19

Applying the HEC-RAS model and GIS techniques

in river network floodplain delineation
Jie Yang, Ronald D. Townsend, and Bahram Daneshfar

Abstract: A direct-processing approach to river system floodplain delineation is developed. Floodplain zones of part of
the South Nation River system, located just east of Ottawa, Ontario, are mapped in two dimensions and three dimen-
sions by integrating the hydraulic model of the choice with geographic information systems (GIS). The first objective
was to construct and validate a Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) river network
model of the system using existing HEC-2 model-generated data. Next, HEC-RAS simulations were performed to gen-
erate water surface profiles throughout the system for six different design storm events. The in-channel spatial data of
HEC-RAS were then geo-referenced and mapped in the GIS domain and integrated with digital elevation model (DEM)
over-bank data to build a triangular irregular network (TIN) terrain model. In the final step, floodplain zones for the
six design storms were reproduced in three dimensions by overlaying the integrated terrain model for the region with
the corresponding water surface TIN.
Key words: river, floodplain, delineation, GIS-approach, HEC-2 model, HEC-RAS model, data query.
Résumé : Une approche de traitement direct pour la délimitation des plaines inondables des bassins hydrographiques
est mise sur pied. Les zones de plaines inondables d’une partie du réseau hydrographique de la rivière South Nation,
située tout juste à l’est d’Ottawa, Ontario, sont cartographiées en 2D et en 3D par l’intégration du modèle hydraulique
choisi avec les données du SIG (système d’information géographique). Le premier objectif était de construire et de va-
lider un modèle de réseau hydrographique HEC-RAS du bassin utilisant les données existantes générées par le modèle
HEC-2. Ensuite, des simulations HEC-RAS ont été effectuées pour générer les profils des eaux de surface dans le ré-
seau pour six différents événements d’averse de projet. Les données spatiales HEC-RAS pour le lit ont ensuite été réfé-
rencées géographiquement et cartographiées dans le domaine SIG puis intégrées aux données de lit d’inondation du
modèle altimétrique numérique (DEM) afin de bâtir un modèle du terrain selon un réseau triangulé irrégulier (TIN). À
la dernière étape, les zones de plaines inondables pour les six événements d’averse de projet ont été reproduites en 3D
en superposant le modèle intégré de terrain pour la région et la surface d’eau du TIN correspondant.
Mots clés : rivière, plaine inondable, délimitation, approche SIG, modèle HEC-2, modèle HEC-RAS, demande de ren-
seignements.
[Traduit par la Rédaction] Yang et al. 28

Introduction graphic maps, which is largely done manually, can be a

Mapping the inundated floodplain zones of a river associ-
ated with selected design storms is an important exercise re-
lated to both land planning and river basin management.
Determining the extent of inundation requires the processing
of large quantities of hydraulic and spatial data, which is
typically accomplished through numerical modeling. How-
ever, delineation of the inundated floodplain zones on topo-
Received 20 December 2004. Revision accepted 14 October
2005. Published on the NRC Research Press Web site at
http://cjce.nrc.ca on 23 December 2006.
J. Yang and R.D. Townsend.1 Department of Civil
Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5,
Canada.
B. Daneshfar. Analytical Division, Agriculture and Agri-
Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada.
Written discussion of this article is welcomed and will be
received by the Editor until 30 June 2006.
1
Corresponding author (e-mail: townsend@eng.uottawa.ca).
time-consuming and tedious process. A numerical model
that has enjoyed wide application in floodplain delineation
work during the past 35 years is the Hydrologic Engineering
Center’s HEC-2 model (USACE 1991). This model, which
contains the Fortran program “backwater any cross section”,
was the first simple, automated procedure that made water
surface profile computations a less time-consuming and te-
dious exercise. In 1995 the Corps of Engineers released a
Windows version of this model, HEC-RAS, for river analy-
sis system (USACE 2001). Although this recent version of-
fers significant improvements over the earlier DOS-based
HEC-2 model, a major deficiency of both models remains
the fact that neither can transfer simulated water surface ele-
vation data directly to topographic maps of the regions in
question.
With its unique visual display capabilities and database
management tools, the geographic information systems (GIS)
allows linkage of the hydraulic data to spatial location.
HEC-RAS and the following GIS-based tools may be ap-
plied to achieve this linkage: (i) a procedure to delineate wa-
tershed boundaries and stream networks extracted from a

