User Manual Software

IT-Flood V.2.2

Flood hazard modelling

AUTHOR (S): Natalia León Laura López

Juan Velandia Luis Yamin
PUBLICATION DATE: 27/05/2018
VERSION: 2.2
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Copyright

Copyright © 2018 UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT

Universidad de los Andes – CAPRA PLATFORM

Carrera 1 Este No. 19A-40, Edificio Mario Laserna, Piso 6 / Bogotá, Colombia - Tel: (57-1) 3324312/14/15.
Contact us: [email protected]

2
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5
1.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6
1.2. Problem description.......................................................................................................... 6
1.3. Theoretical framework ..................................................................................................... 6
Mathematical model ................................................................................................................... 6
Hydrological analysis ................................................................................................................... 7
Hydraulic analysis ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.4. Analysis flow chart ............................................................................................................ 8
Software Installation .......................................................................................................................... 9
2.1. Minimum installation requirements .............................................................................. 10
Minimum hardware and software requirements ..................................................................... 10
2.2. Recommended hardware requirements ...................................................................... 10
Processor ................................................................................................................................... 10
RAM Memory ............................................................................................................................ 10
Removable unit ......................................................................................................................... 10
Other software .......................................................................................................................... 10
2.3. Software requirements ................................................................................................... 10
2.4. Installation process......................................................................................................... 11
2.5. Language configuration ................................................................................................. 11
Graphical User Interface................................................................................................................... 12
3.1. General Description........................................................................................................ 13
3.2. Tools and Menus ............................................................................................................ 13
Datos generales window ........................................................................................................... 15
Método HEC-HMS window........................................................................................................ 17
Método HUT window ................................................................................................................ 19
Método hidrométrico window .................................................................................................. 20
Graphic interface ....................................................................................................................... 20
Setting input data and files .............................................................................................................. 21
4.1. Input parameters setting ................................................................................................ 22
4.2. File formats ...................................................................................................................... 23
General Topography.................................................................................................................. 23
Flow vs Return period curve ..................................................................................................... 24

3
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

HEC-HMS PROJECT .................................................................................................................... 24

5.1. Output files and file format ............................................................................................ 26
Step by step tutorial ......................................................................................................................... 27
6.1. Step-by-step tutorial ....................................................................................................... 28
6.1.1. HMS method ............................................................................................................. 28
6.1.2. TUH method .............................................................................................................. 34
6.1.3. Hydrometric method ................................................................................................. 41
Software limitations ......................................................................................................................... 46
7.1. Software limitations ........................................................................................................ 47
Problems and errors ......................................................................................................................... 48
8.1. Problems and errors....................................................................................................... 49
References ........................................................................................................................................ 50
9.1. References ...................................................................................................................... 51

4
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 1

Introduction

5
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

1.1. Introduction
IT-Flood software was created for flood analysis (fluvial or overflow), using a probabilistic and
deterministic methodology assessment. In the probabilistic approach, IT-Flood considers
precipitation variability to generate multiple flow scenarios for the same return period. On the
other side, in the deterministic approach, IT-Flood uses flow estimations associated with return
periods extracted from an estimation vs return period curve. The flow estimations by both
methodologies are used as input data for HEC-RAS software, in order to perform the
hydrodynamic analysis and obtained the depth, mean velocity and/or duration of each scenario.

This manual is a guide to using IT-Flood. The manual provides an introduction and overview of the
software, installation instructions, how to get started, its commands, a step-by-step example with
five modeling scenarios, the problems and limitations of the software.

1.2. Problem description

Each year floods causes major disasters, for that reason a flood analysis software is required to
analyze, prevent and mitigate this disasters affectations. IT-Flood allows the user simulate series of
scenarios and as a result, an AME Flood file is generated. This AME can be used as an input in
CAPRA-GIS to assess flood risk.

1.3. Theoretical framework

Flood is consider as the invasion of water, for overflow or excess of surface runoff or its
accumulation on flat land, caused by the lack of natural or artificial drainage. In general, the
magnitude of a flood is caused by hydrometeorological processes, which depends of rain intensity,
and their spatial distribution, the size of the affected hydrological basin, soil characteristics and
the basin drainage.

