GeoHECRAS (December 28, 2016 Release)
Crop Base Map Command
The Crop Base Map command will crop the base map to the elevation terrain data extents. The base map will not extend outside of the elevation terrain data limits.
Automatic Trimming & Extending of Cross Sections while Defining Levees
While defining levees using either the Assign Levees or Draw Levees command, the software will automatically trim and extend the adjacent cross-sections to align with the constructed levee.
Data Explorer Panel Resizing
The Data Explorer panel now allows the user to resize the height of the panel. This allows the user to see more information at one time.
Attribute Table
The Attribute Table allows the user to easily review and edit HEC-RAS, GIS and other spatial attribute data. The Attribute Table can be used to filter, sort and highlight specific geospatial elements on the Map View. When changes are made to the attribute data, the changes are dynamically updated on the Map View.
Interpolate River Geometry Command
The Interpolate River Geometry command allows the user to interpolate the 3D river geometry from the defined HEC-RAS cross-sections and provided ground terrain data. This command goes far beyond the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS’ Interpolate Cross Sections command by not only interpolating cross sections but interpolating the 3D river geometry between defined cross sections. This is quite useful when the terrain data does not contain any channel geometry. From the defined HEC-RAS cross sections, the software will interpolate the river channel geometry between the defined cross sections by burning the cross section channel geometry into the 3D terrain data.
LIDAR Processing
The Process LIDAR command provides numerous advanced LIDAR processing tools, including point cloud classification filtering, extraction of buildings and other structures, dramatically faster surface generation, and much more.
- Processing of point cloud files
- Advanced filtering options to efficiently remove erroneous or unneeded points
- Merging multiple LIDAR data sets
- Trimming LIDAR data
- Thinning LIDAR data
We have been able to successfully process a 12 gigabyte LAS file with over 460,000,000 points.
Multiple HEC-RAS Versions Supported
The software allows the user to define which HEC-RAS version should be used for the analysis computations. The following HEC-RAS versions are provided:
- HEC-RAS 5.0.3 (2D elements not yet supported)
- HEC-RAS 4.1.0
- HEC-RAS 3.1.3 (steady flow only)
- HEC-RAS 3.0.1 (steady flow only)
Note that 2D element flow modeling that is provided in Version 5.0 of HEC-RAS is not yet supported, but will be in an upcoming future version.
Assignment of HEC-RAS Flow Data by GIS Node Shapefiles
HEC-RAS flow data can be assigned by GIS node shapefiles. This allows the user to import stormwater hydrology GIS data, such as HEC-HMS result data, and have it automatically assigned to the appropriate river reach, and internal cross sections if available. In addition, the software will assign normal depth condition to the model’s downstream boundary.
Construct 3-D Buildings from OSM Data
Open Street Maps (OSM) provides 3-D elevation data for buildings throughout the world. The Show 3D Buildings command will retrieve this information from OSM and construct realistic 3-D buildings on the Map View.
Display Lateral Structure on Profile Plot
The software now displays lateral structures in the profile plot.
Plot Results in Inline Structure Data dialog box
The software now displays the water surface profile results on the inline structure plot contained within the Inline Structure Data dialog box.
Plot Results in Lateral Structure Data dialog box
The software now displays the water surface profile results on the lateral structure plot contained within the Lateral Structure Data dialog box.
Culverts, Piers and Abutments shown on 2D Roadway Crossing
While in 2D View Mode, the software will display the location of culverts, bridge piers, bridge abutments on the roadway crossing structure so that it is easier to identify the location of these structure elements. Selection of bridge piers and culvert centerline stationing are referenced on the upstream and downstream face of the roadway structure, rather than on the adjacent cross sections. This makes it much easier for the user to properly locate these elements.
Unsteady Flow Floodplain Encroachments
Complete support for the US Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS unsteady flow floodplain encroachments have been added to the software. Included with this support are performance enhancements to make the engineer more productive, similar to the Steady Flow Floodplain Encroachments command already in the software.
