m

  Guided By:-


 Dr. P.L. Patel
m
  

 Professor
 
   ! Civil Engineering Department

°EC-°
is designed to simulate the precipitation-runoff
processes of dendritic watershed systems.

It is designed to be applicable in a wide range of geographic

areas for solving a broad range of problems. This includes large
river basin water supply and flood hydrology to small urban or
natural watershed runoff.

°ydrographs produced by the program can be used directly or

in conjunction with other software for studies of water
availability, urban drainage, flow forecasting, future
urbanization impact, reservoir spillway design, flood damage
reduction, floodplain regulation, wetlands hydrology, and
systems operation.
°ydrologic engineers are called upon to provide information for
activities for a variety of water resource studies:

Planning and designing new hydraulic-conveyance and water-

control facilities.

Operating and/or evaluating existing hydraulic-conveyance

and water-control facilities.

Preparing for and responding to floods.

Regulating floodplain activities.

=



It provides quick access to all components in an °EC-

°
project.

The =

 is divided into three parts:
Components, Compute, and Results.

The hierarchal structure of model components, such as

basin models, meteorologic models, etc., is available from
the DzComponentsdz tab of the =

.

Êll project simulation runs, optimization trials, and

analyses are accessed from the DzComputedz tab of the
=

.

odel results are available from the DzResultsdz tab of

=

. Results from different simulations
can be compared in the same graph or table.
à



Êll data that can be specified in the model component is entered in
the à


. Êny required data will be indicated with a red
asterisk. For example, parameter data for the
C
curve number
method is entered in the à


 for a subbasin element.
ï 
Potes, warnings, and errors are shown in the ï . These
messages are useful for identifying why a simulation run failed or why
a requested action, like opening a project, was not completed.
j


The j

holds a variety of windows including summary tables,
time-series tables, graphs, global editors, and the basin model map.
V
ïà

 The basin model represents
the physical watershed. The user develops a basin model by
adding and connecting hydrologic elements.
 ï
ïà

The meteorologic
model calculates the precipitation input required by a
subbasin element.
 à


à

The control
specifications set the time span of a simulation
run. Information in the control specifications includes a
starting date and time, ending date and time, and
computation time step.
 

j
à

Time-series data, paired data,
and gridded data are often required as parameter or
boundary conditions in basin and meteorologic models.
=
 j



The physical representation of a watershed is accomplished

with a basin model. Êvailable elements are: subbasin, reach,
junction, reservoir, diversion, source, and sink.

Ên assortment of different methods is available to simulate

infiltration losses. Options for event modeling include initial
constant,
C
curve number, gridded
C
curve number,
exponential, Green Êmpt, and
mith Parlange.

even methods are included for transforming excess

precipitation into surface runoff. Unit hydrograph methods
include the Clark,
nyder, and
C
techniques.

Five methods are included for representing baseflow

contributions to subbasin outflow.

Ê total of six hydrologic routing methods are included for
simulating flow in open channels. These include uskingum
method, modified Puls method, kinematic wave, uskingum-
Cunge methods

ï
j



eteorologic data analysis is performed by the meteorologic

model and includes precipitation, evapotranspiration, and
snowmelt.
ix different historical and synthetic precipitation
methods are included.
° 


imulation results can be viewed from the basin map. Global
and element summary tables include information on peak flow
and total volume. Ê time-series table and graph are available for
elements. Results from multiple elements and multiple
simulation runs can also be viewed. Êll graphs and tables can
be printed.
  




even different objective functions are available to estimate the
goodness-of-fit between the computed results and observed
discharge.
Ê  

Ênalysis tools are designed to work with simulation runs to
provide additional information or processing.

à

Ê GI
companion product has been developed to aid in the
creation of basin models for such projects. It is called the
Geospatial °ydrologic odeling Extension (°EC-Geo°

and can be used to create basin and meteorologic models for use
with the program.
The limitations that arise in this program are due to two aspects
of the design:-
V ï 
  the boundary conditions, initial
conditions, and parameters of the models are assumed to be
exactly known. This guarantees that every time a simulation
is computed it will yield exactly the same results as all
previous times it was computed.
  !


  The design of the basin model only
allows for dendritic stream networks. It is not possible to
split the outflow from an element into two different
downstream elements.

nyder selected the lag, peak flow, and total time base as the
critical characteristics of a U°.
°e defined a 
 U° as one whose rainfall duration,
, is
related to the basin lag,

, by:
tpR = tP Ȃ(tr-tR/4
For the 
 case,
nyder discovered that U° lag and peak
per unit of excess
precipitation per unit area of the watershed were related by:
Up/Ê = C(Cp/tp
here 
= peak of standard U° = watershed drainage area
à
= U° peaking Coefficient and à= conversion constant
(2.75for
I or 640 for foot-pound
ystem.
Clarkǯs model derives a watershed U° by explicitly representing two
critical processes in the transformation of excess precipitation to
runoff::
Ȉ h 
 or movement of the excess from its origin throughout
the drainage to the watershed outlet
Ȉ Ê


 or reduction of the magnitude of the discharge as the
excess is stored throughout the watershed
The Clark model accounts for the time required for water to move to
the watershed outlet. It does that with a linear channel model in
which water is Dzrouteddz from remote points to the linear reservoir at
the outlet with delay .
The average outflow during period
is:
where Ot = CÊIt + CBOt-1, àà = routing

