OHD/HL/CHPS - HEC-RAS

HEC-RAS into CHPS

NEWS AND ACTIVITIES (in reverse chronological order)

January 2010

Deltares conducted further tests of the HEC-RAS during the December SAT, using a more comprehensive configuration developed by Deltares for the Lower Columbia River (NWRFC). A system problem prevented completion of all tests during SAT, but remaining functionality was successfully demonstrated to OHD by the end of December.

October 2009

Deltares conducted tests of the HEC-RAS during SAT on September 21-23; most tests passed but HEC has been asked to implement one more fix before HEC-RAS will be considered fully ready for operational use with CHPS.

NWRFC has successfully calibrated segments for the Lower Columbia River and expects to receive assistance from Deltares to develop the first FEWS configuration. The CAT-II RFCs are steadily implementing HEC-RAS in their own areas.

July 2009

Software Development on Linux version of RAS: Deltares and HEC met at the Resource Management Associates (RMA) facility in California during the final week of June to address outstanding technical issues with interoperability between FEWS and the Linux version of RAS. RMA is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center's (HEC) contractor for this task. During this visit Deltares was also able to provide the necessary information for RMA to accept software maintenance responsibility for the Java-based FEWS adapter for RAS.

Development of a science-based technique to convert FLDWAV/DWOPER configurations to HEC-RAS in CHPS: The HSMB Hydraulics Group Leader, Seann Reed, is preparing to support CAT RFC migrations from NWSRFS FLDWAV/DWOPER to the new CHPS-based HEC-RAS.

HEC-RAS Training for RFCs:

• A basic (steady flow) course for any RFC wanting to learn basic HEC-RAS concepts was conducted the week of April 13 by the HEC.
• Hands-on training in advanced topics (unsteady flow) was provided by OHD HSMB directly to the CAT RFCs in Taunton, MA (at NERFC) during the week of April 27. OHD arranged for the lecture portions of the class to be shared with other RFCs via a webinar.

April 2009

Software Development on Linux version of RAS: A technical problem has arisen concerning some Linux software developed by Resource Management Associates (RMA), the US Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center’s (HEC) contractor for this task. Deltares and RMA have identified a technical solution and are awaiting guidance from OHD and HEC; until this item is resolved Deltares cannot demonstrate a complete solution for HEC-RAS in CHPS. OHD and HEC will meet on April 1 in Sacramento, CA to discuss a resolution for the situation.

Software Development on the FEWS adapter for RAS: After the April 1 meeting between OHD and HEC, Deltares can move forward with RAS adapter training for software maintenance purposes by HEC and/or their contractor RMA.

Development of a science-based technique to convert FldWav/Dwoper configurations to HEC-RAS in CHPS: This task is assigned to OHD HSMB. The HSMB Hydraulics Group Leader, Seann Reed, attended the February CHPS migration training in anticipation of the need to support CAT RFC migrations to a CHPS-based HEC-RAS.

HEC-RAS Training for RFCs:

• A basic (steady flow) course for all interested RFCs will now be conducted by HEC during the week of April 13 in Davis, CA (formerly scheduled for March). The course will be provided through NSTEP.
• Hands-on training in advanced topics (unsteady flow) will now be provided by OHD HSMB directly to the CAT RFCs in Taunton, MA (at NERFC) during the week of April 27 (formerly scheduled for March). In response to a request by the CAT-II RFCs that they be permitted to participate in the same training, OHD arranged for the lecture portions of the class to be shared via the Web.

January 2009

Software Development on Linux version of RAS: the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) delivered a Linux version of the modeling software to Deltares in early December. Testing by Deltares at NERFC is expected to occur in late January.

Software Development on the FEWS adapter for RAS: with the delivery of a Linux-based RAS, Deltares can now complete their software development activities. Once software development and testing are complete, Deltares will provide HEC (and/or their contractor) with training in preparation for hand-over of the Java-based adapter to HEC.

The above two tasks are scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2009.

Development of a science-based technique to convert FldWav/Dwoper configurations to HEC-RAS: this task is assigned to OHD HSMB, and is scheduled for completion in January 2009. The primary focus this quarter has been on assisting the CAT RFCs, which require operational implementation of RAS sooner than other RFCs, and before the end of FY09.

