Hydrologic Engineer Studies Services for HEC

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=185 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="David Ford Consulting Engineers"><U><B><IMG SRC="0d058960.png" border=0 width="88" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > </FONT></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="156" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFFFFF" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFFFFF" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> David Ford Consulting Engineers, Inc.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> 2015 J Street, Suite 200</div> <div> Sacramento, CA 95811</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> tel: 916.447.8779</div> <div> fax: 916.447.8780</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> <A HREF="mailto:support@ford-consulting.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:support@ford-consulting.com"><U>support@ford-consulting.com</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="David Ford Consulting Engineers"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id461.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About us"><U>About us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News"><U>News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hydrologic_engineering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hydrologic engineering"><U>Hydrologic engineering</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="water_resource_planning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Water resource planning"><U>Water resource planning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="flood_economic_and_risk_analyses.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flood economic and risk analyses"><U>Flood economic/risk analyses</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="flood_warning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flood warning"><U>Flood warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="decision_support_system_development.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Decision support system development"><U>Decision support systems</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=40 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14400980ezthpx.png"> <div> <B>Hydrologic Engineer Studies Services for HEC</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=440 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06c00962egerdp.png"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="547" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#CC0000 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="537"><div> <B>Situation</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 156 WIDTH="537"><div> The Corps' Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) is responsible for supporting the hydrologic engineering and water resources planning activities of the Corps. To do so, the HEC staff develops new methods to advance the Corps' analysis capabilities, infuses new scientific methods into existing Corps activities, completes analyses for Corps' operating offices, provides training and other logistical support services. </div> <div> To ensure that HEC could at all times meet the needs of the Corps, the Center established a task order contracting mechanism whereby a consultant could assist staff with projects.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#339933 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="537"><div> <B>Action</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 3001 WIDTH="537"><div> We were selected, through a nationwide competition, to provide the required  hydrologic engineering studies services (HESS) to HEC from 1997 to 2002. During this time, we completed more than 41 task orders. When the contract was recompeted in 2002, we again won the award. Since then we have completed at least 15 task orders. </div> <div>  All task orders were completed on time, within budget, and to the full satisfaction of HEC. We worked through HEC for Corps district offices throughout the US to complete studies for those offices.</div> <div> The work for HEC provides us with ready access to the latest analysis tools from HEC, and it gives us insight to Corps procedures and requirements. This, in turn, translates to better service for all of our clients.</div> <div> Projects completed for HEC are summarized below:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Applied water-quality model HEC-5Q to assist the St. Paul District with investigation of the impact of discharges from Devil's Lake into the Sheyenne River, through Lake Ashtabula, and into the Red River of the North. Modified HEC-5Q utility programs to expedite analysis of model results.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Worked with HEC staff to improve the linear programming (LP) model for reservoir flood-control operation, adding features that simulate more complex systems and implementing IBM's OSL LP solver.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Set up a detailed database of economic impact data for the 93 sub-areas of the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins and developed and applied methods for deriving stage/flow hydrographs for all areas in the database.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Streamlined the computer code for HEC's reservoir operation optimization model, adding additional features that extended the model's capabilities and made it compatible with other HEC programs.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Improved the Choctawhatchee-Pea River flood warning system so that it would perform as designed by the Mobile District. Inspected all components of the system, repaired all gages, transmitters, and repeaters in the system, installed a third base station, and developed and implemented forecasting models. Ensured acceptance of the system by the local sponsor.</div> <div> <A HREF="hec_hms_documentation.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preparation of HECHMS documentation"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed draft of technical reference manual for HEC-HMS</U></A>. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Configured an HEC-FIA model for analysis in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins Comprehensive Study. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Researched and made recommendations on the release-determination scheme that will be at the heart of HEC's new reservoir system analysis program: HEC-RSS. Recommended a solution algorithm that relies on if...then... style rules and designed a user interface to implement this scheme.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed a complete flow database for use with the HEC-FIA model for the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins Comprehensive Study. The database included 1-hour incremental flow values for all reporting gages for historical events in 1995 and 1997.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Researched and reviewed approaches to meeting goals for a new reservoir model (HEC-ResSim). Identified pros and cons of each. Recommended release determination scheme and prepared a detailed proposal for implementing that scheme. </div> <div> <A HREF="hec_fia_user_s_manual.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HECFIA users manual"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Drafted the user's manual for HEC-FIA</U></A>. The manual describes the computational algorithms, data needed, and use of the GIS features of the program.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tested proposed HEC-RSS algorithm for operation for downstream flow goal or constraint. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared and delivered lectures in HEC's training course on groundwater hydrology.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhanced GeoRAS by adding capability to extract <I>n</I>-values from GIS land use data sets and capability to create GIS surfaces from cross-sectional velocities exported from HEC-RAS.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Used HEC's linear programming reservoir operation analysis program to analyze operation of Iowa and Des Moines River reservoir system. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Investigated use of a stochastic precipitation model for estimating exceedence probabilities associated with extreme inflows for spillway design.