Flow Roughness Change Factors
The Flow Roughness Change Factors dialog box allows the modeler to adjust roughness coefficients with changes in flow. This feature is very useful for calibrating an unsteady flow model for flows that range from low to high. Roughness generally decreases with increases in flow and depth. For example, for shallow, lower flows the Manning’s roughness can be increased to a higher value, but for deep, higher flows the Manning’s roughness will be reduced to a lower value. This is especially true on large river systems. This feature allows the user to adjust roughness coefficients up or down in order to calibrate the model to observed data.
Pump Station Elements
Complete support of pump stations for unsteady flow modelling has been added. A pump station can be used to pump water between two storage areas, a storage area and a river reach, or between two river reaches. Each pump station can have up to 10 different pump groups, and each pump group can have up to 20 identical pumps. The defined pumps have a pump performance curve defined, which dictates the flow rate versus head differential that the pump will perform at. In addition, rules can be defined that describe when the pump will turn on and off based upon other conditions within the model.
Remember HEC-RAS Profile and Output Display Options
The software will now remember the selected profile and HEC-RAS output display options when displaying HEC-RAS output during a session. For example, iterating the analysis and then redisplaying the results can be time consuming. To speed that process up, when redisplaying a cross section plot, profile plot and other output plots, the software will use the same profile and display options as were in the prior iteration.
Flood Map Reach Selection
The Flood Map command allows the user to select an individual river reach when generating the flood map. When dealing with large models with numerous river reaches, the user may only want to work on a single reach or even a small portion of a river reach. The user can now select an individual reach for generating the flood map. In addition, if the underlying terrain model only occupies a portion of the river reach, the software will limit the extent of the generated flood map to limits of the terrain model, thereby vastly speeding up the flood map generation.
Export Cross Sections to CAD Command
The Export Cross Sections to CAD command is used to automate the batch plotting of all or a selection of cross sections to CAD (i.e., AutoCAD and MicroStation) in a rectangular array pattern. This allows the user to quickly generate cross section plot sheets for their clients. This command allows the defined settings to be saved, and the later retrieved, for specific plot requirements.
Reload Layer Command
The software now allows the user to reload a layer by right-clicking on the layer and selecting the Reload Layer command. For example, to reload an external AutoCAD drawing that has just changed, use the Reload Layer command. This prevents the user from having to unload the drawing and then reopening the new drawing. Similarly, if you have made changes to the HEC-RAS model external from GeoHECRAS using the US Army Corps HEC-RAS software, reloading the HEC-RAS model will cause those changes to be reflected in the HEC-RAS model contained within GeoHECRAS.
Note that any modified layer options, such as AutoCAD layer visibility, color changes, assigned coordinate reference system, and other options are retained for the newly reloaded layer.
Draw Cross Sections Command Shortcut (Ctrl+D Keypress)
Pressing Ctrl+D will automatically start the Draw Cross Sections command. This allows the user to quickly draw additional cross sections without having to interact with the ribbon menu or Draw Cross Sections dialog box. Pressing Ctrl+D the first time will directly run the Draw Cross Sections command, allowing the user to immediately start drawing the cross section on the Map View.
After completing the drawing of the cross section on the Map View, the user is returned to the Draw Cross Sections dialog box. Instead of having to click the [Apply] button and then the [Draw] button to start drawing the next cross section, the user can press Ctrl+D to accept the just drawn cross section and the immediately start drawing the next cross section on the Map View. Alternatively, the user can press Ctrl+D upon finishing the drawn cross section, rather than right-clicking and choosing Done from the displayed context menu, and the software will accept the drawn cross section and then immediately start drawing the next cross section.
Note that the Ctrl+D keypress is ignored when other commands are active, like when the Cross Section Data dialog box is displayed.
Floating Debris at Bridge Piers
Floating debris clusters can be added to bridge piers at the upstream face of the bridge. Debris clusters can be included at all piers or individual piers. Debris sizes can be defined for all piers or can vary for each pier. The debris cluster is centered on the pier and moves up and down with the water surface. It becomes fixed in place when it comes in contact with the bridge low chord at the pier centerline. A debris raft can be modeled by setting the debris width to form a continuous blockage.