Mathematical model

Hydrological and hydrodynamic models allows obtaining intensity parameters associated with a
probabilistic occurrence, which defines the hazard in a study area.

Hydrological analysis

Rain excess can cause flood risk by river overflow; this attaches directly the precipitation and the
topography characteristics of the surrounding terrain. For this reason, hydrological models are
based in precipitation-runoff interactions; if this relation is excessive, flooding is produce.

Hydraulic analysis

Hydraulic models require detailed information of river tributaries, its slope and transversal
sections characteristics. Hydrodynamic models can be classify as 1D, quasi-2D, 2D and 3D. The first
two although less sophisticate are widely used due to their ability to describe the river behavior
and their great computational efficiency (Pappenberger, et al., 2006)

6
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

River behavior in 1D models is represented through cross sections; these sections can include the
main river and the floodplain. However, floodplains may have complex flow patterns in 2D, so it
may be more appropriated to use a model 1D for the river and 2D for the floodplain (Ranzi, et al.,
2011). The modeler must have the necessary criteria to select the most appropriate model in base
on the particular characteristics of their problem and the information,.

One of the most used 1D models is the HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center), which solves the
Saint Venant equations through a method of finite differences to discretize the equations of
continuity and momentum in the case of non-permanent flow in open channels. As a particular
case, the condition of permanent flow can be analyzed.

Hydrological analysis

In the software, the flow estimation for hazard analysis can be done in three ways: a hydrological
model in HEC-HMS software, rain-runoff model based on the Triangular Unitary Hydrograph (HUT-
acronym in Spanish) and by entering a flow curve vs return period. The first two approaches have
the capacity to account stochastic storms contained in the AME rain file and the third approach
corresponds to a conventional assessment without sources of uncertainty.

HEC-HMS method
For each precipitation stochastic scenario, the hydrograph generated upstream of the flood zone
is determined, using the hydrological model built on the software HEC-HMS (US Army Corps of
Engineers). This numerical model allows simulating the processes involved in the transformation
of rainfall-runoff in the basin.

The program consists of a generalized modeling system capable of representing a large number of
different basins. The basin model is constructed by separating the hydrological cycle into easy
manipulated parts and by determining boundaries around the basins of interest. A mathematical
model can represent any mass of energy flow, each mathematical model is suitable under
different conditions, for this reason it is necessary to have knowledge of the basin and engineering
criteria to choose the best methodology in each case. For more information, see
http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/.

Triangular Unitary Hidrograph method

For each rain stochastic scenario the flow is determined using the information of the basin under
study, delimiting the main channel and using information of: depth of precipitation, different types
of run-off and general topography of the basin. The procedure uses the curve number method,
developed by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The general methodology consists of two parts,
in the first, an estimate of the run off volume is made and in the second, the runoff distribution
time, including the peak flow is determined.

Hydrometric method
The complexity of the physical processes involved in hydraulic events makes it almost impossible
to have 100 percent reliable estimates based on the laws of mechanics or physics, either because
the methods are insufficient or because the resulting mathematical model is very complicated. An

7
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

alternative in hydrological analysis is the application of the concepts of probability theory and
statistics.

In the case of the hydrometric method, the information of the flows is obtained directly through
flow curves vs Return period. These curves are obtained by analyzing the frequencies of the
hydrometric data collected at the site of interest by fitting a probability distribution to the
observed data. For details of the adjustment, procedure to the probability distributions see (Chow,
Maidment, & Mays, 1994). IT-Flood software uses the flow curve vs. Return Period entered by the
user, to obtain flows with different return periods through the linear interpolation of the curve.
This approach corresponds to the traditional analysis in which uncertainty is not considered in the
inflows to the hydrodynamic model.

Hydraulic analysis
To perform the simulation of the flood footprints associated with the routing of swelling through
channels, channels or rivers, the hydraulic model of the HEC-RAS program developed by the
Hydrologic Engineering Center of US Army Corps of Engineers. This numerical model allows
performing the analysis of permanent and non-permanent flow, in one-dimensional flow gradually
varying in free lamina. For more information, see http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-
ras/.