2

© 2 coefficients.
@
This model represents a watershed as an open channel (a very wide,
open channel, with inflow to the channel equal to the excess
precipitation. Then it solves the equations that simulate unsteady
shallow water flow in an open channel to compute the watershed
runoff hydrograph.
This represents the watershed as two
plane surfaces over which water runs
until it reaches the channel. The water
then flows down the channel to the
outlet. Êt a cross section, the system
would resemble an open book, with the
water running parallel to the text on the
page (down the shaded planes and
then into the channel that follows the
bookǯs center
The
oil Conservation
ervice (
C
 Curve Pumber (CP model
estimates precipitation excess as a function of cumulative
precipitation, soil cover, land use, and antecedent moisture, using the
following equation:
@ where m = accumulated precipitation excess at time



 

 m = accumulated rainfall depth at time
  = the

 initial abstraction (initial loss and  = potential



© O maximum retention

From analysis of results from many small experimental watersheds,

the
C
developed an empirical relationship of  and :
 "#$
Therefore, the cumulative excess at time
is:

x

O


©
—O
The maximum retention,
, and watershed characteristics are
related through an intermediate parameter, the curve number
(commonly abbreviated à
 as:





à 








x







à

O  



 à














x
O



 à


The underlying concept of the initial and constant-rate loss model is
that the maximum potential rate of precipitation loss,  , is constant
throughout an event. Thus, if

is the depth during a time interval
to

ȥ
, the excess,

, during the interval is given by:
d  








 d

 
d















d

Ên initial loss,  , is added to the model to represent interception and
depression storage. Until the accumulated precipitation on the
pervious area exceeds the initial loss volume, no runoff occurs. Thus,
the excess is given by:


    

d
d d
d

   





 
   
 
d d
d















 

 
 d


torage in the reach is modeled as the sum of prism storage and
wedge storage. Prism storage is the volume defined by a steady-
flow water surface profile, while wedge storage is the additional
volume under the profile of the flood wave. During rising stages
of the flood, wedge storage is positive and is added to the prism
storage. During the falling stages of a flood, the wedge storage is
negative and is subtracted from the prism storage.
The volume of prism storage is the outflow rate, _, multiplied
by the travel time through the reach, . The volume of wedge
storage is a weighted difference between inflow and outflow,
multiplied by the travel time . Thus, the uskingum model
defines the storage as:

t = KOt + KX(It-Ot
where = travel time of the flood wave through routing reach
and = dimensionless weight.
This is the simplest of the °EC-°
routing models. ith it,
the outflow hydrograph is simply the inflow hydrograph, but
with all ordinates translated (lagged in time by a specified
duration. The flows are not attenuated, so the shape is not
changed.
athematically, the downstream ordinates are computed by:
 OOOOOOO  ? O 
 
 ? OOO
OO 
where O
= outflow hydrograph ordinate at time
 
inflow
hydrograph ordinate at time
 and  = time by which the
inflow ordinates are to be lagged.
The uskingum-Cunge model in °EC-°
can be used in either of
two configurations:


  
 - In this configuration, a simple

description of a representative channel cross section is provided. The
principle dimensions of the section are specified, along with channel
roughness, energy slope, and length. The length and roughness can be
estimated from maps, aerial photographs, and field surveys. The
energy slope can be estimated as the channel bed slope, in the absence
of better information.

—

 
 
  If one of the standard cross-
section shapes will not represent will the channel geometry, the
alternative is to use the so-called 8-point cross section configuration.
ith this, a representative cross section is described for the routing
reach, using 8 pairs of ,  (distance, elevation values.
The frequency based hypothetical storm method simulates
nested/centered storms, and is recommended for use because:-

It is intended specifically for developing hydrographs and peak

flows from Ǯdesignǯ storms of any frequency for which data are
available and for duration of upto 10 days.

The required data are easily available.

This method is simple to use.

The data include:

torm frequency

torm area

Rainfall Depths
The Initial/Constant precipitation loss method is recommended
for use as it is the simplest of the precipitation loss methods and
most intuitively understandable. For this method, only three
simple values are needed, including:

Initial Loss (inches of rainfall Ȃ Value to account for

interception and depression storage. Po runoff occurs from
previous areas until this quantity of precipitation has fallen.

Constant Loss Rate (inches/hour Ȃ Êfter the cumulative

precipitation exceeds the initial loss, precipitation is lost at this
constant loss rate to account for infiltration.

