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CE4740-Engineering Hydrology Assignment

TITLE
Catchment Modelling with HEC-HMS

OBJECTIVE
To model the watershed ABO1 with HEC-HMS and to generate the outflow hydrograph at
location OUT.
To produce the Peak Flow, Time to Peak and Peak Shift with the observed streamflow data.

INTRODUCTION
The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is designed to simulate the complete hydrologic
processes of dendritic watershed systems. The software includes many traditional hydrologic
analysis procedures such as event infiltration, unit hydrographs and hydrologic routing. HEC-
HMS also includes procedures necessary for continuous simulation including evapotranspiration,
snowmelt and soil moisture accounting. Advanced capabilities are also provided for gridded
runoff simulation using the linear quasi-distributed runoff transform. Supplemental analysis tools
are provided for model optimization, forecasting streamflow, depth-area reduction, assessing
model uncertainty, erosion, sediment transport and water quality. (Engineers, 2017)

The HEC-HMS interface consists of a menu bar, tool bar and four panes.
Watershed Explorer: To provide quick access to all components
Component Editor: Relevant data to be added to the spaces provided
Message Log: Notes, warnings and errors are shown
Desktop: Work is performed

Watershed
Explorer

Desktop

Component Editor

Message Log

Figure 1: Layout of HEC-HMS Interface

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PROCEDURE

1. In this lab, a new project was created in the HEC-HMS software and a project name was
entered as EN14513138.

2. A new basin model was added to the project by using Basin Model Manager and it was
named as AB01. After the basin was created using the tools sub-basin, reach and junction
the sub catchments were modelled. The model of watershed AB01 contained 19 hydrologic
elements, made up of 4 sub-basins, 7 river reaches, 7 junctions and 1 outlet.

3. The sub-basin element was used to convert rainfall to runoff. The sub catchment parameters
for area, initial abstraction, soil group and lag time was entered. In this case, the SCS Curve
number method was used to compute losses and get excess rainfall from the total rainfall.
Then the reach element was specified using the Muskingum method that was the routing
technique used for the reaches in this model. The values for Muskingum k and x was entered
and the control specifications were modelled.

4. From the Time-Series Data Manager, a Precipitation Gauge-RF gauge and a Discharge
Gauge-SF gauge were defined respectively. The given information on rainfall records and
observed flow at the outlet were entered to the tables.

5. To link these precipitation and discharge data to the sub-basin and outlet respectively, a
Meteorological Model was created using the Meteorologic Model Manager. A meteorologic
model contains meteorologic information to drive the hydrologic simulation.

6. Then a Control Specification Model was created. This basically contains how long the
simulation will last and the time step to continue the simulation.

7. At the end, a Stimulation Run was created and computed to obtain the results. Results can
be viewed in both tabular and graphical form.

8. The computed results were adjusted to better fit the observed hydrograph at SF gauge by
changing the parameters of Initial Abstraction, Soil group and the Muskingum x value after
undergoing several trials.

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RESULTS

The following results were obtained from the parameters given in the lab sheet.

Figure 2: Initial Hydrograph

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Figure 3: Initial
Outlet Summary Results

Figure 4: Initial Global Summary Results

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Adjustment of Parameters

Adjustment of Sub-Catchment Parameters

Table 1: Adjustment of Sub-catchment Parameters

Initial Adjusted Initial

Sub-catchment Area Adjusted
Abstraction Abstraction Soil
ID (km2) Soil Group
(mm) (mm) Group
SB 1 34.41 1.7 3.0 A C
SB2 25.20 1.4 3.0 A D
SB3 29.63 2.3 3.6 C D
SB4 24.20 1.8 2.8 D D

Adjustment of Model Control Specifications

Table 2: Adjustment of Model Control Specifications

Loss Method SCS Curve number method

Transform Method SCS Unit hydrograph method
Catchment cover status Grass cover < 50 %
Muskingum k 1.5
Initial Muskingum x 0.15
Adjusted Muskingum x 0.4

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The following results were obtained from the optimized trial after adjusting the parameters to
best fit the observed data.

Figure 5: Final Hydrograph

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Figure 6: Final
Outlet Summary Results

Figure 7: Final Global Summary Results

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Using the Global summary of results:

Peak flow = 3.5 m3/s

Time to Peak = 900 min (15:00h)
Volume = 0.67 mm

DISCUSSION

HEC-HMS is a hydrologic modeling software which is designed to simulate the rainfall-runoff

processes in a wide range of geographic areas such as large river basin water supply and flood
hydrology to small urban and natural watershed runoff. The system encompasses losses, runoff
transform, open channel routing, analysis of meteorological data, rainfall-runoff simulation and
parameter estimation.
HEC-HMS uses separate models to represent each component of the runoff process, including
models that compute runoff volume, models of direct runoff and models of base flow. Each
model run combines a basin model, meteorological model and control specifications with run
options to obtain results.
In this practical the HEC-HMS was used to model the watershed AB01 and to generate the
outflow hydrograph at location OUT. To compute runoff volume, peak runoff rate, base flow and
flow routing methods SCS curve number, SCS unit hydrograph and Muskingum routing methods
were chosen.
The initial results obtained for peak discharge and volume were 3.8 m 3/s and 0.89 mm
respectively. These results were computed using the data of sub-catchment parameters, model
control specifications and SCS curve numbers given in the lab sheet. The Rainfall runoff
simulation was conducted using 16 rainfall records on 01st April 2016 from 00:00 hours to 15:00
hours on an hourly time gap. The discharge data was recorded observing the flow at the outlet
from 0:00 hours on 01st April 2016 to 0:00 hours on 03rd April 2016 on an hourly time period.
A peak discharge of 3.5 m3/s and a volume of 0.67 mm were obtained from the observed
hydrograph at gauge, which had a low discharge and a volume compared to the initial results
obtained. The following parameters (as stated in table 1 and 2 under results section) were
adjusted in order to obtain a best fit hydrograph compared to the observed data. These changed
parameters include the Muskingum weighting factor (x), initial abstraction and curve numbers.

