Floods: Visualizing HEC-RAS Results with Crayfish
Flood models provide valuable data, but how do you translate that data into clear insights? In this blended learning course, you’ll learn how to visualize HEC-RAS results in QGIS using the Crayfish plugin. You’ll create clear maps and animations of water depths, flow velocities, and flood areas to effectively analyze and present model results.
Hydraulic models play a key role in predicting and analyzing floods. The challenge lies not only in performing a model calculation, but especially in interpreting and presenting the results. By clearly visualizing model output, valuable insights emerge that contribute to water management, risk assessment, and spatial decision-making.
In this blended learning course, you’ll learn how to visualize results from HEC-RAS in QGIS using the Crayfish plugin. You’ll work with water depths, flow velocities, and flood areas, and convert model output into clear maps, animations, and interactive visualizations.
Through hands-on assignments, you’ll discover how to import, analyze, and present hydraulic model results. You’ll learn to compare different time steps, recognize spatial patterns, and create visualizations suitable for reporting and communicating with policymakers, engineers, and other stakeholders.
Upon completion, you will have the skills to professionally visualize and interpret HEC-RAS results within QGIS, enabling you to clearly present complex flood analyses.
During this blended learning course, you’ll learn how to convert hydraulic model results into clear maps and animations. You’ll develop practical skills to analyze HEC-RAS output and effectively communicate the results.
You’ll start by importing HEC-RAS results into QGIS and explore the capabilities of the Crayfish plugin. Next, you’ll learn to visualize water depths, flow velocities, and flood areas for different time steps within a simulation.
After that, you’ll get to work creating animations, comparing scenarios, and analyzing the spatial impact of floods. You’ll learn which visualizations are best suited for analysis, reporting, and decision-making.
Upon completion, you’ll be able to independently process, visualize, and present HEC-RAS results using QGIS and Crayfish.
This blended learning program combines flexible online learning with hands-on assignments in which you work with realistic HEC-RAS results. You’ll learn not only how to interpret hydraulic models but, more importantly, how to convert model output into actionable information for analysis and decision-making.
By working with QGIS and the Crayfish plugin, you’ll develop practical skills in visualizing water depths, flow velocities, and flood areas. During the guided sessions, you’ll receive personalized guidance and learn efficient methods for presenting hydraulic model results.
Upon completion, you will be able to professionally visualize HEC-RAS output, analyze flood scenarios, and create clear maps and animations that can be used in water management, civil engineering, and climate adaptation.
You’ll receive 1-on-1 guidance. After signing up, our course coordinator will contact you to schedule your first session.
Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.
HEC-RAS is a widely used hydraulic model for calculating water levels, flow velocities, and flood scenarios. It is used worldwide for river management, flood risk analyses, and the design of hydraulic engineering projects.
Crayfish is a QGIS plugin that allows you to visualize time-dependent model results, such as HEC-RAS output. You can display water depths, flow velocities, and flood areas as maps, animations, and interactive visualizations.
A basic knowledge of QGIS is recommended. Experience with HEC-RAS is helpful but not required. The blended learning course focuses on visualizing and interpreting existing HEC-RAS results within QGIS.
These techniques are used in water management, civil engineering, climate adaptation, and land-use planning. They help analyze flood scenarios, communicate model results, and support decision-making regarding water safety.
