HEC-RAS to MIKE11

Purpose
This tool helps to convert a HEC-RAS model into a MIKE11 model. This specifically allows the conversion of a HEC-RAS geometry (*.g00) file into corresponding MIKE11 network (nwk11) and cross section (xns11) files.
This conversion tool may be extremely helpful to perform the most tedious parts of the process, while reducing the chances of human error during the alternative time-consuming manual conversion. However, this is only a first stab at the procedure to get an equivalent MIKE11 model, since further manual adjustments are necessary.

Usage
The user must first specify the geometry file, and then it is possible to customize the arrangements of Rivers and Reaches as well as the coordinate conversion. The execution creates corresponding MIKE11 files for the network (nwk11) and cross section raw data. The last text file needs to be imported into an empty binary xns11 file.
The free version allows the user to use the geometry files in the “unsteady examples” folder as distributed in HEC-RAS 4.1, and in the “1D Unsteady Flow Hydraulics” folder as distributed in HEC-RAS 5.0

Pre-requisites
This tool requires the geometry file generated in the HEC-RAS versions 4.1 or 5.0. It has been tested successfully up to version 5.0.5. It is not necessary to have MIKE ZERO installed to run the tool.

Example of use
The screens shown below can be obtained by processing the geometry file “3Reach_with_Lat.g01” provided with the HEC-RAS 4.1 installation under unsteady examples. The first two screens show the tool being executed in this case. After the execution, the raw file was converted into a binary xns11 file, and a sim11 file was created to link the nwk11 and the xns11 files. The last two screens show a visual comparison of the HEC-RAS and the converted MIKE11 models.

Geometry File HEC-RAS conversion to MIKE11 tool

Registration
In order to have full functionality of this tool, the user needs to complete the registration by following these steps:

Go to the right-top corner in this tool, click on the “About” button, and copy the Mac address shown there.

In this tool’s webpage, use the box above the "Add to Cart" button to enter the Mac address. Then, click on the "Add to Cart" button right below to enter your payment information.

After these steps, the authorization code will be sent to the email that you provided during the PayPal payment process.

Technical Notes
In the following table, the conversion from the different HEC-RAS features into MIKE11 is detailed.

Additional general notes:

MIKE11 weirs are assumed as broad crested regardless the HEC-RAS specifications.
MIKE11 gate control structures start as closed and transit to fully open. The gate speed is set by default as 0.1 ft/min.
Radial gate equations change in MIKE11, and the parameters are set by default.
When Manning’s n is different at Top and at Bottom in HEC-RAS culverts, the average value is assumed in MIKE11. The depth blocked value is ignored.
Using copied cross sections in the new created short branches is convenient to avoid the MIKE11 warning messages related to the bottom elevation mismatch at connections.

Further Steps
After running this tool, the following steps are recommended:

The xns11 raw file must be imported into a new binary xns11 file. The units of chainages and elevations in the raw file are in meters, so the MIKE ZERO units must be set to SI/default before importing.
The pfs code in the nwk11 file is incomplete, so this file needs to be opened and resaved in MIKE ZERO before attempting to run it. The Q/H relationships in culverts and weirs need to be computed in the nwk11 editor.
There are other files necessary to run a MIKE11 simulation such as the sim11, the bnd11, and the hd11 files; which must be created independently.
The HEC-RAS unsteady (*.u00) file is not read by this tool. Thus, information contained in this file about boundary and initial conditions as well as control structure operations must be entered manually.
Additional branches may be generated by the tool to consider lateral structures, storage areas, connections, and pumps from HEC-RAS. The user may want to rearrange their location in order to improve the visual representation in MIKE11.
Some MIKE11 control structures generated by the tool may have the same location and parameters, and the user may want to merge them for simplicity in a single structure with the equivalent number of gates.
The warning messages in the log file can be used as a guide to make further manual adjustments.

Verifications
The following list summarizes the verification tests and actual projects conducted by using this tool.

Verification tests by converting geometry files in the “unsteady examples” folder as distributed in HEC-RAS 4.1, and in the “1D Unsteady Flow Hydraulics” folder as distributed in HEC-RAS 5.0
Project funded by the SFWMD and titled “Convert C-51 Basin Rule Reevaluation HEC-RAS model to MIKE SHE/11” on May 25, 2014.

Support
Users can report bugs and send comments by email to support@lago-consulting.com.

Created by Lago Consulting & Services LLC. © 2014. Last updated on 09/26/2018

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