1.4. Analysis flow chart

Rain AME

Hydrological modeling Frequency curve

TUH HMS Hydrometric

Peak flow Output hydrograph Peak flow

Hydraulic modeling
HEC-RAS

Flood extension, water depth

and velocity. Duration time only
for HMS

Flood scenario

Figura1.1.Flow
Figure Model flowanalysis
chart chart
8
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 2

Software Installation

9
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

2.1. Minimum installation requirements

Minimum hardware and software requirements
The following are the minimum hardware requirements for the IT-Flood installation:

 PC or compatible computer with Pentium III processor (or higher) and processor speed
over 1.5 GHz.

 Operating systems: Microsoft XP or Higher

 Free hard drive capacity of 250 Mb or Higher.

 512 Mb Extended Memory (RAM)

 CD-ROM or diskette unit (Depending on installers set up).

 Microsoft framework V2.0 or higher and the language package

2.2. Recommended hardware requirements

The following are the minimum hardware requirements for the CAPRA-GIS installation:

Processor
- PC or compatible computer with Pentium III processor (or higher) and processor speed over
1.5 GHz.

- Operating systems: Microsoft XP or Higher

RAM Memory
- Free hard drive capacity of 250 Mb or Higher.

- 512 Mb Extended Memory (RAM).

Removable unit
- CD-ROM or diskette unit (Depending on installers set up)

Other software
 Microsoft framework V2.0 or higher and the language package (if CAPRA-GIS is already
installed, this is included)

2.3. Software requirements

IT-Flood requires the following software for its correct operation:

 HEC-RAS 4.1 of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Available in:

(http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/downloads.aspx)
 HEC-HMS 4.0 of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Available in:
(http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/downloads.aspx)

10
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

2.4. Installation process

1. If you don’t have HEC-RAS and/or HEC-HMS installed in the computer, you should download
the programs in the versions mentioned above from the following links:

 HEC-RAS 4.1 (http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/downloads.aspx)

 HEC-HMS 4.0 (http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/downloads.aspx)

2. Download the installation package from the CAPRA platform (https://ecapra.org/topics/flood)

3. Enter in windows explorer and select the file where installers are located.

4. Run the setup.exe program. This command starts the installation program; please follow
carefully each step indicated by the installation assistant.

2.5. Language configuration

For a correct functioning of the software, it is recommended to use the tool in Spanish. For
changing the language in Windows 10, it is required to change the computer parameters as follow:

1. Open the control panel

2. Select the Clock and Region option
3. Select Region
4. In the Location field select Spanish (Mexico) as shown in Figure 2
5. Click Ok

Figure 2. Language configuration

11
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 3

Graphical User
Interface

12
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

3.1. General Description

IT-Flood is a software that allows flood hazard modeling, which is made with information provided
by the user and consists in a georeferenced map, a model in HEC -RAS 4.1, hydrological
information in the software HEC-HMS, rain spatial information and a rain AME either hurricane or
not hurricane.

The interface is showed in Figure 3, the tool bar is in the top (red box), and the windows where the
user enter data to perform the simulation is the blue box, finally in the green box, the graphic
interface is shown.

Figure 3. IT-Flood interface

3.2. Tools and Menus

This section presents the different tools, menus and command of the software.

File menu

The following commands from the file menu of IT-Flood main window allow the users to create,
open, save and exit from the project. The function and localization of each command are explain
below.

13
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Table 1. File menu

File menu command Description

Closes the current project and opens a new project without
New project
information
Closes the current project, prompting the user to save the
Open existing project current data, then opens an existing project and the
associated files
Updates the project information and files, saving it with the
Save project
name the user specifies
Exit Allows the user close the software

New Project

Open Project

Save Project

Exit

Figure 4. File menu localization and its commands.

Help menu

Help can be accessed by selecting the Help menu option at the top, next to the file menu.

Table 2. Help menu

File menu command Description

Help
About ERN-Inundación Provides the user information about the software (version and
developers)

14
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Help

About ERN-Inundación

Figure 5. Help menu localization

Tool bar

The tool bar includes a list of icons, the first three icons belongs to the File menu, the forth one is
to run the program and computed flood AME, the fifth one open HEC-RAS and the last ones are
from the Help menu.

