Great course for understanding the do’s and don'ts of sediment transport analysis. Instructors did a good job of tying concepts to real world examples.  Scott Lyle, Lyle Engineering, Inc., Carlsbad, CA

This intensive three-day seminar will prepare the engineer and water resource professional to use the HEC-RAS computer program for running sediment transport analyses. Led by experts from WEST Consultants with practical experience in sediment transport modeling, participants will learn how to approach and conduct a sediment transport study using HEC-RAS, including handling input parameters and boundary conditions, selecting a transport function, and performing calibration and sensitivity analyses.

The HEC-RAS modeling system was developed as part of the Next Generation software from the Hydrologic Engineering Center and replaces several existing Corps of Engineers programs, including the HEC-2 water surface profile program. Beginning with version 4.0 of HEC-RAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers incorporated various new aspects of hydraulic modeling, including, for the first time, sediment transport modeling.

The latest version of HEC-RAS includes advances in open channel hydraulic and sedimentation analysis such as:

• Sediment Transport/Movable Bed Modeling
• Sediment Impact Analysis Methods (SIAM)
• Stable Channel Design Tools

HEC-RAS is user friendly, computationally efficient, and runs within, and fully supports, the Microsoft Windows environment. It uses the latest graphical user interface (GUI) technology for data entry, graphics, and display of program results. Complete context-sensitive help screens are available for every program feature and option. Software includes the following functions: file management, data entry and editing, hydraulic analyses, tabulation and graphical displays of input and output data, reporting facilities, and on-line help.

HEC-RAS is one of the most extensively-tested civil engineering computer programs ever developed. In addition to extensive in-house testing at the Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center offices, the program has been through two full beta releases, during which the program was tested by thousands of engineers in the private and public sectors.

NOTE: Participants need a thorough understanding of open channel hydraulics; particularly the assumptions, limitations, and use of procedures for computing open channel flow properties such as water surface elevation and velocity. Participants should be familiar with running HEC-RAS for steady flow analyses.

Students will be able to:

• Set up and execute a sediment transport analysis within HEC-RAS
• Recognize the various sediment transport methods within HEC-RAS and select appropriate function(s)
• Apply calibration and sensitivity techniques to their models
• Troubleshoot HEC-RAS sediment models

Instructor(s) will observe student performance during multiple computer workshop problems. Students will take a test at the end of the class with questions addressing the Learning Outcomes. The test will be graded in class by their classmates as the instructor goes over each question and answer.

Seminar Features

Workshop participants receive the following publications and software:

• HEC-RAS software (latest version)
• HEC-RAS Hydraulic Reference Manual (digital copy)
• HEC-RAS User's Manual (digital copy)
• HEC-RAS Course Notes
• HEC-RAS Applications Manual (digital copy)

Consulting engineers, water resource planners, engineers employed by local, state, or federal government agencies who currently execute and/or review sedimentation studies or plan to in the future. Participants should have sound experience in HEC-RAS steady flow computer modeling. They should also be able to follow simple computer instructions.

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

DAY 1

• Sediment Transport in Natural Streams
• Introduction to HEC-RAS and Sediment Modeling
• Executing HEC-RAS for Sediment and Reading Output
• Basic Sediment Transport Workshop
• Hydraulic Sorting and Armoring
• Selection of Sediment Transport Relations

DAY 2

• Steps in Performing Sediment Studies
• Development of Sediment Data Workshop
• Calibration and Verification Techniques
• Calibration and Verification Techniques Workshop

Day 3

• Methods for Estimating Sediment Yield
• Troubleshooting a HEC-RAS Sediment Model
• Troubleshooting a HEC-RAS Sediment Model Workshop
• Field Reconnaissance for Sediment Studies
• Stable Channel Design using HEC-RAS
• Sediment Impact Analysis Methods (SIAM) Tools in HEC-RAS

Discounted hotel rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. See discount deadline and rates below.