Can. J. Civ. Eng. 33: 19–28 (2006) doi:10.1139/L05-102 © 2005 NRC Canada
20
digital elevation model (DEM) in GIS (Jenson and
Dominique 1988); (ii) the ARC/HEC-2 procedure, which
links the HEC-2 model with Arc/Info (Beavers 1994);
(iii) the ArcView extensions AvRAS, (ESRI 1998) and
HEC-GeoRAS (USACE 1999), which enable physical ele-
ment descriptions in HEC-RAS to be transferred to GIS soft-
ware; and (iv) a methodology that integrates a digital terrain
model (DTM), in the form of a triangular irregular network
(TIN), with HEC-RAS single-reach geometry data (Tate
1999). Also, commercial floodplain mapping software pack-
ages, like RiverCAD™, now allow the user to display HEC-
RAS output data in both AutoCAD® and GIS (Boss 2000).
These and other similar procedures have significantly im-
proved both the accuracy and the speed of the floodplain de-
lineation exercise.
This paper describes the various steps followed in phase 1
of our study. The goal of the study is to develop a river net-
work numerical model that is (1) capable of mapping inun-
dated floodplain zones directly onto topographic maps and
(2) incorporates “data query” modules relating to (i) flow
depth and (ii) channel cross-section geometry and flood eleva-
tions associated with selected storm events. The river system
chosen as a test case for the study is the South Nation River
and its tributaries, located just east of Ottawa, Ontario, Can-
ada. The Ontario government agency responsible for manag-
ing this system is the South Nation Conservation (SNC)
Authority. The approach presently employed by SNC to dis-
play floodplain zones associated with selected design storms
is to manually input water surface elevations, generated by an
existing HEC-2 model of the system, to a GIS interface. This
is clearly an inefficient, expensive, and time-consuming pro-
cess, especially as the flood maps need periodic updating. The
SNC was therefore interested in the outcome of this project
and was particularly helpful in acquisition of system data sets.
The three main objectives of phase 1 were as follows:
(1) import an established HEC-2 model of that portion of the
river system examined in phase 1 into HEC-RAS and repro-
duce the results; (2) apply the aforementioned GIS-based
tools to the output of the HEC-RAS model to generate two-
dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) visualization
of floodplain extent for selected design storms; and (3) de-
velop data query modules relating to (i) flow depth at any lo-
cation and (ii) channel geometry and flood elevation at any
cross section of the stream. Table 1 lists the different soft-
ware packages used and procedures followed in meeting
these objectives.
Study area
The South Nation watershed consists of four sub-
watersheds: Bear Brook River, Castor River, and the upper
and lower portions of the South Nation River (Fig. 1a). The
entire watershed drains an area of about 3900 km2. Phase 1
of the study focused on the most westerly portion of the
Bear Brook sub-watershed, an area encompassing approxi-
mately 81 km2 (Fig. 1b). The total fall in elevation, from the
upstream (south–west) to downstream (north–east) extremi-
ties of this portion of the watershed is about 43 m over a dis-
tance of approximately 13.5 km. In this region 10 tributaries
feed the Bear Brook main channel and the total length of the
stream network is about 48 river kilometres.
Can. J. Civ. Eng. Vol. 33, 2006
Data description
For the purpose of this study, SNC provided its HEC-2
model, Gloucest.dat, (which was established in 1997 and
modified in 1999) of the South Nation River. This included
information such as starting water surface elevations, dis-
charges, loss coefficients, cross-section geometry, and reach
lengths. Limited information relating to bridge and culvert
crossings was also made available. The floodplain delinea-
tion exercises undertaken in the study were repeated for six
design storm return periods: 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, and 2 years.
Geo-spatial data were obtained from two sources: the SNC
Authority and the National Capital Commission (NCC). The
SNC provided “shapefiles” of the watershed, physical loca-
tions of the major cross section, and a finished 100-year
flood polygon. A digital elevation model (DEM) of 10 m
resolution, a 1:15 000 scale photomosaic, and a 1:25 000
scale topographic map of the area were obtained from NCC.
To apply the data sets in GIS, all spatial data were converted
to a common map projection.
Modeling considerations
As HEC-RAS is the successor of HEC-2 (and the US
Army Corps of Engineers no longer supports the latter pro-
gram), SNC will eventually adopt HEC-RAS for future work
of this nature. Therefore, the first exercise was to import the
existing HEC-2 data into HEC-RAS. The HEC-RAS is de-