Figure 6. Tool bar

Datos generales window

This contain the basic information the user must enter to the software, in this window the user
introduces the reference map, the HEC-RAS project, the folder in which the program should save
the results (Results AME), the flow estimation method and the geographic coordinates from the
place, as shown in Figure 7.

15
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 7. Datos generales window

Mapa de referencia

To enter the information associated with the Mapa de referencia, the user must double-click on
the text box below the Mapa referencia legend. The following figure shows the dialog box that will
appear to locate the path of the file that contains the reference map information associated with
the study area.

Figure 8. Mapa de referencia selection

Proyecto HEC-RAS

The file containing the HEC-RAS Project must be loaded; this project contains the information
associated with the flood analysis referred to the UTM coordinate system.

16
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

AME de resultados

The user selects the place where the Project is going to be save and the project´s name. This
output file will be generated by IT-Flood after the calculation.

Opciones y parámetros de cálculo

In this section, the user can select the calculation of the depth, medium velocity and/or duration,
all as hazards associated with the study area. Analogously in this area, the user will decide
between the use of the HEC-HMS method, the triangular unitary hydrograph method, or the
hydrometric method to estimate the flow. It will also define the resolution of the AME, where the
user assign the number of pixels in X-axis and Y-axis direction for the results AME. Finally, in this
section, the user will set both the UTM zone, the hemisphere and the reference geodesic system
(Datum) associated with the study area.

Método HEC-HMS window

The user provides the hydrological information of the zone, for this it is required the rainfall AME,
the HEC-HMS project, the temporal rain distribution information and the scenarios the user wants
to calculate (Figure 9).

Nombre de la corrida
Distribución temporal HEC-HMS
de tormentas

Cálculo fraccionado

Puntos de entrada de
caudal

Figure 9. Método HEC-HMS window

Distribución temporal de tormentas

From the precipitation analysis, the user obtains the spatial distribution of the storms; the user
must specify the percentage of rainfall with respect to the total depth of water that has fallen in
each decile of the total duration of the event.

17
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Cálculo fraccionado

In this section, scenarios to be modeled are written in the box, it is necessary to include the initial
and final scenario. If only one scenario is going to be modeled, it is necessary to set this scenario as
the initial and final scenario

Puntos de entrada de caudal

If the river has tributaries, the user should select the option 2+, so the program is going to read the
HEC-HMS file and the user should introduce the hydrologic element of each one of the tributaries
and the main river (the software read and load the River, Reach and Cross Section information)

If there are tributaries in the study area, the 2+ button in the "Puntos de entrada de caudal" box
should be marked, like it is shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10. Options in Puntos de entrada de caudal box

By selecting the 2+ button the corresponding tab is activated indicating the cross sections of the
hydraulic model that correspond to possible boundary conditions, as shown in the following
figure. The last column must be filled out by the user in such a way that each section is related to a
hydrological element of the HEC-HMS model.

Figure 11. 2+ Windows information

18
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Método HUT window

On the Triangular Unitary Hydrogram Method window, the base information is entered to
determine the flood depths of the region under study using the triangular unit hydrograph
method, this information consists of:

Figure 12. Método HUT window

AME de precipitación
To enter this information, the user must double-click on the text box below the AME legend of
precipitation. Once the route is located, select the file that contains the accumulated precipitation
information, you must click on the Open button, the file will be loaded and the route with the
location of the selected file will be displayed on the HUT Method window.

Mapa de factores de escurrimiento

The file containing the mesh with the runoff factors (curve numbers) should be loaded, the same
process is made, but the file must be load in .grd format.

Topografía general
The following information to be included is related to the information associated with the
topography of the study area. A file in .dat format must be loaded in geographic coordinates

Cauces
Main channel of the basin in the study area that will be used to estimate the concentration time
using the Kirpich formula, the use of this file is mandatory, however the transit time can be
modified during the execution of the program.

It is recommended that this shape file be constructed by geographic information systems (GIS)
that allow the analysis of the digital terrain model that it is being used in the analysis. The digital
terrain model must be processed to obtain a hydrologically corrected digital model and perform
the drainage analysis to obtain the alignment of the channel to be used in IT-Flood

19
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Cuencas
Corresponds to the delimitation of the hydrological basin in the study area, a file in .shp (polygon).
This file must be in geographic coordinates and will only contain the polygon of the basin that will
be considered for the calculation of runoff.