HEC-RAS Training for RFCs: after numerous discussions between OHD, HEC, and the CAT RFCs, the following agreement was reached in December:

• A basic (steady flow) course will be given by HEC during the week of March 9; the course will be provided through NSTEP;
• Hands-on training in advanced topics (unsteady flow) will be provided by OHD HSMB directly to the CAT RFCs as needed (date yet to be determined)

October 2008

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) began work on the "HEC-RAS into CHPS" project, recently announcing that their contractor has completed a first version of the Java library needed by Deltares. Things are going well and are on schedule.

The task order for RTi was awarded, enabling Deltares to formally begin work on the adapter and conduct testing. NERFC provided RTi/Deltares with a working version of HEC-RAS for testing.

HSMB is investigating two approaches to implementing HEC-RAS models at RFCs: one is to convert existing FLDWAV/DWOPER models; the other is to get existing USACE models and implement those. The HSMB task, scheduled to complete in January 2009, is on track.

July 2008

The only impediment to Phase 2 (implementation) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) project now involves contracts. Deltares is waiting for authorization from NOAA Procurement to proceed; funds for HEC were transferred at the end of June; HEC will notify OHD when they can begin work

April 2008

Deltares and OHD traveled to LMRFC in February to discuss functional requirements for the HEC-RAS capability in CHPS. OHRFC also attended. The Deltares-OHD team then traveled on to Davis, CA to meet with USACE HEC and its contractor Resource Management Associates (RMA); RMA is the contractor that built the Corps Water Management System (CWMS) in collaboration with HEC. The goal of the meeting in Davis was to discuss potential solutions.

Deltares, HEC, and LMRFC came to an agreement concerning the overall technical solution, which allowed Deltares to draw up a proposal for review on March 25.

Phase 1 (design) of the project is now complete. Phase 2 (implementation of the proposed solution) is expected to begin once contract tasks are in place for Deltares and HEC.

With the decision that OHD will discontinue support for FldWav, the transition of forecasting operations from FldWav to HEC-RAS is now a CHPS operational capability pre-requisite.

January 2008

Phase 1 of the project began with a kick-off conference call in December where a proposed project schedule was discussed. The project team consists of the following members:

• Delft (Deltares) as the overall software project lead.
• LMRFC (David Welch, Dave Ramirez) will provide the RFC forecaster perspective, as well as technical support for potential use of local applications. [Note: OHD has also contacted OHRFC to request their participation on the team.]
• HEC will identify the level of effort required to port their existing Sun Solaris-based RAS software to Linux.
• OHD HSMB will represent OHD's requirements for getting RAS into operations as a replacement for FldWav.
• OHD HSEB will monitor the contract task with Apex (mechanism used to access Deltares), and also the MOA between HEC and OHD.

Deltares plans to travel to the U.S. at the end of February to meet with HEC, OHD, and LMRFC, and begin the process of prototyping/designing a solution.

Phase 2 of the project - implementation of the final solution - is expected to begin later this FY.

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October 2007

The goal of this project is to provide RFCs with access to the USACE HEC River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) via CHPS (not NWSRFS). HSEB anticipates two phases, the first of which (Phase 1) will be the solution design; this piece has now been contracted out to Delft. The solution is expected to leverage much of the CHPS-based software developed on the ResSim project, without the connection to NWSRFS.

Also this quarter NOAA and the USACE finalized an updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the two agencies, thereby providing a vehicle to fund HEC's contributions to Phase 1 of this project. Funding is also now secured. With agreements, contracts, and funding in place, all that remains is for HEC to complete other unrelated commitments and release their staff to begin Phase 1.

The second phase, implementation of the design, will require HEC and other HSEB contractors (to be determined) to implement the proposed software design into CHPS.

July 2007

After a series of discussions with HSMB and HEC, HSEB began the necessary paperwork to begin the task of incorporating the USACE HEC River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) into CHPS. HSEB anticipates two phases, the first of which will be the solution design; this piece will be contracted out to Apex. The second phase, implementation of the design, will require HEC and possibly others to develop additional software. The solution is expected to leverage much of the CHPS-based software developed on the ResSim project.

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