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Plot Hydrographs Command

The Plot Hydrographs command of GeoHECHMS software allows the user to plot time series data such as rainfall data, runoff hydrographs, and other HEC-HMS analysis output results for any location in the drainage network. In addition, the hydrographs can be copied to the Windows clipboard and printed for later use.

Follow the steps below to use the Plot Hydrographs command:

  1. From the Results ribbon menu, select the Plot Hydrographs command.
    Plot Hydrographs command - Results ribbon menu
  2. The Plot Hydrographs dialog box will be displayed.
    Plot Hydrographs dialog box

The following sections describe how to use the Plot Hydrographs command and interact with the above dialog box.

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Subbasins

The Subbasins panel displays the output results for subbasins present in the project.

The Scenarios dropdown combo box of the Select Items section allows the user to select the preferred scenario associated with an element type.
Select Items - Scenarios dropdown combo box

The Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section allows the user to select the desired output variables associated with subbasins whose results are to be displayed. For subbasins, the output results of variables such as baseflow, runoff, direct runoff, cumulative excess precipitation, cumulative precipitation, cumulative precipitation loss, excess precipitation, precipitation, precipitation loss, and soil infiltration can be plotted.
Select Items - Variables dropdown combo box

All the elements (corresponding to the element type) present in the GeoHECHMS model of the selected scenario will be displayed under the Elements section. The user can check the checkboxes corresponding to the preferred element(s) to see output results associated with them.

Alternatively, the user can click the [Pick Elements] button to select element(s) from the Map View. Clicking on the [Pick Elements] button will cause the Plot Hydrographs dialog box to temporarily disappear, allowing the user to select GeoHECHMS elements from the Map View. Upon returning to the Plot Hydrographs dialog box, the output results related to the selected element(s) will be displayed under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels. By default, the dialog box appears in the plotting mode.
Hydrograph Plot for Subbasins

The user can click the [Clear Elements] button to deselect the currently selected elements and redo the entire process.

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Storage Areas

The Storage Area panel displays the output results for the storage areas present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario from the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as inflow, outflow, storage, stage, pool elevation, and reservoir area from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Storage Areas

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Junctions

The Junctions panel displays the output results for the junctions present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario from the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as inflow and outflow from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Junctions

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Reaches

The Reaches panel displays the output results for the reaches present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario from the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as combined inflow and outflow from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Reaches

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Diversions

The Diversions panel displays the output results for the diversions present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario from the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as diverted flow, inflow, and outflow from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Diversions

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Sources

The Sources panel displays the output results for the sources present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario in the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as outflow from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Sources

Displaying Hydrograph Plot for Sinks

The Sinks panel displays the output results for the sinks present in the project. Similar to displaying hydrograph plots for subbasins, the user can select the preferred scenario from the Scenarios dropdown combo box and desired output variables such as flow from the Variables dropdown combo box of the Select Items section. The software will then display the output results for the element(s) selected in the Elements section under the Plots, Data Tables, and Data Summary panels.
Hydrograph Plot for Sinks

Displaying Multiple Hydrograph Plots

The Plot Hydrographs command also allows the user to display multiple hydrograph plots to easily compare analysis results for different elements and output variables. Hydrograph plots of the same variable but for different elements of the same element type are superimposed on the same axis. Hydrograph plots of different variables or element types are plotted on different axes.
Multiple Hydrograph Plots

Data Tables

The Data Tables panel lists the time series data values for the currently selected element in a tabular format. The user can “drag and drop” the data columns to the left or right to reorder the column listings so that they are in a specific order. Based upon the selected element and variable, the content of this panel may change.
Data Tables panel

The software allows the user to export the data shown within the Data Tables panel to Microsoft Excel or PDF documents. To export data into Excel or PDF, right-click the Data Tables section and select Export Table to Excel or Export Table to PDF command from the displayed context menu.
Export Table to Excel or Export Table to PDF command

The software also allows the user to send the data within the Data Tables section to the Windows clipboard. To transfer the data to the Windows clipboard, right-click the Data Tables section and select the Copy Table to Clipboard command from the displayed context menu. The data will be automatically sent to the Windows clipboard.
Copy Table to Clipboard command

Data Summary

The Data Summary panel displays results of the parameters associated with the currently selected element(s). The user can “drag and drop” the data columns to the left or right to reorder the column listings so that they are in a specific order. Based on the selected element, the content of this panel may change.
Data Summary panel

The DSS Data section include an external DSS (Digital Storage System) file for referencing the HEC-HMS computational results. This allows the user to easily copy the references and paste them into GeoHECRAS.

  • DSS file name: This entry defines the external DSS file to be used for reading the data.
  • Data path: This entry defines the data path within the DSS file for the data to be read from.

Similar to the Data Tables panel, the software also allows the user to export the data shown within the Data Summary panel to Microsoft Excel or PDF documents and send the data to the Windows clipboard.

Results Summary

This panel displays the summary of the current HEC-HMS analysis results for each element (Subbasins, Storage Areas, Junctions, Reaches, Diversions, Sources, and Sinks) in tabular form.
Results Summary panel

Note that the Results Summary panel can also be displayed by selecting the Result Summary command from the Results ribbon menu. To learn more about the Results Summary panel, refer to this article in our knowledge base.

About the Author Chris Maeder

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