Método hidrométrico window

Select the file that contains the flow information associated with the study area, the file must be
loaded in .qtr format. In this section, the user will set the value 100 (value assigned "by default" by
IT-Flood) as the number of scenarios to be evaluated in this method.

Graphic interface
This window allows the user to observe graphically the data entered, after the modeling is
performed and the AME creation is finished, it is shown in the graphical panel as shown below:

Figure 13. AME result in the graphic interface

20
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 4

Setting input data and

files

21
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

4.1. Input parameters setting

IT-Flood software requires multiple parameters and data supplied by the user, so it can be
performance. Table 3 describes the input data and the associated file format.
Table 3. Inputs parameters for IT-Flood

Parameter Description .file

Datos generales window
Corresponds to the contour map of the region under
study, this information is used for the user to interact
Mapa de referencia
with the program and can verify that the general *.shp
(reference map)
information entered is within the limits of the study
area.
The file containing the HEC-RAS Project must be
Proyecto HEC-RAS (HEC- loaded; this project contains the information
*.prj
RAS Project) associated with the flood analysis referred to the UTM
coordinate system.
IT-Flood will generate this output file after the
Resultados AME *.AME
calculation.
The user defines the resolution for the resulting AME Positive
Resolución del AME
in both directions. number
The flow estimation can be made through 3 methods,
Estimación de gastos -
the user select which one it is going to be used.
The user will set both the UTM zone, the hemisphere
Datos para convertir UTM
and the reference geodesic system (Datum) -
a GEO
associated with the study area.
Método HEC-HMS
File that contains the precipitation information for the
AME de precipitación *.AME
study area
Contains the information associated with the
Proyecto HEC-HMS *.HMS
hydrological analysis of the study basin
The user must specify the percentage of rainfall with
Distribución temporal de
respect to the total depth of water that has fallen in -
tormentas
each decile of the total duration of the event.
Related to the boundary conditions given by the
hydrological model, which correspond to the inlet
flow upstream of the hydraulic model and to the
lateral flow inputs produced by different tributaries
Puntos de entrada de
present in the analysis section. -
caudal
If there are tributaries in the study area, the 2+ button
in the "Flow entry points" box should be marked

22
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Parameter Description .file

Método HUT
File that contains the precipitation information for the
AME de precipitación *.AME
study area
Mapa de factores de The file containing the mesh should be loaded with
*.grd
escurrimiento, N the runoff factors (curve numbers).
Information associated with the topography of the
Topografía general *.dat
study area
Main channel of the basin in the study area that will
*.shp
Cauces be used to estimate the concentration time using the
(lines)
Kirpich formula.
Delimitation of the hydrological basin in the study
area. This file must be in geographic coordinates and *.shp
Cuencas
will only contain the polygon of the basin that will be (polygons)
considered for the calculation of runoff.
Método Hidrométrico
Curva de caudal vs periodo File that contains the flow information associated with
*.qtr
de retorno the study area.
Number of stochastic scenarios to generate in base of Positive
Número de escenarios
the flow vs return period curve. number

4.2. File formats

Most of the files have universal formats, which are employed by all the commercial software. The
only ones with specific format are the general topography of the TUH method and the flow vs
return period curve in the hydrometric method. This section explains briefly the require format.

General Topography
The general topography file format corresponds to a modTopo file developed by ERN-AL, which is
a file that contains information of an ensemble of grid raster files. It is used to define topography
of porous zones as the one of Figure 14. The principal file is *.dat file with the next information:

1. First row: Number of sub-grids that compose the general grid.

2. Second row: Type of grid variable format in number (Byte – 1, Short – 2, Integer – 3, Single
– 4, Double – 5 and Long – 6).
3. Third row: Xlo, Xhi, Nlo, which are lower X-axis boundary, higher X-axis boundary and
number of sub-grids in X direction.
4. Fourth row: Ylo, Yhi, Nlo, which are lower Y-axis boundary, higher Y-axis boundary and
number of sub-grids in Y direction.
5. Remaining rows: Each row is the file name that contains the *.grd of the subgrids. It only
contains the name and the extension without the file directory information. The order is
like the one shown in Figure 14 . If for example there is not associated sub-grid file, the
row is left empty. In the figure, the 1,2,8,9 and 12 sub-grids do not have grid information.

