GeoHECRAS Update: Get Work Done Faster with HEC-RAS
To help speed up your HEC-RAS engineering work, we are pleased to announce after 3 months of hard work a major update to GeoHECRAS. We have introduced a number of new features and functionalities, as well as updates to current features.
What’s New
Digital Terrain Cross Section Cutting
Extract HEC-RAS cross sections from 3D digital elevation terrain data. Utilize AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces, contours, TINs, DTMs, DEMs, survey points and other external digital elevation terrain data.
LandXML TIN Surfaces as Terrain Elevation Data
The software can use AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, and other TIN surfaces to determine cross section geometry when cutting cross sections. TIN surfaces are imported as LandXML files.
Support for Survey Point Data
The software can import survey point data as map data layer and for generating HEC-RAS river alignments and cross sections. In addition, this data can be used to generate digital elevation terrain surfaces and to extract HEC-RAS cross sections.
Supported survey data formats include:
- EN (Easting, Northing)
- ENZ (Easting, Northing, Elevation)
- NE (Northing, Easting)
- NEZ (Northing, Easting, Elevation)
- PEN (Point, Easting, Northing)
- PENZ (Point, Easting, Northing, Elevation)
- PEND (Point, Easting, Northing, Description)
- PENZD (Point, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Description)
- PNE (Point, Northing, Easting)
- PNEZ (Point, Northing, Easting, Elevation)
- PNED (Point, Northing, Easting, Description)
- PNEZD (Point, Northing, Easting, Elevation, Description)
Import River Reach Alignment
The Import River Reach Alignment command allows the software to import surveyed multiple river reach alignment from a wide variety of file formats. The software will automatically determine where the next river reach starts within the selected file based upon either gaps within the file or a sudden change in direction from one geometry point to the next.
Import Cross Section Geometry
The Import Cross Section Geometry command allows the software to import multiple surveyed cross section geometry from a wide variety of file formats. The software will automatically determine where the next cross section starts within the selected file based upon either gaps within the file or a sudden change in direction from one geometry point to the next.
Extract High Chord Geometry
The Extract High Chord Geometry command allows the software to utilize AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces, contours, TINs, DTMs, DEMs, survey points and other external digital elevation terrain data for generating a roadway crossing’s high chord geometry.
Extract Weir Crest Geometry
The Extract Weir Crest Geometry command allows the software to utilize AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces, contours, TINs, DTMs, DEMs, survey points and other external digital elevation terrain data for generating weir crest geometry for inline structures. Similarly, this command is available for lateral structures using the Extract Weir Crest Geometry command.
Floodplain and Floodway Mapping
Generate floodplain and floodway mapping from HEC‑RAS results and 3D digital elevation terrain data. Export results directly to AutoCAD (including AutoCAD Civil 3D and Map 3D), Google Earth, ESRI ArcGIS, as well as publish to PDF.
Copying and Pasting Model Elements
The software allows you to copy and paste model elements within a project and even between projects when two or more models are opened. The software will automatically align the copied cross section thalweg with the river reach and orient the cross section perpendicular to the river reach. In addition, the software will update the copied cross section river station ID and adjust the flow lengths for the copied cross section and the next upstream cross section.
Custom Coordinate Reference Systems
GeoHECRAS provides support for custom projected coordinate reference systems. Select File | Map Coordinates from the ribbon menu to view the Map Coordinates backstage page. From the Map Coordinates backstage page, select the Import CRS Projection tab.
Support for ArcInfo File and Personal Geodatabases
GeoHECRAS provides support for ArcInfo GDB File Geodatabases and ArcInfo MDB Personal Geodatabases to be added to map data layers.
Project Auto Recovery
The software automatically saves project while the user is working with the software. Should the software crash, it provides the option to recover the project with no or minimal loss of work.
Color Relief for Elevation Grids
The software can compute a color ramp and generate a corresponding color relief from Elevation Grid Properties dialog box. The generated color relief is saved along with the elevation grid so that will be available with the project file the next time the project is loaded.
Drag and Drop
Opening a GeoHECRAS project file or adding an external GIS data (Shapefiles, AutoCAD files, Elevation Grids, File Geodatabases, etc.) can be done by dragging and dropping the files from Windows Explorer onto the Map View or Map Data Layers panel. Dropping the files on to the Map Data Layers panel provides additional control on the display order of the selected file.
What’s Updated
Cross Section Region Extraction Control
The Extract Cross Section Geometry command can be used with various options to extract the cross section geometry for:
- Entire Cross Section
- Channel Only
- Overbanks Only
- Left Overbank Only
- Right Overbank Only
This is helpful when using field surveyed channel cross sections and then automatically extending the cross sections in the cross section overbank using digital terrain data.
Automated River Station ID Generation
Software now automatically computes and suggests river station IDs for the newly created cross sections, roadway crossings, and inline structures. This helps while using draw and assign element commands.
Terrain Options in Element Draw and Assign Commands
All element draw and assign commands provide options to extract geometry.
Extrude Building Shapes using GIS Polygon Shapefile
The GIS polygon shapefile properties dialog box allows the user to extrude the shapefile polygons as building shapes based on the selected elevation or height attribute.
Pick Stations and Elevations from Map View
All data dialog boxes (Cross Sections, Bridges & Culverts, Inline Structures, Lateral Structures, Storage Areas, and Storage Area Connections) allow the user to select stations and elevations from the Map View as well as the graphic plot.
Select Terrain Limits
The Generate Terrain command allows the user to define the terrain limits with the following options:
- Elevation Source Extents – Uses the entire extent of the loaded elevation data
- User-Defined Limits – Allows the user to select the terrain limits by dragging a rectangle on Map View
- HEC-RAS Model Extents – Uses the extent of the HEC-RAS model
Terrain Grid Resolution
The Generate Terrain command allows the user to specify grid cell size. Based on the cell size, grid resolution details are automatically computed and displayed.
Assign Channel Banks Command
The Assign Channel Banks command allows different options for the assignment of channel bank station locations:
- Polyline Assignment – Assignment of a polyline for placement of channel bank stations
- Depth Assignment – Based upon user specified channel depth, assign the channel bank stations
- Result Assignment – Automatically assign the next ground station above the water surface for the selected water surface profile as the channel bank station
What’s Fixed
Optimized CAD Layer Properties
Optimized the loading of CAD files and applying sub-layer color changes on Map View.
Memory Optimization
Fixed numerous memory leaks and optimized memory usage.
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