Combining seperate HEC-RAS Rivercad files into one

Chris

I am trying to combine portions of a river that each are separate .flx drawings. Each drawing consists of topographic data with cross-sections cut. Each also contains ground geometry data such as reach lengths, overbank stations, and imported channel geometry from HEC-RAS. The only way I have found to do this is to make one drawing a part and then insert it, but then the Rivercad data is lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Kyle Griffith
USGS WRD Helena, MT

Dear Kyle :

Note that there are a few steps in combining separate HEC-RAS models from two different RiverCAD drawing files into the same RiverCAD drawing file. Here are the steps:

1. From one drawing file, export out the HEC-RAS model. From the HEC-RAS Module, select Reach | Export HEC-RAS Project.

2. From the other drawing file, import the previously exported HEC-RAS model. From the HEC-RAS Module, select Reach | Import | Import HEC-RAS Project. RiverCAD will ask if you want to import the HEC-RAS model into the current river reach (i.e., combine the two models into one mode), or create a new river reach (i.e., models are separate). You will need to decide that.

3. You need to create the cross-section topo linkage of the newly imported HEC-RAS model. We will do that semi-automatically, by externally referencing the previous drawing file to the current drawing file so that we know where the cross-section topo linkages are.

4. From the CAD Drafting Module, select Parts | External References. From the displayed dialog box, select Attach. You can then browse and select the previous drawing file. Make certain that the insertion point is 0,0,0, the scale factor is 1,1,1, and the rotation is 0.

5. Select the cross-section you want to link. From the HEC-RAS Module, select Input | Cross-Sections | Select Cross-Section Grid. A dialog box will be displayed, showing you the cross-sections. Select the one you want to link.

6. You will then "topo link" the newly imported cross-sections using the externally referenced drawing file as a background guide. From the HEC- RAS Module, select Input | Ground Geometry | Topo Link. Then, trace over the externally referenced cross-section line.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for all of the cross-sections you imported.

8. Finally, detach the previously externally referenced drawing file. From the CAD Drafting Module, select Parts | External References. From the displayed dialog box, select Detach.

9. You are now completed!

If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Chris E. Maeder, M.S.
Senior Technical Engineer
chris.maeder@bossintl.com