23
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 14. ModTopo general sub-grid order

Flow vs Return period curve

The *.qtr file is a text file with final extension qtr. The file contains the next information:

1. First row: Number of pair groups (Flow and return period) that composed the curve.
2. Remaining rows: Pair of data separated by a comma. First comes the flow and next the
return period.

The next figure shows the general format:

Figure 15, *.qtr format example

HEC-HMS PROJECT
The HEC-HMS project contains a basin model, meteorological model and control specification. The
proposed methodology employs the following parameters for its operation: an associated grid cell
file of the basin in the basin model, a gridded precipitation in the meteorological model and the
grid data in the control specification; it is recommended to generate the model with HEC-GeoHMS
(http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-geohms/downloads.aspx)

24
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 5

Visualization output
files

25
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

5.1. Output files and file format

The output file is an .AME, the results depend of the hazards selected by the user in the Datos
Generales window (depth. mean velocity and/or duration) and the used method for flow
estimation. The Table 4 shows the possible intensities that each method can produced.
Table 4. AME results depending of flow estimation method

Flow estimation method AME results

HMS Depth, velocity, and duration
TUH Depth and velocity
Hydrometric Depth and velocity

The intensity has two moments, the first one is the mean value and the second is the associated
standard deviation. The AME also contains the metadata with the general information. This AME
can be use in CAPRA Platform, with an exposure and vulnerability information to obtain the flood
risk assessment. The Figure 16 shows the visualization of an AME flood file in CAPRA-GIS.

Figure 16. Result AME in CAPRA Platform

26
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 6

Step by step tutorial

27
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

6.1. Step-by-step tutorial

This chapter provides examples how to perform the software with the three possible different
methods (HEC-HMS, TUH and hydrometric).

6.1.1. HMS method

For the tutorial it is used a simplified segment of the Rocha River in Bolivia, with 5 different
scenarios each one with a different return period (5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years). The step-by-step
process is explained in the next pages. Copy the Input folder in C:\. This file contains the necessary
files for the example.

Necessary files
 Boundary: MapaReferencia_Rocha.shp
 HEC-RAS project: RioRocha.prj
 Rain AME : AMEPrecipitacion_Rocha.AME
 HEC-HMS project: Rocha.hms

Contents
 Starting a New Project
 Entering required Data
 Performing the simulation
 Viewing Results

6.1.1.1. Starting a new Project

To begin this example, open IT-Flood from desktop or start menu and the main window should
appear as shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17. IT-Flood interface

28
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

If you have a Project saved, you should go to the file menu and select the command open existing
project. A file .dat should be load with the project information. In this case, we are going to load
the file Datos.dat.

Figure 18. Selecting input data window

If you do not have a project saved previously, you should enter the required data manually.

6.1.1.2. Entering required data

The Datos generales and Método HEC-HMS Windows must be completed as shown in Figure 19,
Figure 20 and Figure 21, with the requirements explain in section 3, so the software can be run.

Figure 19. Datos generales window completed – HMS method

29
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 20. Método HMS window completed

Figure 21. 2+ window completed

6.1.1.3. Performing the simulation

After complete 6.1.1.2. Steps click the Calcular button and the software will load the metadata.
When this information is loaded the message in Figure 22 appears, click the Aceptar button and
the calculation of the AME for each scenario starts.

30
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 22. Charging AME metadata in main window – HMS method

Figure 23. AME Metadata loaded window – HMS method

31
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 24. Execution of scenario 1/5 – HMS method

Figure 25. Execution of scenario 2/5 – HMS method

When all the scenarios are executed, the message in Figure 26, should appear and what it says is
that the process finish successfully, click Ok to display the results in the software and in the results
folder.

32
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 26. Process finished successfully – HMS method

6.1.1.4. Viewing results

After finishing the process, the result AME flood will appear in the graphical panel of the software
as shown in Figure 27. It is also possible to open the AME in CAPRA-GIS.

