HEC-RAS Manager


HEC-RAS is designed to perform one-dimensional hydraulic calculations for a full network of natural and constructed channels. The Carlson HEC-RAS Manager interfaces directly with HEC-RAS to seed HEC-RAS with needed surface, alignments, cross-section and other data for channel analysis and places that analysis into the Carlson DWG. It is also very convenient because the output from the program can be exported directly for use elsewhere. HEC-RAS software is free and can be downloaded from http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/. 

You must have version 5.0.0 or newer downloaded and installed on your machine to use the HEC-RAS Manager. 

HEC-RAS projects require a surface (tin), a Reach Alignment file (mxs) and a Reach Section file (xsct).  Import or create a tin.  Draw or import a polyline down the center of the channel from downstream to upstream. Use the command editmxs to create or edit the .mxs Reach Alignment file. 



Use the command sctgrid using the .tin and .mxs files to create the .xsct Reach Section file.  Use the command scto3dp to draw the Reach Section file onto the surface.

The command, hecras, may be typed in the Command Ribbon or found in the Hydrology module, Watershed dropdown, HEC-RAS Surface Model, HEC-RAS Manager.



It is used for creating, managing and modifying HEC-RAS projects directly from Carlson Hydrology.  When executed, you will select or create a .ras HEC-RAS Settings file.  Once the .ras file is chosen or created, the HEC-RAS Manager dialog appears.  Click the Select button to create a new HEC-RAS project file or to select an existing project.  Set the HEC-RAS version by clicking the dropdown arrow and choosing the version you downloaded and installed. The .ras settings file is updated when the HEC-RAS Manager is closed using the "X" or the exit button.




Select the Create/Update Project button to update an existing project or to create a new one.  When clicked the Create HEC_RAS Project dialog appears.  Use the Set buttons to assign the Reach Alignment file, the Reach Section file and the HEC-RAS project name.  Fill in the River Name and the Reach Name.  Use the Set buttons to assign the Manning's friction coefficient (n) to the banks and bottom of the channel.  Choose the Bank Position Method, which determines were the bank is located. Choices are Percentage of Width, Section Description or Bank Polylines.  Then Add Steady State Flow, if desired, by checking the box and inputting the flow in cubic feet per second and the station where this flow is added.  These are the minimum inputs needed to create a HEC-RAS project.  The HEC-RAS project file .prj, plan file .p01, geometry file .g01 and a steady flow .f01file  are created when the Export button is clicked. These are the minimum files needed for a HEC-RAS project.  The user is returned to the HEC-RAS Project Manager dialog after the Export.




Selecting the Project button calls the main HEC-RAS project screen, allowing for viewing and editing.




Selecting the Geometry button calls the HEC-RAS Geometric Data dialog, with tools and editors to add complexity to the reach.



Selecting the Steady Flow Analysis button calls the HEC-RAS Steady Flow Analysis dialog.  Type a Short ID if desired.  Choose a Flow Regime.  Choose Optional Floodplain Mapping if desired.  Input a Plan Description if desired.  Click the Compute button to analyze the steady state flow input when the HEC-RAS project was created.



Once the computations are completed, the HEC-RAS Finished Computations dialog is displayed or errors are listed.



Returning to the HEC-RAS Manager, clicking the X-Section Tab, selecting a Station and clicking Edit calls the HEC-RAS Cross Section Data dialog.  Examine the Steady Flow at any station by clicking the Up and Down arrows



Use the HEC-RAS Bridge and Culvert Tabs to add bridges and culverts along the reach.  You will need to re-run the Steady Flow Analysis.  Click the Results tab on the HEC-RAS Manager.  Select the Type of results desired and click Update.  The desired results are displayed.



Once the desired results have been chosen and updated, selecting the Export Tab in the HEC-RAS Manager will allow the chosen results to be exported.  In this case, the results desired was Calculated water surface.  From this we can export a .pro file and/or create edge-of-water surface polylines on a specified layer and automatically insert these into the drawing.






Any changes or updates made during this processing will not be saved to the HEC-RAS file system until Save is clicked in the HEC-RAS Manager.

If you have built multiple Plans within HEC-RAS, use the Multiple Run button in the HEC-RAS Manager dialog to check or run multiple plans at once.




Clicking the Sediment Data button in the HEC-RAS Manager calls the HEC-RAS Sediment Data dialog, used for setting up and analyzing water sediment movement.



Pulldown Menu Location: Watershed
Keyboard Command: HECRAS
Prerequisite: HEC-RAS v. 5.0.0 or newer