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Sub-catchment parameters:
Initial Abstraction (mm):
Abstraction is the term used to describe the amount of rainfall that doesnt turn into
runoff. There are numerous processes that intercept rainfall. Some rainfall never even
reaches the ground, instead being intercepted by leaves on trees. Some rainfall is
evaporated back into the atmosphere. Of the rainfall that reaches the ground, some is
infiltrated and some just ponds with no outlet. When the initial abstraction values of the
sub-basins increased, the peak discharge and the volume got reduced.
Soil group (A,B,C or D):
SCS-CN method is used in runoff volume calculation using the values related to land use and
soil data so that integration of these data determine CN values for the watershed to consider
amount of infiltration rates of soils. In SCS-CN method, accumulated precipitation excess is
estimated as a function of cumulative precipitation, soil cover, land use and antecedent
moisture. For a watershed that consists of several soil types and land uses, a composite CN is
calculated. SCS unit hydrograph is applied for estimating direct runoff.

The cover description was selected as an open space with poor condition, i.e grass cover less
than 50%. Soil type was classified as four hydrologic soil groups. Soils with a value of A
have high infiltration rates while soils with D values have low infiltration rates.
Soil group A - Sand, Loamy sand or sandy loam, 0%
Soil group B - Loam or Silt loam, 28.9%
Soil group C - Sandy clay loam, 31.7%
Soil group D - Clay loam, Silty clay loam, Sandy clay, Silty clay or clay, 39.4%
As the soil types were adjusted to soil group C and D, which gives high runoff rates and low
infiltration rates, the computed peak discharge and volume increased more than the observed
hydrograph.

Model control specifications:

X value of Muskingum:
The Muskingum k was kept as 1.5 hours and only Muskingum x value was originally 0.15
and was changed to 0.4. Muskingum method for channel routing is chosen. In this method X
and K parameters must be evaluated. Theoretically, K parameter is time of passing of a wave
in reach length and X parameter is constant coefficient that its value varies between 0-0.5. (X
= 0 means a level-pool reservoir or maximum storage, X = 0.5 means a pure transmission
reach in which there are no storage effects and X ranges between 0 and 0.5).
These adjusted parameters allowed for a similar simulated peak discharge and a volume to the
desired values after doing 41 trial runs. The final results were same as the observed hydrograph
with a peak discharge of 3.5 m3/s and a volume of 0.67 mm as shown in figures 4, 5 and 6 at the
end of results section.

Importance of HEC-HMS

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The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) was conceived as a software-based tool for
simulating the hydrologic cycle in the context of engineering problem solving. Water movements
in the cycle relevant to common problems in water resources engineering were included:
precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, base-flow and open channel flow. The first generation
of the software focused on simulating individual storm events. The second generation of the
software added new components for infiltration modeling to permit continuous simulation.
Snowmelt and potential evapotranspiration components, along with an advanced reservoir
component, were added for the third generation.

The software is very adaptable because it includes a variety of model choices for each segment
of the hydrologic cycle. It has been used in many studies for achieving goals in flood damage
reduction, reservoir and system operation, floodplain regulation, environmental restoration,
water supply planning, among others. Current and past software releases mostly utilize
simulation components built from conceptual models. These models typically rely on empirical
data to make predictions about water movement. Nevertheless, many of these models contain
parameters with a physical basis and may be estimated from measurable properties of the
watershed. These models can function very effectively when calibration data is available.

It is generally accepted that physically-based models are a better choice. Several physically-
based simulation components have been included in the software beginning with the very first
release. Additional physically-based components were added during the second and third
generations. These methods will be summarized including the Green Ampt and Smith-Parlange
infiltration components, kinematic wave surface runoff component, and Priestley-Taylor
potential evapotranspiration component. One approach to developing a physically-based model
is to use an energy balance. This approach has been used to develop a new snowmelt simulation
component. The individual model components are also reused for application in a potential
evapotranspiration simulation component and a reservoir evaporation model.

CONCLUSION

The computed Peak Discharge was 3.5 m3/s, Time to Peak was 900 min and the volume was 0.67
mm which was exactly same as observed hydrograph at the outlet. There was a 0.01 m3/s mean
absolute error in the eventual outcomes which could be neglected.
Finally, I can conclude that this lab was carried out successfully with the use of HEC-HMS
software to model the watershed and to generate the outflow hydrograph and the objectives were
achieved.

REFERENCES
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Engineers, U. A. C. o., 2017. Hydrologic Engineering Center. [Online]

Available at: http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/
[Accessed 31 03 2017].
Kishor Choudhari, B. P. J. C. P., 2014. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS
AND GEOSCIENCES. Simulation of rainfall-runoff process using HEC-HMS model for
Balijore, 5(2), p. 13.
Merwade, V., 2012. Hydrologic Modeling using HEC-HMS. Issue 2012, p. 17.

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