Purpose and Background

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center's HEC-RAS software program is a widely used tool for various open-channel hydraulics analysis and design tasks. With each run of the model, the program generates a list of errors, warnings, and notes. Some of the messages produced by the software program are not easily discerned and can be difficult to understand.

Due to the fact that HEC-RAS is widely used for several types of analysis tasks, virtually all HEC-RAS users have seen different messages provided by the software program. However, many users do not have a full grasp of why the various messages apply to their analysis runs or how to address the warnings that the program produces. Additionally, some warnings can safely be ignored for some analysis, while others indicate problems that could lead to inaccurate analysis results.

This webinar will focus on explaining the various warning and note messages generated by HEC-RAS analysis runs. Twenty warning messages will be discussed and descriptions provided on why the warning message was produced and how to address the warning. Fifteen note messages will also be presented and discussed. Background information for some of the warnings and notes will also be provided.

Learning Outcomes/Benefits

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify what the common warning and note messages from HEC-RAS mean
• Determine how to address various warning messages
• Identify which warnings to ignore
• Increase confidence in model results

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

Civil engineers seeking to understand the output messages generated by the HEC-RAS software program will benefit from this webinar. Participants should be familiar with the HEC-RAS software program before taking this course.

Webinar Outline

• Define errors, warnings, and notes in the context of HEC-RAS
• Present and define various warning messages
• Provide strategies to address various warning messages
• Present and define notesance using test sections