HEC-GeoRAS/
RAS
Tutorial
Computer Requirements
– Windows operating system with
– ArcGIS 10x
– ArcGIS Compatible version of HEC-GeoRAS
– HEC-RAS 5.0.6
– Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions should be enabled
– HEC-RAS and HEC-GeoRAS can be downloaded for free from the US Army Corps of
Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center website
[Link]
Data Required?
– HEC-GeoRAS
– DEM or TIN
– HEC-RAS
Functions of H&H Modeling
– Pre- processing of GIS data
– Model Execution
– Post-processing/visualization of results
Functions of Hec-GeoRAS
Arc-GIS Extension
– Pre- processing of GIS data using ArcGIS
– Post-processing HEC-RAS results for flood
inundation mapping using ArcGIS
HEC-GeoRAS Toolbar
– Load the HEC-GeoRAS toolbar into ArcGIS by clicking on
View Toolbars HEC-GeoRAS
Getting Started
with HEC-
GeoRAS
Pre-processing of GIS data
Setting Environment
1. Activate Spatial Analysis and 3D Analyst extensions
2. You may create a new data frame for pre-processing
data
– Insert Data Frame
3. Add terrain (elevation) data
Creating RAS Layers
– Click on RAS Geometry
Create RAS Layers
– Click on ALL to create all
layers
Creating River Centerline
– River centerline establishes the river reach network for
HEC-RAS
– Create/digitize one feature for each reach approximately
following the center of the river, and aligned in the
direction of flow
– Start editing, and choose River to be edited
Continue…River Centerline
– Use Snapping (snapping options is not needed in ArcGIS versions
10.2 and higher – it is automatically done)
– Start digitizing the river centerline from upstream to downstream
in the direction of flow
– When done Save edits, and stop editing
– Assign names to reaches
– Click on Assign RiverCode/ReachCode button to activate
Populate Remaining Attributes of ‘River’
– Click on RAS Geometry Stream Centerline Attributes Topology
– RAS Geometry Stream Centerline Attributes Lengths/Stations
Creating River Banks
– Bank lines are used to distinguish the main channel from the overbank floodplain areas
– Bank locations are used to assign different properties for cross-sections (e.g. higher
manning’s roughness value for overbanks)
– Similar to creating the channel centerline but with no specific guideless with regard to
line orientation and connectivity
– But, to be consistent, follow these guidelines:
1) start from the upstream end
2) looking downstream, digitize the left bank first and then the right bank
– Start editing session and edit ‘Banks’
Creating Flowpaths
– Flowpath layer contains three types of lines:
– Centerline, Left overbank, and Right overbank
– Flowpath lines are used to determine the downstream reach lengths between cross-
sections in the main channel and over bank areas
– Click on RAS Geometry Create RAS Layers Flow Path Centerlines
– To create the left and right flow paths edit ‘flowpath’ feature class
– Left and right flowpaths must be digitized within the floodplain in the downstream
direction
– These lines are used to compute distances between cross-sections in the over bank areas
– to be consistent, looking downstream first digitize the left flowpath followed by the right
flowpath for each reach.