Percent Impervious (% Ȃ Represents the fraction of the area

that is impervious such as rooftops, roads and paved areas. Po
losses are subtracted from the precipitation for the percentage
of the basin that is impervious.
The
nyder ethod is recommended for transforming the
rainfall excess into runoff hydrograph. This method estimates
unit hydrographs based on the physical characteristics of the
watershed/channel system. The data requirements for
nyder
method are:

nyderǯs standard lag (hrs Ȃ This value is the time from the
centroid of rainfall excess to the peak flow at the point of
analysis.

nyderǯs Peaking Coefficient - This value represents the peak

flow for the unit hydrograph at the point of analysis. Ê value of
0.45 should be used.
The uskingham-Cunge hydrograph routing method is
recommended for use. This method can be used with the
standard channel sections (trapezoidal, square or circular or
with 8 point channel cross sections. The data required to use
this method include:

Channel Length (ft Ȃ easured from drainage system maps or

U
G
quadrangle maps

Energy Grade Line
lope (ft/ft Ȃ Êpproximated with the

channel or pipe slope

anningǯs n Ȃ
tandard values for many pipe materials may be

used. For open channels, a site visit is recommended to
accurately determine the n value

Channel
hape Ȃ Either trapezoidal, square or circular

The uskingham-Cunge hydrograph routing method is
recommended for use. This method can be used with the
standard channel sections (trapezoidal, square or circular or
with 8 point channel cross sections. The data required to use
this method include:

Channel Bottom width for trapezoidal channels or diameter

for pipelines

ide slopes (for trapezoidal channels only

Routing Increments Ȃ Pumber of increments used in the finite

difference solution. This value is optional and if not specified
the °EC program will automatically select an appropriate value.
This exercise involves the study of the structure
and some of the functions of the °EC-°ydrologic
odeling
ystem (°EC-°
, by simulating the
runoff hydrographs resulting from a design storm
on aller Creek in Êustin, Texas.
In this exercise, the Initial and Constant Loss ethod has been
selected. The following tables
how the data used in this
exercise. This data is estimated from the land use plan soil map
and hydrological characteristics of the waller creek catchment.
%% 
 "
# "
 O## 
# 
O $%O 



## 

V & & & & '(!&!'!

V
&(' & & & &

V &( & & & &)*

V & & & & !&(

V '& & & & ')&*

V &)* & & & )(&)(

V & & & & )&

Following are the values of the uskingam parameters for the
reach:-

(
 
  

   V
 
V
 V
V 
V
VV 
V
Once the loss and transform methods are chosen for the sub-
basin, the next step is to specify the parameters for these
methods
Editing of the basin model involves imputing data shown
below:-
Êfter putting all the subbasin and reach data window will look
like below:
°aving established the Basin odel, we will now create the eteorologic odel.
The precipitation and evapotranspiration data necessary to simulate a watershed
are stored in the meteorologic model

From a statistical study of extreme storm rainfall data recorded at gages, tables and
maps have been prepared for the whole U
which specify the storm precipitation
depth to be expected as a function of the return period of the event and the
duration of the rainfall. Ê table of such values is shown below for Travis County, in
which the City of Êustin is located.
 !

&
j
  V   V
 
      V V 

V VV V V V
V 

 V    V
V
 
V

V  

V

  V  


V 

  V 
 


 VV     

 
   V  

V        V

The storm is configured by selecting the exceedance probability (10 %

or 10 year return period, output type (Ênnual duration, duration of
maximum intensity (5 mins, storm duration (one day, and
percentage of storm that occurs before the peak intensity (50 %
The final task in the model setup involves establishing the model's
time limits

e
pecify the duration of the simulation in date and time, and also
the time interval of the calculations (10 minutes as shown below:
The °
allows us to view results in tabular or graphical form which
summarizes the peak discharge and time, the total volume of storm runoff
and the drainage area from which it came.
In addition to viewing global results, we can also view results for each element
within the model.
1. Chow, V.T., aidment D.R., and ays, L.. (1988. "Êpplied
°ydrology." cGraw-°ill, Pew York, PY.
2. Chow, V.T. (1959. DzOpen channel flow.dz cGraw-°ill, Pew
York, PY
3. U.
. Êrmy Corps of Engineers, °ydrologic Engineering
Center (°EC, Dz°ydrologic odeling
ystem, Userǯs
anual.dz (2008.
http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/-
documentation/CPD- 74Ê 2008Dec.pdf
4. atershed odeling
ystem 
. 1999 . Dz
V6.1
tutorials.dz Brigham Young Univ., Environmental odeling
Research Laboratory, Provo, Utah.
5. United
tates Êrmy Corps of Engineers, °ydrologic
Engineering Center U
ÊCE- °EC 2000 . °ydrologic
modeling system °à°
technical reference manual,
Davis, Calif.
6.
ingh, V.J. and oolhiser . (2002 athematical odeling
of atershed °ydrology, J °ydrologic Eng, ñ(4, 270-292
7. Daniil, E.I. and ichas
.P. (2005 Discussion of DzFactors
Êffecting Estimates of Êverage atershed
lopedz by Ê. J.
°ill and V.
. Peary, Ñ° à
8. Calabro, P.
. (2004 Design
torms and ater Quality
Control, Ñ°., è(1, 28-34.