Figure 27. AME Result in the graphic interface – HMS method

33
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

6.1.2. TUH method

For this section, it is used a simplified example river with about 50 cross sections employing as
entry an AME rain with 5 different scenarios each one with a different return period (5, 10, 25, 50
and 100 years). The step-by-step process is explained in the next pages. Copy the InputTUH folder
in C:\. This file contains the necessary files for the example.

Necessary files
 Rain AME: AMERain_TUH&Hydrograph.AME
 Basin boundary: Basin.shp
 HEC-RAS project: amss1_V6.prj
 N Factors grid: NC_Example.grd
 Topography: Example_Topography.dat
 River bed polyline: RiverBed.shp
 River basis polygon: River Basin.shp

Contents
 Starting a New Project
 Entering required Data
 Performing the simulation
 Viewing Results

6.1.2.1. Starting a new Project

To begin, open IT-Flood from desktop or start menu and the main window should appear as shown
in Figure 28.

Figure 28. IT-Flood interface

34
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

If you have a Project saved, you should go to the file menu and select the command open existing
project. A file .dat should be load with the project information. In this case, we are going to load
the file DataProyect_TUH.dat as shown in the next figure.

Figure 29. Selecting input data window – TUH method

If you do not have a project saved previously, you should enter the required data manually.

6.1.2.2. Entering required data

The Datos generales and Método HUT Windows must be completed as shown in Figure 30 and
Figure 31, with the requirements explain in section 3, so the software can be run.

35
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 30. Datos generales window completed – TUH method

Figure 31. Método HUT window completed

36
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

6.1.2.3. Performing the simulation

After complete 6.1.2.2. Steps click the Calcular button and the software will load the metadata.
When this information is loaded, the message in Figure 32 appears. Edit the AME metadata
information if it is necessary.

Figure 32. Charging AME metadata in main window – TUH method

Click Accept button and the software will ask to introduce a coefficient of variation value as shown
in Figure 33. Click the Ok button and the program will calculate in base of basin and bed shapefiles
the mean slope of the basin. It will pop up a window asking the user if the slope is correct or if not,
it gives the possibility that the user edit manually the value as Figure 34 displays.

37
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 33. Coefficient of variation window - TUH method

Figure 34. Basin mean slope value window – TUH method

38
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Select the Ok button and the software will show the parameters that compose the triangular unit
hydrograph of the basin as shown in the next figure. The user can edit each parameter manually if
it is necessary.

Figure 35. Unit hydrograph parameters window – TUH

Click Aceptar button and the calculation of the AME flood for each scenario starts as it can be seen
in Figure 36.

Figure 36. Execution of scenario 1/5– TUH method

39
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

When all the scenarios are executed, the message in Figure 37 should appear and what it says is
that the process finish successfully, click Ok to finish the process.

Figure 37. Process finished successfully– TUH method

6.1.2.4. Viewing results

After finishing the process, the result AME flood will appear in the graphical panel of the software
as shown in Figure 38. It is also possible to open the AME in CAPRA-GIS.

Figure 38. AME Result in the graphic interface – TUH method

40
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

6.1.3. Hydrometric method

For this section, it is used a simplified example river with about 50 cross sections as the TUH
example. However, the method does not require rain data instead, it uses the flow vs return
period curve. It will generate randomly five scenarios for the example. The step-by-step process is
explained in the next pages. Copy the InputHydrometric folder in C:\. This file contains the
necessary files for the example.

Necessary files
 Flow vs return period curve: FlowReturnPeriod.qtr
 HEC-RAS project: amss1_V6.prj

Contents
 Starting a New Project
 Entering required Data
 Performing the simulation
 Viewing Results

6.1.3.1. Starting a new Project

To begin, open IT-Flood from desktop or start menu and the main window should appear as shown
in Figure 39.

Figure 39. IT-Flood interface

If you have a Project saved, you should go to the file menu and select the command open existing
project. A file .dat should be load with the project information. In this case, we are going to load
the file DataProyect_Hydrometric.dat as shown in the next figure.

41
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Figure 40. Selecting input data window – Hydrometric method

If you do not have a project saved previously, you should enter the required data manually.

6.1.3.2. Entering required data

The Datos generales and Método hidrométrico Windows must be completed as shown in Figure
41 and Figure 42, with the requirements explain in section 3, so the software can be run.