Export Table from Bridge Opening Comparison
The user can now export the bridge opening comparison table from within the Bridge & Culvert Data dialog box to the clipboard, Microsoft Excel, and to a PDF file. This helps the user document the differences between two bridges, such as existing and proposed bridge openings.
Smart Cross Section Plot Legend Placement
The software will now automatically determine the best location for the legend on the cross section plot in the Cross Section Data dialog box, as well as for the roadway crossing plot in the Bridge & Culvert Data dialog box.
HEC-2 Model Import
The software can import HEC-2 models with the same import capabilities that the Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS software provides.
Exporting Bridges, Inline Structures, and Lateral Structures to AutoCAD and MicroStation
When exporting a HEC-RAS model to AutoCAD or MicroStation, bridges, inline structures, and lateral structures are exported as polyface meshes. This allows the user to render a photo realistic representation of the HEC-RAS project from the exported meshes.
CAD Drawing & TIN Surface Transformation Support
Surveyors use a NOAA online software program called OPUS that takes measured GPS grid coordinates from a survey data collector and convert them into local ground coordinates that are corrected for the true shape of the Earth (which is not a perfect sphere). AutoCAD Civil3D provides support for the transformation scale factor in its Drawing Settings dialog box. We have implemented support for this transformation scale factor in the CAD Properties and TIN Surface Properties dialog boxes, allowing the software to support local ground coordinates.
Imported AutoCAD Drawings Drawing Bounds
While importing an AutoCAD drawing, the software determines the drawing limits to the area contained within the coordinate reference system (CRS). For example, many times the drawings have data drawn near the origin (0, 0). When importing in an AutoCAD drawing, this can artificially extend the drawing bounds to an unrealistic area. While importing in AutoCAD drawing, the software will discard areas that are outside the coordinate limits of the project coordinate reference system.
External Flow Data Import
GIS node data can be assigned as flow data to a HEC-RAS model. Both external and internal boundary flow data can be assigned. The software will intelligently determine where the flow data should be assigned. In addition, the software will estimate the downstream boundary energy gradeline slope for assigning normal depth as a downstream boundary condition.
LIDAR Layer Properties Dialog Box
The display of LIDAR data can be controlled using the LIDAR layer properties dialog box. The user can specify that the LIDAR point data be colored based upon elevation. In addition, the point symbol (circle/square) and symbol size for the LIDAR data can be specified.
PDF Layer Properties Dialog Box
Loaded PDF files now have a layer properties dialog box. This dialog box includes detailed information on the loaded PDF file, including any metadata.
Convert Elevation Command
The Convert Elevation command allows elevation grids to be converted between different units of measure. For example, USGS elevation grids have horizontal units in feet but elevations commonly in meters. This command allows the user to quickly convert the elevations from meters to feet.
Additional Map Edit Commands
Additional GIS editing commands have been added to facilitate the user and manipulating map data. The following commands have been added:
Edit Polylines
- Buffer Polylines
- Split Polylines
- Merge Polylines
- Reshape Polyline
- Offset Polyline
Edit Polygons
- Build Polygons
- Buffer Polygons
- Split Polygons
- Merge Polygons
- Explode Multipart
- Reshape Polygon
- Fill Holes
Node Name Included in GIS Export
When exporting a HEC-RAS model to GIS shapefiles, defined node names are now included with cross sections, roadway crossings, and inline structures.
Drag-and-Drop HEC-RAS Models
In addition to other common file formats, the user can drag HEC-RAS project files (*.PRJ) onto the GeoHECRAS user interface and the software will automatically load them.
Copy Element Reference Point is Referenced to Cursor Location
When copying an element, such as a cross section, the cursor location is now considered when making the copy. This makes it more seamless for the user in placing the copied element on the Map View.
Delete Custom CRS
The software now allows deleting of any added custom coordinate reference system (CRS). Simply right-click on the CRS and choose Delete from the displayed context menu.
Measure Distance and Slope on Profile Plot
The user can now measure both distance and slope on the profile plot. This helps the user in estimating boundary condition energy slope values for the HEC-RAS model.