There's no question that HEC-RAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System program, is an incredibly powerful tool. However, it's also no secret that it can be overwhelming, challenging and, in the hands of an inexperienced user, the end result could be numerical instability and severely flawed analyses. Can you afford that outcome on your projects?

To help you make sense of HEC-RAS, we've recruited Joe Skupien, one of the most highly rated instructors in hydrology and hydraulics, to teach this 3-day hands-on training class. He will provide a comprehensive overview of the steady flow capabilities of the current version (V5.0.1) of HEC-RAS.

Day 1 will begin with a review of the HEC-RAS program's theoretical basics, modeling capabilities, and limitations. Next, an explanation of program and project start-up, data input, and the various forms of output reporting will be presented. The day will conclude with an analysis example problem that will highlight such modeling decisions as cross section location and alignment, loss coefficient selection, and floodway determination.

Day 2 of the workshop will focus on an overview of the HEC-RAS program's capabilities, data requirements, and limitations for modeling bridge and culvert flow. It will also include a discussion of the various types of flow encountered at bridges and culverts, as well as different modeling approaches available in HEC-RAS. Day 2 will also include analysis of a second example problem that will illustrate basic bridge and culvert modeling, including further guidance on selecting cross-section locations, loss coefficients, ineffective flow areas and overall computational approach.

Day 3 of the workshop will conclude with presentations and example problems on computing floodways and flood fringe volumes. The agenda will also include a workshop review and a question and answer session.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers (with HEC-RAS 5.0.1 installed) to the workshop in order to directly participate in the various example problems. Copies of Version 5.0.1 of HEC-RAS can be downloaded from the HEC website (http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras). A workbook and electronic copies of example problems will be provided to all attendees.

After completing this HEC-RAS training course, attendees will:

• Understand the basic theories of open channel, floodway, and bridge and culvert flow used by HEC-RAS
• Understand HEC-RAS capabilities, limitations, input needs, sources and output options
• Select appropriate bridge and culvert modeling methods
• Create and execute a HEC-RAS project
• Identify input errors and modeling problems to help insure "accurate and reasonable" program output

For more information and to register, visit http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/courses/current/ew0401ca.html