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HydroCAD Vs SWMM

The document discusses the pros and cons of two hydrological modeling programs, HydroCAD and SWMM. HydroCAD uses the SCS CN loss method with unit hydrographs for hydrology modeling, while SWMM uses a less familiar Kinematic Wave method. SWMM can model specific low impact development practices and stormwater networks with dynamic routing, while HydroCAD is better suited for watershed modeling but lacks some hydraulic controls. The best way to compare the programs would be to model the same area with both and show hydraulic profiles. All other things being equal, an open source program like SWMM may be preferable to proprietary software.

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Johnny Mills
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404 views1 page

HydroCAD Vs SWMM

The document discusses the pros and cons of two hydrological modeling programs, HydroCAD and SWMM. HydroCAD uses the SCS CN loss method with unit hydrographs for hydrology modeling, while SWMM uses a less familiar Kinematic Wave method. SWMM can model specific low impact development practices and stormwater networks with dynamic routing, while HydroCAD is better suited for watershed modeling but lacks some hydraulic controls. The best way to compare the programs would be to model the same area with both and show hydraulic profiles. All other things being equal, an open source program like SWMM may be preferable to proprietary software.

Uploaded by

Johnny Mills
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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One way I tried to analyze the two would be to separate out the comparison between hydrology and

hydraulics.

For the hydrology discussion, the HydroCAD model would use the SCS CN loss method with unit
hydrographs.

SWMM uses a Kinematic Wave method for basin runoff that is not as well known by most local US
agencies. PSWMM (an add on) does now provide the ability to model unit hydrograph methods like the
SCS method, but they are not provided within the SWMM engine itself. Will the AHJ require we use one
method vs the other? How much additional work will it be to change the hydrologic approach? Is the
change worth the hassle?

SWMM does provide the ability to model specific LIDs, but it depends on what kinds of LIDs we want to
model. The proposed BMPs may be better modeled as a storage routing with orifices and weirs
depending on how critical the hydraulics piece is to the problem you want to solve.

As far as stormwater hydraulics, SWMM's dynamic routing engine is well tested and capable of modeling
most complex stormwater networks with the source code readily available online.

HydroCAD is capable as a watershed model, but it does not have all of the hydraulics controls that SWMM
provides while accounting for flow momentum.

The best way we could show the benefits of SWMM vs HydroCAD would be to take an existing HydroCAD
model and focus in on an area with complicated hydraulics.

If we model that area with the same hydrologic inputs as the HydroCAD model, and show a profile view of
the hydraulics of both models. In some watersheds, HydroCAD may be an acceptable approach, but that
requires a local evaluation of the area and our goals.

All other things being nearly equal, the model that is open and free to use is the better choice.

Other users of both have reported that they would get comments like "show me the calculations." So they
would include a stack of text routing output 80 pages thick, and the AHJ would respond with, "no I meant
show me a stack of all the hydrographs." which is very difficult to generate for a SWMM model.

Both of these softwares have their place, if we consider what is time effective for typical site hydrology
design in land development projects, for many areas of the country, some users have reported that
SWMM may be too complicated and unfamiliar users might be more prone to modeling errors.

While both can perform the task, developing the sorts of results output many municipalities like to see
has to be done by hand, and information must be extracted from the models in procedures that have been
described as time consuming and unwieldy.

For projects such as pre/post analysis for land development, HydroCAD, Hydraflow Hydrographs (in
Civil3D), and Hydrology Studio all outshine HMS or SWMM but SWMM may be a completely valid option.

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