– After digitizing, save the edits and stop editing
Label the flowpaths
– Click on Assign LineType button
– Then click on one of the flow paths (left or right, looking downstream),
and name the flow path accordingly
Creating Cross-sections
– Cross-section cutlines are used to extract the elevation data from the
terrain to create a ground profile across channel flow
– The intersection of cutlines with other RAS layers such as centerline
and flow path lines are used to compute HEC-RAS attributes such as
– bank stations (locations that separate main channel from the floodplain),
– downstream reach lengths (distance between cross-sections) and
– Manning's ‘n’
– Create adequate number of cross-sections to produce a good
representation of channel bed and floodplain
Creating Cross-sections
– Guidelines:
1. They are digitized perpendicular to the direction of flow
2. Must span over the entire flood extent to be modeled
3. Always digitized from left to right (looking downstream)
4. Maintain a consistent spacing between cross-sections (only to be consistent
otherwise it is not a requirement)
5. One cross-section each on the upstream and downstream of structures like
bridges and culverts
– Start editing and digitize ‘XSCutlines’
– Use cross-sections profile tool to view the profile
Adding HEC-RAS attributes to X-section cutlines
– Click on RAS Geometry XS Cut Line Attributes River/Reach Names
– Above tool uses the River and Reach attributes of the centerline, and copy them to the XS Cutlines
– Next, click on RAS Geometry XS Cut Line Attributes Stationing
– This tool assigns station number (distance from each cross-section to the downstream end of the
river) to each cross-section cutline
– Then click on RAS Geometry XS Cut Line Attributes Bank Stations
– Assigns bank stations (distance from the starting point on the XS Cutline to the left and right bank,
looking downstream) to each cross-section cutline
– Finally, click on RAS Geometry XS Cut Line Attributes Downstream Reach
Lengths
– Assigns distances to the next downstream cross-section based on flow paths
Convert 2D XS to 3D with Elevation
– RAS Geometry XS Cut Line Attributes Elevation
Other Layers
– Creating Bridges and Culverts
– Creating ineffective flow areas
– Creating obstructions
Assigning Manning’s n to cross-sections
– This is the final task before exporting the GIS data to HEC-RAS
geometry file
– RAS Geometry Manning’s n Values Extract n Values
Create GIS import file for HEC-RAS
– First verify all layers;
– Click on RAS Geometry Layer Setup, and verify the layers in each tab
– Check: Required surface, Required Layers, Optional layers, Optional tables
– After verifying all layers and tables, click on RAS Geometry Export GIS Data
– This process will create two files: [Link] and [Link]
– The next step is to import these data into a HEC-RAS model
Importing Geometry data into HEC-RAS
– Start Programs HEC HEC-RAS HEC-RAS 5.0.6
– Save the new project by going to File Save Project As.. …
– Open geometric data editor by clicking on Edit Geometric Data
– Click on File Import Geometry Data GIS Format
– Browse to “**.[Link] “ file created in GIS, and click OK
– The import process will ask for your inputs to complete.
– In the Intro tab, confirm the ‘Units for Import data’ of your choice… and click Next
– Confirm the River/Reach data,
– make sure all import stream lines boxes are checked, and click Next.
– Confirm cross-sections data,
– make sure all Import Data boxes are checked for cross-sections, and click OK
– click Finished-Import Data
– Save the geometry file by clicking File Save Geometry Data
Entering Flow Data
– In the main HEC-RAS window, click on Edit Steady Flow Data
– Enter number of profiles you are using (1, 2, 3, etc.)
– click Apply Data
– Enter flow conditions for your flow profiles
– The above data has defined the upstream conditions
Defining Downstream Conditions
– Click on Reach Boundary Conditions
– Then select Downstream for …. Lower Reach, click on Normal
Depth, and enter downstream slope (m/m)
– Click OK. Save the flow data
– Close the Steady Flow editor
– Now we are ready to run HEC-RAS!
Running HEC-RAS
– In the main HEC-RAS window, click on Run Steady Flow Analysis
– Select the Subcritical Flow Regime, and click on the COMPUTE
button
Exporting HEC-RAS Output
– In the main HEC-RAS window click on File Export GIS Data
– Click on Select Profiles to Export button and choose the profile
you would like to export
– Click on Export Data button
– A SDF file will be created in your working directory
– Save the HEC-RAS project and exit
Flood inundation mapping
– Open ArcMap
– click on Import RAS SDF file button to convert the SDF file
into an XML file
– In the Convert RAS Output ASCII File to XML window, browse to
**.[Link], and click OK
– The XML file will be saved with the input file name in the same
folder with an xml extension
– Now click on RAS Mapping Layer Setup to open the post
processing layer menu
Post processing layer menu
Mapping inundation extent
– Next click on RAS Mapping Read RAS GIS Export File
– This will create a bounding polygon
– basically defines the analysis extent for inundation mapping, by connecting
the endpoints of XS Cut Lines
Mapping Inundation Extent
– Click on RAS Mapping Inundation Mapping Water Surface Generation
– Select profile
– This will create a surface with water surface elevation for the selected profile
– A TIN created that will define a zone that will connect the outer points of the
bounding polygon
– Converting the water surface TIN to a grid (tP003)
– Click on RAS Mapping Inundation Mapping Floodplain Delineation
– Select profile
– Subtract terrain (dtmgrid) from the water surface grid just created
– The area with positive results -meaning water surface is higher than the
terrain) is flood area
– The area with negative results is dry
– Cells of water surface grid with positive values after subtraction are
converted to a polygon
– This is the final flood inundation polygon
