Hydrological

Modelling:
Application using HEC-HMS

CVL 282 Engineering hydrology

What is a Model?
• Representation of a real phenomenon that is
difficult to observe directly

• Models also aid in investigating the future

impact studies on real world.

• A model relates something unknown (the

output) to something known (the input).

Input Processing Output

 Hydrological Model

Input Output
Model

Rainfall-runoff model Runoff

Rainfall Hydrological model
Rainfall

Runoff
Time Time
Watershed
Hydrologic models
• Simplified or conceptual representations of a part of the
hydrologic, or water cycle.
• primarily used for hydrologic prediction and for
understanding hydrologic processes.

Hydrological /
Water cycle
 Hydrological Modelling
Factors affecting Rainfall Runoff modelling

Watershed Properties

Input Output

Rainfall Runoff

Elevation

Runoff
Rainfall

LULC
Soil Map
Time
Time Slope
Temperature
Humidity
??
Model Classification
• Physical models are
reduced-dimension
representations of real world
systems.
Analog Models that represent
the flow of water with the
flow of electricity in a
circuit.

Mathematical Models defines a

set of equations that
represents the response of a
hydrologic system component to
a change in hydro-
meteorological conditions.
Mathematical Model Classification
Spatial Discretization

Parameters do not Parameters are partially Parameters are

vary spatially within allowed to vary in space fully allowed to
the basin & response by dividing the basin vary in space at a
is evaluated only at into a number of resolution chosen
the outlet smaller sub-basins by the use

Lumped Semi-distributed Distributed

HEC-HMS HEC-HMS; SWAT MIKE-11

Mathematical Model Classification
Spatial Discretization

[3] Distributed
Model

[1] Lumped
Model
 Mathematical Model Classification
Process Description
• Empirical model, is built
upon observation of input and
output, without seeking to
represent explicitly the process
of conversion.
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑰𝑨
Where Q is runoff, I is rainfall over
area A, C is the runoff coefficient.

• Conceptual model is built

upon a base of knowledge of
the pertinent physical,
chemical, and biological
processes that act on the input
to produce the output.
Constituents of a Model

•Parameters : numerical measures of the properties

of the real-world system
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑰𝑨 𝒀 = 𝒎𝐗 + 𝒄

•Boundary Conditions:values of the system

input—the forces that act on the hydrologic system
and cause it to change.

•Initial Conditions: included in the program are

unsteady-flow models; that is, they describe changes
in flow over time
Calibration and Validation of Model
• Parameters are introduced in order to be able to adapt the
model and optimize its performances in simulating a real
world phenomenon.
• In order to apply the model, parameters needs to be
estimated (or calibrated, or optimized, and we say that the
model is calibrated, parameterized, optimized).

Y X Y X
1 67 1 67
3 574 3 574
𝒀 =4 𝒎𝟏 𝐗46+ 𝒄𝟏 𝒀 =4 𝒎𝟐 𝐗 +
46 𝒄𝟐
6 467 6 467
7 4 7 4
9 9 9 9
Calibration and Validation of Model
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑰𝑨
• C = Runoff coefficient
(Parameter)
 Calibration and Validation of Model
Calibration
How is m and c estimated in y =mx + c ?

OLS (Ordinary least squares regression) : Linear Regression

Minimize residuals (Observed value - Predicted value)

e = Y – Y predicted
X Y Y predicted
1 67 65
3 574 560
4 46 49
6 467 467
7 4 2
9 9 8
 Calibration and validation of model
Finding model parameters
𝑮𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒊
Area = 1.08 million km² Area = 1.08 million km²
𝑸 = 𝑪𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑰 𝑨 𝑸 = 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒊 𝑰 𝑨
Q I Q I
1 67 1 17
Calibration
2/3 or 75%

300 574 30 174

2/3 or 75% of 1 6
4 46
dataset
60 467 6 57
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒎 7 36
7 4
9 9
𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 9 96
1/3 or 25%

4 7 6 49
398 575 Validation 28 157
8 7 1/3 or 25% of 9 70
dataset
𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅
𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓
Hydrological
modelling using
HEC-HMS
Rainfall Runoff Relation

Rainfall
RainfallRainfall
Excess

Loss or
Storage
Initial abstraction
Modelling Losses/Storage

Excess Rainfall ~ Direct Runoff

Loss or
Storage

HEC-HMS: SCS Curve number method

LOSS METHOD: SCS Curve Number (CN)

• The runoff curve number (also called a curve number or

simply CN) is an empirical parameter used in hydrology for
predicting direct runoff or infiltration from rainfall excess

• Function of cumulative precipitation, soil cover, land use, and

antecedent moisture.

• For heterogeneous Watershed the CN:

 SCS Curve Number method
P(t) = depth of rainfall
( P (t ) − I a ) 2
Q (t ) = Q(t) = depth of runoff
( P (t ) + S − I a ) Ia = initial abstraction
S = potential storage
CN = curve number  100
I a = 0.2 S
Emperical relation
after after many small
experimental
watershed

25,400
S= − 254 mm
CN
Transformation method
Excess Rainfall Direct Runoff

Excess Rainfall Direct Runoff

Runoff
Basin lag
time
Loss or
Time
Storage

HEC-HMS: SCS Unit Hydrograph method

TRANSFORM METHOD: Direct Runoff

• SCS unit hydrograph model

• Model that simulate the process of Direct runoff of excess
precipitation on a watershed.
• This is referred as “transformation” of precipitation excess
into point runoff.
• Emperical Model (unit hydrograph) & Conceptual model
(Kinematic wave model of overland flow)
• Basic concept of of UH Model:
Flow Routing