signed to perform one-dimensional (1-D) steady and un-
steady flow calculations to determine water-surface profiles
for both natural and prismatic channels. In phase 1, flood-
plain delineations were made for steady, gradually varied
flows in the Bear Brook system.
Incorporating hydraulic data with spatial data into a GIS
environment has proven to be highly effective with regards
to 2-D and 3-D floodplain visualization. Recent improve-
ments in the accuracy and availability of terrain data have
encouraged the application of GIS related to development of
DTM for representing stream flows on land surfaces. Geo-
graphic information systems (GIS) technology employs
computer-based tools that may be used to retrieve, manipu-
late, update, analyze, store, display, and otherwise manage
large amounts of geographic and attribute data (ESRI 1992).
Since GIS map features (points, lines, areas) have both
graphic properties and database attributes, GIS is much more
than a mapping tool. It provides a graphic interface for the
creation and maintenance of spatial data, a database inter-
face for the creation and maintenance of attribute data, and
can relate spatial and attribute data to each other through ei-
ther interface (Shamsi 2002). A GIS model can be imple-
mented in a discrete space representation using continuous
space representation in the form of raster grid, vector ob-
jects, or TINs. Choosing TINs is the preferred approach
when dealing with large-scale representation of land areas of
complex relief. A digital terrain model (DTM) allows water
surface profiles calculated by HEC-RAS to be combined
with terrain models to generate 3-D topographic floodplain
representations.
ArcView (ESRI 1992) is a GIS software package that al-
lows users to integrate vector and rastar data, photographs,
satellite images, CAD drawings and a wide range of other
© 2005 NRC Canada
Yang et al.
Table 1. Objectives and related modeling processes.
Objective Software used
Import HEC-2 data into HEC-RAS HEC-2, HEC-RAS,
and reproduce the result of the ArcView, HEC-GeoRAS
former
Translate HEC-RAS data into GIS HEC-RAS, ArcView
Terrain modeling ArcView
3-D floodplain visualization ArcView, ArcScene
Data query ArcGIS
Fig. 1. (a) South Nation River watershed and (b) phase 1 study area of the Bear Brook sub-watershed.
(a)
Lower
Watershed
data types for display, query, and analysis. The Avenue
Scripts and ArcView extensions HEC-GeoRAS, Spatial An-
alyst, and 3-D Analyst were applied here in the floodplain
delineation exercises. The HEC-GeoRAS interface (USACE
1999) processes geo-spatial data between HEC-RAS and
GIS. Users can then create import files containing geometric
attribute data from existing DTM and selected complemen-
tary data sets, such as stream centerlines and banks. Spatial
Analyst, which enables the creation, display, and querying
of rastar data, is necessary for the continuous display of sur-
face modeling, e.g., a DEM, which cannot be modeled using
vector data. Spatial Analyst also performs integrated raster-
vector theme analysis, thereby allowing for the integration
of properties in a raster theme based on overlaid vector
theme. A 3-D Spatial Analyst allows model representation in
three dimensions as well as real-time perspective viewing.
Users can therefore create and visualize spatial data in three
dimensions to provide insight, reveal trends, and solve prob-
lems. Avenue Script is used to customize ArcView, direct it
21
Steps in the modeling process
Edit HEC-2 input files to meet the requirement; import
HEC-2 data to HEC-RAS; modify parameters to reproduce
the result of HEC-2; create stream network in HEC-RAS
Generate RAS output report (text file); import RAS output
data to ArcView; map stream morphology
Synthesize a terrain TIN model: extract topographic informa-
tion from HEC-RAS within the channel and DEM
geometry data outside the channel
Create water surface TIN; 3-D visualization: overlay water
surface TIN with terrain TIN
Flood depth simulation; extract the required geometry and
water surface information from selected themes; integrate
the selected data to form an information query model
(b)
to perform specific tasks, or develop an application that re-
lies on the ArcView graphical user interface.
Methodology and implementation
Once the HEC-2 data were successfully converted and re-
produced in HEC-RAS, a complete river network model was
generated. The network model was created to provide in-
stream geometry data and water surface elevations for terrain
model and data query model construction, as well as for the
2-D and 3-D floodplain mapping. The various steps in the
hydraulic modeling and 3-D floodplain delineation exercises
are summarized in Fig. 2.
Hydraulic modeling
The first steps in the modeling process were modifica-