Figure 41. Datos generales window completed – Hydrometric method

42
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

When the flow vs return period is loaded, the software will show the curve in the Método
Hidrométrico window.

Figure 42. Método hidrométrico window completed

6.1.3.3. Performing the simulation

After complete 6.1.3.2. Steps click the Calcular button and the software will load the metadata.
When this information is loaded, the message in Figure 43 appears. Edit the AME metadata
information if it is necessary.

Figure 43. Charging AME metadata in main window – Hydrometric method

43
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Click Accept button and the software will ask to introduce a coefficient of variation value as shown
in Figure 44. Click Ok button and the calculation of the AME flood for each scenario starts.

Figure 44. Coefficient of variation window – Hydrometric method

When all the scenarios are executed, the message in Figure 45 should appear and what it says is
that the process finish successfully, click Ok to finish the process.

Figure 45. Process finished successfully– Hydrometric method

44
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

6.1.3.4. Viewing results

After finishing the process, the result AME flood will appear in the graphical panel of the software
as shown in Figure 46. It is also possible to open the AME in CAPRA-GIS.

Figure 46. AME Result in the graphic interface – Hydrometric method

45
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 7

Software limitations

46
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

7.1. Software limitations

The most important limitations of the software are listed below:

 The software only works with HEC-RAS 4.1 that means that only allows 1D modeling.
 Currently limited version only runs 20 scenarios.

47
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 8

Problems and errors

48
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

8.1. Problems and errors

The identified problems at the time of creation of this manual are:

 Projection error, when re-projecting to geographic coordinates it is possible that a small

misalignment occurs.
 If the computer language is not in Spanish, there are some translate errors in the interface
for others languages ( i.e. some words remain in Spanish).
 If the HEC-RAS model have lakes or ponds, in the HEC-HMS window: Puntos de entrada de
caudal, table 2+ does not appear the name of the hydraulic element, so an error window
displays. However, the software is capable of running by dismissing the error.
 At the time of calculations, the program is inefficient and it loads several times the same
file/information before proceeding with the calculation.

49
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

Chapter 9

References

50
User Manual Software
CAPRA IT-Flood

9.1. References

Chow, V. T., Maidment, D., & Mays, L. (1994). Applied Hydrology. McGraw-Hill Science
Engineering.

CONAGUA. (2011). Manual para el control de inundaciones. Obtenido de

http://cenca.imta.mx/pdf/manual-para-el-control-de-inundaciones.pdf.

Cronshey, R. (1986). Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds. US Dept. of Agriculture, Soil
Conservation Service, Engineering Division.

ERN-AL (Consorcio Evaluación de Riesgos Naturales – América Latina). (2009). Tomo I.

Metodología de Modelación Probabilista de Riesgos Naturales. Modelos de Evaluación de
Amenazas Naturales y Selección. CEPREDENAC, ISDR, IDB,GFDRR, WB.

Kirpich, Z. (1940). Time of concentration of small agricultural watersheds. Civil Engineering, 10(6),
362.

León, N. (2014). Implementación de los Programas HEC-HMS y HEC-RAS en la Plataforma CAPRA

para Evaluación de Riesgo por Inundación. Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes.

Mockus, V. (1957). Use of storm and watershed characteristics in syntetic unit hidrograph analysis
and application. US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Latham, MD.

Pappenberger, F., Matgen, P., Beven, K., Henry, J.-B., Pfister, L., & Frapoint, P. (2006). Influence of
uncertain boundary conditions and model structure on flood inundation predictions.
Advances in Water Resources, 29(10), 1430-1449.

Potosme, E., & Castro, M. (2005). Inundaciones fluviales. e. p. I. y. C. Metodologías para el análisis
y manejo de los riesgos naturales. Managua.

Ranzi, R., Mazzoleni, M., Milanesi, L., Pilotti, M., Ferri, M., Giuriato, F., . . . Brilly, M. (2011). Critical
review of non structural measures for water related risks. KULTURisk.

Snider, D., Woodward, D., Hoeft, C., Merkel, W., Chaison, K., & Fox, H. (2007). Part 630 Hydrology
National Engineering Handbook Chapter 16 Hydrographs. USDA. Natural Resources
Conservation Service.

51