WMS Tutorials

A set of step-by-step tutorials have been developed to aid in learning how to use WMS. If this is your first time using WMS it is highly recommended that you look through the Quick Tour first before doing the tutorials.

If you do not have a hard copy the WMS tutorials, a .pdf version is available. Look in the "docs" directory in the folder where WMS is installed. This file can be viewed (or printed if you prefer to work with a hard copy) using adobe acrobat reader. If you can not find this file and you do not have a hard copy of the tutorials contact your WMS vendor for help.

The following is a table of contents for the WMS tutorials:

Volume 1:

  1. Introduction - A basic overview of the WMS interface.

  2. Images - Learn how to import and georeference tiff and jpg images.

  3. Basic Feature Objects - Learn how to create/edit points, lines and polygons and assign their attributes.

  4. DEM Basics - Learn how to download DEMs from the internet and then how to import and visualize DEMs.

  5. Using Triangulated Irregular Networks - Learn how to use TIN datasets in WMS for hydrologic, and more importantly hydraulic model development.

  6. Advanced Feature Object Manipulation - Learn how to use feature objects to delineate watersheds (this is important if you do not have elevation data or if you have very flat areas or areas where the elevation data do not adequately describe the terrain). Learn how to use land use and soil coverages to develop composite curve numbers for watersheds.

Volume 2:

  1. DEM Delineation - Learn how to use DEM data for watershed delineation.

  2. Editing DEMs - Go beyond the basic DEM delineation operations and discover how to edit DEMs so that closed basins can be delineated (depressions), streams can be "burned" in, embankments placed, storage capacity curves computed, and more from DEMs.

  3. Time of Concentration Calculations and Computing a Composite Curve Number - Learn how to use computed basin geometric parameters, or arc segments with defined equations to compute time of concentration, lag time, and other runoff travel times.

  4. HEC-1 Interface - Learn how the HEC-1 interface is organized and to develop HEC-1 models from your digital watershed. This is probably the most complete start to finish project in one single tutorial.

  5. HEC-HMS Interface: Similar to Chapter 4, but using HEC-HMS—Learn how the HEC-HMS interface is organized and to develop HEC-HMS models from your digital watershed.

  6. Rational Method Interface - Learn how to use the rational method calculator to determine peak flows.

  7. National Flood Frequency (NFF) Interface - Learn how to use the interface to the most recent NFF database for estimating peak flows. This tutorial also demonstrates the general purpose overlay capability of polygon layers to determine the percentage of lake covered areas in a watershed.

Volume 3:

  1. HEC-RAS Analysis - Learn how to use feature objects (centerline, cross section lines) and a TIN to develop the geometry of a HEC-RAS model.

  2. HEC-RAS Managing Cross Sections - Learn how to edit, merge, create cross sections in a database for use with HEC-RAS and other hydraulic models.

  3. Flood Plain Delineation - Learn how to delineate flood plains from water surface elevation data. Water surface elevations could be computed by HEC-RAS, defined interactively, or imported from a file.

  4. Stochastic Modeling using HEC-1 and HEC-RAS - WMS allows you to link multiple simulations of HEC-1 to HEC-RAS to determine the uncertainty in modeling parameters on a delineated flood plain. In this release only Curve Number and Precipitation can be stochastically varied among HEC-1 parameters and Manning's n value for HEC-RAS.

  5. Simplified Dam Break - Learn how to model dam failures using simplified methods.

Volume 4:

  1. Storm Drain (Rational Design) - Learn how the Storm Drain model in WMS works for design and analysis of storm drain networks. This first tutorial shows how the Rational approach (worst case) is used in Storm Drain.

  2. Storm Drain (Hydrographic Design) - Learn how the Storm Drain model in WMS works for design and analysis of storm drain networks. This second tutorial shows how a computed hydrograph from a hydrologic model can be used in Storm Drain.

Volume 5:

  1. HSPF Interface - Learn how WMS can be used to create HSPF input (.uci) files.

  2. CE-QUAL-W2 Interface - Learn how to use WMS to use this 2D laterally averaged hydrodynamic and water quality model. With it, you can model vertical variance, eutrophication, seasonal turnover, algal blooms, etc. if incoming pollutants are known.

Related Topics:
Model Documentation
References