tion and importation of the existing HEC-2 single reach
data into HEC-RAS. Several issues had to be addressed
here, including:
© 2005 NRC Canada
22
Fig. 2. Steps in the hydraulic modeling and floodplain delineation exercises.
Established
HEC-2 model
Aerial photo
Digitized Stream centreline
basemap
Terrain DEM grid
Terrain TIN model
Aerial photo 3-D floodplain visualization
basemap
Flood depth query
(1) HEC-RAS does not allow importation of HEC-2 data in
free format, and the river-station order sequence of the
imported reach must start at the upstream end and pro-
ceed downstream.
(2) Some HEC-2 options are not available in HEC-RAS,
e.g., (i) compute Manning’s n from high water marks
(J1), (ii) define internal rating curves (RC), (iii) create
archive (AC), (iv) allow the input data to be free format
(FR), and (v) create storage outflow data (J4).
(3) To have HEC-RAS reproduce HEC-2 results for channel
flows in reaches without bridges or culverts, the same
conveyance (HEC-2 conveyance subdivision method) and
critical depth (parabolic) computational methods used in
HEC-2 must be selected for the HEC-RAS simulations.
(4) More detailed bridge and culvert information is required
for HEC-RAS flow analyses in these type of locations
including bridge low chord data, bridge deck data, and
culvert geometry parameters.
The Bear Brook River system examined in phase 1 con-
tained 11 (main channel and 10 tributary) reaches. The river
network is represented by stream centrelines, which are de-
noted as straight lines in the established single reach HEC-
RAS model. To connect the 11 reaches in HEC-RAS, the
GIS stream centreline information (containing the coordi-
nates defining the real-world location of the stream network)
had to be imported into HEC-RAS. This required (i) digitiz-
ing the stream centrelines in ArcView using an aerial photo
base map, (ii) creating the river network using GeoRAS and
using the snap tool in ArcView to connect reaches, (iii) pro-
ducing a HEC-RAS import file of stream centreline theme
containing geometric attribute data from a DTM, (iv) im-
porting GIS format stream centreline data to HEC-RAS, and
adding other geometry data (banks, station ID, cross-section
geometry, etc.) from the aforementioned 11 single each
models, (v) performing HEC-RAS simulations, and (vi) fine
tuning the HEC-RAS model by comparing corresponding
HEC-2 and HEC-RAS output data. The various procedures
followed in processing the HEC-2 model input data, validat-
Can. J. Civ. Eng. Vol. 33, 2006
HEC-RAS river network model
Cross-section geo-referencing and
adjustment
Cross-section resample
Stream centerline, banks,
flood extent mapping
Water surface TIN model
Cross-section information query
ing the equivalent HEC-RAS model, and constructing the
river network model are described in greater detail else-
where (Yang 2004).
Three-dimensional floodplain delineation
A 10 m interval DEM was used to represent study area
terrain. Compared to HEC-RAS, a DEM offers lower accu-
racy when describing in-stream channel geometry. There-
fore, an integrated digital terrain model in the form of a TIN,
containing both HEC-RAS in-stream data and DEM over-
bank data, was developed. The resulting TIN model was ap-
propriate for 3-D visualization of the terrain and floodplain
zones. A set of Avenue Scripts (Tate 1999), was used to
transfer the HEC-RAS output data corresponding to the se-
lected design storms to the GIS domain. The HEC-RAS in-
stream geometry and flood elevation information were asso-
ciated with each cross-section cutline in the GIS domain us-
ing the stream centreline as the connectivity.
Since HEC-RAS and DEM data were collected at differ-
ent times and had different resolutions, the elevation data
were not the same in the overlapped parts of the floodplain
zones. To smooth the elevation differences between the two
data sources, the cross section was modified using Avenue
Script (Tate 1999). The modified cross section extracted
from the DEM-RAS integrated terrain TIN is identical to the
HEC-RAS in-channel cross section and begins to approxi-
mate the DEM-extracted cross section as the outer limits of
the floodplain zones are approached. Figures 3a and 3b
compare the DEM-RAS integrated TIN with the terrain TIN
derived from DEM data alone, and Fig. 3c shows a typical
modified stream cross-section profile together with corre-
sponding profiles for the DEM and HEC-RAS data. As
shown in the figure, the DEM-derived terrain TIN and the
DEM-extracted cross section appear flat in the stream chan-
nels when compared with the integrated terrain TIN and the
modified cross section. This is because the 10 m interval
DEM data do not provide sufficient detail for proper channel
representation when using 10 cells. With its higher density
© 2005 NRC Canada
Yang et al. 23