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provided guidance and assistance with selection and acquisition of an enhanced linear programming solver for the HEC reservoir system operation optimization program.</div> <div> <A HREF="dredged_material_management.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dredged material management"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assisted the San Francisco District with analysis of disposal options for San Francisco Bay dredged material.</U></A> </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provided guidance and assistance to HEC staff in developing and applying HEC-RSS FcOpt. FcOpt is a new program that simulates reservoir system performance, using a linear programming algorithm to select the optimal releases, given preferences for operation. Incorporated a new LP solver into the HEC-RSS program, configured the model to analyze operation of the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds, and provided other assistance.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wrote a draft of the technical reference manual for version 2 of HEC-HMS. This new version of the program (and the manual) includes a soil-moisture accounting algorithm and other new and improved features.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Advised HEC-HMS development team on correct level of user interaction during recalibration in real-time forecasting. Advised development team on visualization needs during forecasting. Provided independent technical review of design documents and user's manuals for the Hydrologic Forecast Preprocessor (HFP) and the Meteorological Forecast Preprocessor (MFP). Provided independent technical review of HEC-HMS design documents and support manuals.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhanced the HEC-GeoRAS ArcView extension by adding the capability to (a) extract levee information, (b) import levee information exported from HEC-RAS, and (c) adjust bounding polygon information.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared draft of the applications guide for the HEC-FDA program. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared draft of the HEC-RSS FcOpt technical reference manual. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared draft of the HEC reservoir flood control operation programmer's guide. Provided further assistance with development, application, and testing of program.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhanced HEC GeoRAS to (a) allow for visualization of cross sections, (b) extract levee alignment and profile data, (c) extract storage area locations and the corresponding elevation-volume relationships, (d) extract ineffective flow areas, and (e) improve data management of HEC-RAS water surface profiles.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Researched alternative objective functions for use in automated calibration of HEC-HMS. Designed new calibration user interface and reports for HEC-HMS.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhanced GeoRAS capabilities to map inundated storage areas exported from HEC-RAS.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assisted HEC staff and developers with additional testing and improvements to HEC GeoRAS.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed a final draft of the following portions of EM 1110-2-1701 (Hydropower): chapter on hydrologic data preparation, appendix on computer models used for hydropower studies, appendix on application of HEC-5 hydropower routines.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Designed, developed, tested, and implemented a Windows 2000 compatible data management tool. This permits the Huntington District to retrieve real-time precipitation and stage data from an ALERT gage network, to convert those data into HEC-DSS format, and to use the data within the Corps Water Management System (CWMS).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared and presented HEC-RAS training courses.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared and presented HEC-HMS training courses.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhanced the release selection algorithms of HEC's reservoir flood control operations program. Provided additional support and research assistance to the HEC development team.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Designed and implemented user interface and data management tools for the Corps' Environmental Functions Model (EFM). </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prepared initial draft of HEC-HMS applications guide. This guide illustrates how the program can be used for a wide variety of studies, including: urban flooding studies, flood-frequency studies, flood-loss reduction studies, flood-warning system planning studies, reservoir design studies, environmental studies, and water management studies.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed, applied, and documented extensive test data set for Corps Water Management System (CWMS) reservoir simulation program (ResSim).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Conducted research to identify components of dam early warning system. Proposed methods for evaluating risk reduction due to these components. Proposed methods for quantifying damage reduction and life safety improvements due to components. </div> <div> <A HREF="time_of_egress_gis_mapping.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time of egress using GIS mapping tools"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed algorithm for estimating egress time for flood warning projects. Developed prototype for use with ArcView.</U></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Participated in a one-week design meeting to assist with the design of HEC-ResSim system hydropower capability for the Savannah District. Offered solutions to design issues, clarified technical issues, and provided consultation on hydrologic issues of reservoir operations.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Trained participants on the concepts of simulation and analysis of reservoirs and reservoir systems. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identified and reviewed available documentation and literature on six sediment erosion models with emphasis on incorporating and integrating all or some components of those models in HEC-HMS.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provided assistance in programming of the Ecosystem Functions Model (HEC-EFM) to improve the existing capabilities and features of the model. </div> <div> <A HREF="dredged_material_management.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dredged material management"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provided a 1-day staff tutorial on the operation of the computer program SPN-D2M2, a specialized dredged-material disposal management model developed for San Francisco District.</U></A> </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provided a detailed annotated outline for the Iraq water resources master plan proposal and a final draft Phase I master plan update proposal. The proposal addressed the following deliverables: documentation and national-scale database of water needs and supplies for all purposes, documentation and national-scale database of water management facility properties and operation policies and procedures, initial suite of models and procedures for evaluating and screening alternative plans, near-term action plan, with specific recommendations for initial project implementation and for Phase II actions, funding, and schedule.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Evaluated and reported on the use and capability of current hydrologic and hydraulic models and tools for the Rainy and Namakan Basin. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assisted HEC with the planning, coordination, and guiding of a "water management tour" for the Afghanistan Engineering District of the Corps of Engineers. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Performed the independent technical review (ITR) of the reservoir operations model for Folsom Reservoir for the Sacramento District. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assessed the requirements for forecasting with HEC-HMS. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enabled HEC-PRM to use an LP solver. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>   </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>