Is My House in a Flood Zone?

It is important to understand the risk of flooding to your property because many homeowners’ insurance policies do NOT cover flooding. A Brief Overview of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Following the Great Flood of 1927 on the Lower Mississippi River, Congress mandated the construction of flood protection infrastructure (e.g., levees, dams, diversions, pump … Read more

How to Draw HEC-RAS Cross Sections

One-dimensional (1D) hydraulic modeling is based on open channel flow principles and calculations. The physical properties of open channels can vary widely, especially in natural channels. For this reason, it is very important to ensure that the cross-sectional geometry in your HEC-RAS model represents reality as closely as possible. Therefore, it is essential that a … Read more

2D Modeling in HEC-RAS, A Quick Start Guide

One of the most significant improvements to the United States Army Corps of Engineers River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) program is the addition of two-dimensional modeling functions. Many engineers are accustomed to preparing one-dimensional (1D) models. Therefore, 2D modeling can be a little daunting at first. However, 2D modeling is not any more difficult than 1D … Read more

13 Tips for HEC-RAS Modelers

I have been using HEC-RAS for many projects and at several companies. Throughout my experience as an HEC-RAS user, I have learned how to develop hydraulic models more accurately and efficiently. There are many things I know now that I wish I could tell my younger self when she was struggling through her first hydraulic … Read more