Fig. 3. (a) Digital elevation model (DEM)-derived terrain TIN, (b) digital elevation model - river analysis system (DEM-RAS) inte-
grated terrain TIN, and (c) example of a modified cross section (C/S) 161585.
(a) (c)

Modified C/S 161585 (main channel)

71
C/S 161585 70
69
68

Elevation (m)
67
66
65
64
(b)
63
62
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Distance from left bank (m)
C/S 161585
DEM extracted C/S HEC-RAS C/S Modified C/S

of points within the channel, the integrated terrain TIN is Fig. 4. Steps in the 3-D floodplain visualization process for the
clearly more appropriate for creating reliable floodplain maps. 100-year flood event (a) water surface TIN, (b) integrated terrain
Yang (2004) provides further details on the various steps TIN, (c) floodplain 3-D view, and (d) floodplain 3-D photo view.
followed in synthesizing the terrain TIN.
(a)
For each flood event, water surface elevation and terrain-
water surface interface location data were extracted from
HEC-RAS and transferred to the GIS cross-section files to
generate water surface TIN. Flooded areas (occurring where Water surface TIN

water surface elevations exceed terrain elevations) can then

be viewed in this 3-D format by overlaying the terrain TIN
in ArcScene. The impacts of different storm events on struc- (b)
tures located in or near the floodplain zones can be assessed
by studying an aerial photo of the region. The main steps in
this 3-D floodplain visualization process are summarized in
Fig. 4. Since the cross-section geometry data for the Bear Integrated terrain TIN

Brook River are a fixed data set, its terrain TIN model may
be applied without adjustment to all floodplain simulations. (c)
Based on the respective water surface elevation and terrain-
water interface location data, separate water-surface TINs
were generated for each flood event considered. Figure 5
shows a sample portion of the inundated floodplain zones of
3-D floodplain visualization
the Bear Brook River for the 10, 50, and 100-year design
storms, projected onto an aerial photo of the region.
Flooding occurs to a depth equal to the difference be- (d)
tween the water-surface TIN and surrounding terrain TIN.
Converting both TIN themes into grids allows for subtrac-
tion of the elevation data using the raster calculator in GIS.
3-D floodplain photo view
The terrain raster theme is then subtracted from the water
surface grid theme to create a flood depth grid. Using the
query tool in GIS, the flow depth at any point within the in-
undated floodplain zones can be obtained by simply clicking
© 2005 NRC Canada
24 Can. J. Civ. Eng. Vol. 33, 2006

Fig. 5. A portion of the inundated floodplain zones of the Bear Brook River for the 10, 50, and 100-year design storms.

Legend
10-year flood
50-year flood
100-year flood

metres

Fig. 6. An application of the data query models relating to: (a) flood depth, and (b) cross-section information.

on that point. Lastly, to complete the construction of an inte- Discussion

grated cross-section data query model, cross-section geome-
try data for each reach of the system, together with flood
elevation data for each flood event considered, are extracted
from the HEC-RAS river network model, the cross-section
mapping results, and the water surface TIN model. The inte-
grated model responds to a query made at any cross section
by providing all potentially relevant information at that sec-
tion. The query is made by clicking on the cross-section
cutline using the GIS data query tool. Figure 6 shows appli-
cations of these two data query models at a stream cross sec-
tion and at a point within the adjacent floodplain zone.
In this study a HEC-RAS river network model of the Bear
Brook sub-system and an integrated digital terrain TIN, which
combines coarse-detail floodplain landscape with detailed in-
channel geometry, were developed. In addition methodologies
to create flood maps (in two dimensions (Fig. 5) and three di-
mensions (Fig. 7)), which show plan-form extent and depth of
inundation for selected design storm, respectively, were intro-
duced.
To delineate the floodplain, it was important to obtain
closely similar HEC-2 and HEC-RAS simulations. This was

© 2005 NRC Canada

Yang et al. 25

Fig. 7. Flood zone for the 100-year storm event, showing depth information.