• Determine the time and magnitude of flow (i.e., flow hydrograph) at a point on a
watercourse from known or assumed hydrographs at one or more points upstream

• If the flow is flood → Flood Routing

• Flow routing means tracing the flow through a hydrologic system, given the input

• Lumped system routing: Flow is calculated as a function of time alone at a particular

location → Hydrologic Routing

• Distributed system routing: Flow is calculated as a function of space and time

throughout the system → Hydraulic Routing
 Channel routing
• Reservoir: Storage was a unique function of the outflow discharge S = f(O).
• Channel: Storage is a function of both outflow and inflow discharges
• A different routing method is needed
• Total volume in storage for a channel reach having a flood wave can be
considered as prism storage + wedge storage
• Prism storage: Volume if flow

was uniform
• Wedge storage: Wedge like
volume formed between the
actual water surface profile and
the top surface of the prism
storage.
Channel routing
• Volume of prism storage = KO
where K is a proportionality coefficient
• Volume of the wedge storage = K X (I – O)
where X is a weighing factor having the range 0 < X < 0.5.
• Total storage
S = K ( XI + (1 − X )O) Muskingum storage equation

• Value of X depends on the shape of the modeled wedge storage

• X = 0 for reservoir type storage X = 0.5 for a full wedge
• In natural streams mean value of X is near 0.2
• K = storage time constant : Time of travel of the flood wave through the
channel reaches; Dimensions of time.
TUTORIAL
QUESTION
 Tutorial Question:

• Compute the runoff from 127 mm of rainfall on a 1000-acre

watershed. The hydrologic soil group is 50 percent Group B and 50
percent Group C interspersed throughout the watershed.
Antecedent moisture condition II is assumed. The land use is:
• 40 % residential area that is 30% impervious
• 12 % residential area that is 65% impervious
• 18 % paved roads with curbs and storm sewers
• 16 % open land with 50 % fair grass cover and 50 % good grass cover
• 14 % parking lots, plazas, schools, and so on (all impervious)
[Hint: Use Runoff curve numbers for selected
agricultural, suburban, and urban land uses (antecedent
moisture condition II, Ia = 0.2S)]
SCS Curve Number method
• The runoff curve number (also called a curve number or simply CN) is an
empirical parameter used in hydrology for predicting direct runoff or
infiltration from rainfall excess
• CN depends on soil type and pre-wetting P(t) = depth of rainfall
Q(t) = depth of runoff
25,400
S= − 254 mm Ia = initial abstraction
CN S = potential storage
CN = curve number  100
( P(t ) − I a )
2
Q(t ) =
( P(t ) + S − I a )

I a = 0.2 S

Emperical relation after

after many small
experimental watershed
Hydraulic Soil Groups

• HS Group A (low runoff potential): Soils with high infiltration rates even
when thoroughly wetted. These consist chiefly of deep, well-drained
sands and gravels. These soils have a high rate of water transmission
(final infiltration rate greater than 0.30 in (7.6 mm) per hour).

• HS Group B Soils with moderate infiltration rates when thoroughly

wetted. These consist Shallow loess, sandy loam. These soils have a
moderate rate of water transmission (final infiltration rate of 0.15–
0.30 in (3.8–7.6 mm) per hour).

• HS Group C: Soils with slow infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted.

These soil consist Clay loams, shallow sandy loam, soils low in organic
content, and soils usually high in clay. These soils have a slow rate of
water transmission (final infiltration rate 0.05–0.15 in (1.3–3.8 mm) per
hour).

• HS Group D (high runoff potential): Soils with very slow infiltration rates
when thoroughly wetted. Soils that swell significantly when wet, heavy
plastic clays, and certain saline soils. These soils have a very slow rate of
water transmission (final infiltration rate less than 0.05 in (1.3 mm) per
hour).
Runoff curve numbers for selected agricultural, suburban, and urban land
uses (antecedent moisture condition II, Ia = 0.2S)

Curve numbers for hydrologic soil

Cover description group
A B C D
Open space (lawns, parks, Poor condition (grass cover <50%) 68 79 86 89
golf courses, cemeteries, Fair condition (grass cover 50 to 75%) 49 69 79 84
etc.) Good condition (grass cover >75%) 39 61 74 80
Paved parking lots, roofs, driveways, etc.
Impervious areas (excluding right of way)
98 98 98 98
Paved; curbs and storm sewers (excluding right-
of-way)
98 98 98 98
Streets and roads Paved; open ditches (including right-of-way) 83 89 92 93
Gravel (including right of way) 76 85 89 91
Dirt (including right-of-way) 72 82 87 89
Natural desert landscaping (pervious area only) 63 77 85 88
Western desert urban areas Artificial desert landscaping (impervious weed
barrier, desert shrub with 1- to 2-inch sand or 96 96 96 96
gravel mulch and basin borders)
Commercial and business (85% imp.) 89 92 94 95
Urban districts
Industrial (72% imp.) 81 88 91 93
1⁄
8 acre or less (town houses) (65% imp.) 77 85 90 92
1⁄
4 acre (38% imp.) 61 75 83 87
Residential districts by 1⁄
3 acre (30% imp.) 57 72 81 86
average lot size 1⁄
2 acre (25% imp.) 54 70 80 85
1 acre (20% imp.) 51 68 79 84
2 acres (12% imp.) 46 65 77 82
 Installation
https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-
hms/downloads.aspx