilled HEC-RAS modeler
• A combination of any or all of these (and some other factors I’m not thinking of), sure, you can have no errors. 

Is it normal?  I certainly wouldn’t call it abnormal.  Actually, you’d be surprised at how well the 2D solution works compared with the 1D solution.  I’ve found I get a lot less errors and instabilities in 2D areas than I do with 1D reaches.  Most of the time, my big errors happen at and around 1D/2D connections.

If you are lucky to get a simulation with no errors, double check your solution-make sure it looks reasonable.  Your instincts are correct and you should question the results.  But if everything looks good and reasonable, chalk it up to your skill and claim your bragging rights! 

HEC-RAS 2D Training in Australia!

The 2D HEC-RAS class is a GO!  Who wants some HEC-RAS 2D Modelling training?   This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn how to set up and run 2D and 1D/2D HEC-RAS models.  Mr. Krey Price and I will be hosting this course in Melbourne, Australia on April 5, 6, and 7th. Please go here for more details and to register for the class.  There will be some additional courses throughout Australia later, but I will only be participating in the Melbourne class on April 5, 6, and 7th.

Following the success of his 2015 HEC-RAS 5.0 course held in Italy, former HEC-RAS Development Team Member Chris Goodell will be travelling to Australia in April 2016 to conduct two intensive 3-day courses focused on 2D model development in HEC-RAS.





This course will take place in  Melbourne,  5-7 April, 2016.

The course will be held in CBD conference/training facilities in downtown Melbourne. Please register for the class at http://www.surfacewater.biz/register/.