0 500 1000 2000 3000 4000

metres

Legend
Flood depth (100 years) metres

Table 2. Differences in water surface elevations between HEC-2 and HEC-RAS for the entire river network.
Maximum difference Number of cross sections for different ranges (%)
Reach Station Description Value (%) 0–0.1 0.1–0.2 0.2–0.3 0.3–0.4
Main 173860 HEC-2 special bridge 0.372 72 21 3 1
Tributary-1 17588 Junction 0.202 7 1 2 0
Tributary-2 9561 Culvert 0.231 91 5 2 0
Tributary-3 509 Junction 0.089 9 0 0 0
Tributary-4 13160 Culvert 0.220 6 2 1 0
Tributary-5 4110 HEC-2 special bridge 0.328 19 7 1 1
Tributary-6 21310 HEC-2 special bridge 0.279 28 2 1 0
Tributary-7 444 Junction 0.110 8 2 0 0
Tributary-8 250250 Cross section adjacent to junction 0.071 10 0 0 0
Tributary-9 270300 Cross section adjacent to junction 0.082 5 0 0 0
Tributary-10 283461 Culvert 0.272 10 0 1 0
Number of cross sections 265 40 11 2

achieved by comparing the HEC-RAS-generated results with Fig. 8. Differences in water surface elevations between HEC-2
the HEC-2 output data and re-calibrating the former where and HEC-RAS simulations.
necessary. There are 318 designated cross sections in the
Bear Brook River system, including 16 bridge and 14 cul-
vert sections. According to the results presented in Table 2
and Fig. 8 when compared with water surface elevations
generated by HEC-2, 83% of the HEC-RAS cross sections
have water surface elevation differences less than 0.1% (0–
0.2 ft (1 ft = .3048 m)), 13% have differences ranging from
0.1%–0.2% (0.2–0.4 ft), and only 4% have differences larger
than 0.2% (>0.4 ft). Maximum differences (0.071%–
0.372%) between the two sets of results for all reaches were
observed at channel junctions, cross sections adjacent to
these junctions, special bridges, and culvert locations. This
is mainly because (i) HEC-RAS computes energy losses re-
sulting from confluence (junction) flows, whereas HEC-2 one for the bottom), whereas HEC-2 uses the bottom coeffi-
does not account for such losses; (ii) the HEC-RAS low cient only in its culvert flow simulations (USACE 1991,
flow bridge analysis method is superior to the HEC-2 proce- 2001). Certain differences noted between corresponding
dure. (HEC-RAS relies on the actual bridge opening geome- computed water surface elevations clearly resulted from the
try, whereas HEC-2 assumes the presence of a trapezoidal aforementioned different assumptions and computational
section); (iii) HEC-RAS computes two roughness coeffi- routines in HEC-2 and HEC-RAS regarding the modeling of
cients inside a culvert barrel (one for the top and sides and bridge, culvert, and junction flows.

© 2005 NRC Canada

26
Fig. 9. Three-dimensional stream centerline and bank theme (a) before interpolation and (b) after interpolation.
(a) 2-D stream centreline
(b) interpolated cross section
2-D stream centreline
The accuracy of the floodplain delineation process was in-
fluenced by
• Accuracy of the HEC-RAS model: The accuracy of the
HEC-RAS water surface simulations directly impacts the
resulting flood zones. The selection of computational
methods and modifications to the original HEC-2 dataset
are important factors in the floodplain delineation process.
• Accuracy of the terrain: The terrain TIN model developed
in phase 1 integrates two sources of data: HEC-RAS and
DEM data. Large differences are observed between the
DEM-extracted and HEC-RAS cross sections (Fig. 3c).
The differences in elevation between the DEM and HEC-
RAS cross sections may widen or narrow the resulting
flood zones. Accordingly, accuracy of the river network
model is dependent on both the field survey data for the
HEC-RAS in-channel geometry and the resolution of the
DEM data. A sensitivity analysis is needed to investigate
the degree of precision of the terrain model. Model per-
formance and accuracy should be examined by comparing
DEM elevation data with measurements in the field.
• Cross-section interpolation: A reasonable number of cross
sections were required to closely represent the shape of
the stream channel, especially in the vicinity of stream
bends. To artificially increase the number of cross sec-
tions, the cross-section interpolation option must be em-
ployed in both HEC-RAS and GIS. Figures 9a and 9b
show the 3-D stream centerline and bank theme before
and after interpolation, respectively. Both the HEC-RAS
and GIS cross-section interpolations are based on a linear
assumption. If the stream-channel geometry between two
adjacent surveyed cross sections does not change linearly,
then the intermediate (interpolated) cross section will not
closely represent the actual (field) geometry. Additional
surveyed cross sections would be required to more accu-
rately represent field condition, especially, where the
stream channel is tortuous.
• Cross-section extent: Since the outer limits of a cross sec-
tion were assumed to be the outer boundaries of the flood,
an interactive process between HEC-RAS and GIS is re-
quired to extend the cross sections in the HEC-RAS
model to cover the entire flood zone.
To validate the flood mapping exercise, a 3-D 100-year
flood zone for the study portion of the Bear Brook sub-
watershed was compared with the 2-D flood polygon for the
Can. J. Civ. Eng. Vol. 33, 2006
3-D stream centerline and bank
theme (before interpolation)
3-D stream centreline and bank
theme (after interpolation)
same event provided by SNC (Fig. 10). The SNC flood
polygon, which is based on HEC-2 model water surface sim-
ulations, was produced by manually plotting the flood
boundaries on a topographic map. While the 2-D and 3-D
floodplain simulations display similar plan-form shapes, the
3-D simulation also provides detailed flood depth informa-
tion. Accordingly, the latter is viewed as a superior
floodplain management tool.
Conclusions
The modeling procedures developed in this research were
initially undertaken to assist the South Nation Conservation
Authority in simplifying and reducing the time factor in-
volved in the floodplain delineation process. The notable ac-
quirement from this project is to automate and simplify the
flood mapping process for an entire river system based on an
established HEC-2 model.
The HEC-RAS river network model developed through
this research provides improved simulations with its en-
hanced computational routines (analysis of flow at junctions,
bridges, and culverts), supports both the importation and ex-
portation of GIS data, allows for simple and quick cross-
section interpolation and allows the user to view the river
reach and cross-section data in three dimensions.
The methodology used to automate the 3-D floodplain de-
lineation process results in (1) providing a reliable and more
economical approach to delineate flood zones; (2) enabling
users to quickly update flood maps, with changes in the hy-
draulic conditions; (3) visualizing floodplain zones in three
dimensions; and (4) enabling quick data query.
Using an aerial photo as a base map, the impacts of se-
lected design storms, on both river and nearby structures,
can be quickly assessed. Figure 11 shows an example of
how the resulting flood map can be used for flood emer-
gency prediction. The 100-year floodplain modeling result
provides information concerning the flood extent and depth
at the building of interest. This will possibly help in locating
those areas in need of remediation work and identify suitable
locations and arrangements for flood prevention and (or)
control structures. The data query models constructed in this
research can be applied to the entire watershed for river net-
work data management purposes.
© 2005 NRC Canada
Yang et al. 27

Fig. 10. Comparing the model-generated 100-year flood zone with corresponding SNC data.

Legend
100-year flood (SNC) 0 500 1000 2000 3000 4000
metres
100-year flood (model)

Fig. 11. Flood emergency prediction at river station 166310 for the 100-year storm event.

Cross-section 166310
cutline

structure of interest

100-year
floodplain
boundary
0 5 10 20 30 40
metres

This research deals only with integrating the hydraulic data
with GIS to map the desired inundated floodplain zones. An
important future research effort in this area would be to in-
corporate the hydrological aspects of the watershed into the
modeling process. Such a contribution would lead to a more
effective flood emergency warning and management tool.
The present HEC-GeoRAS extension allows the user to ex-
tract cross-section geometry from a terrain model and map
the flood zones based on these extracted data. However, the
user cannot import the hydraulic data directly into the GIS
domain without real-world coordinates. The program should
be modified to best serve the goal of the user with regards to
existing hydraulic models.
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© 2005 NRC Canada