World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 54 2011

Simulation of the Rainfall-Runoff Process Using of

HEC-HMS Hydrological Model
(A Case Study of Sheikh Bahaei Dam Basin)
Masoud Nasri, Farshad Soleimani Sardoo and Mehdi Katani

Abstract—Flood is a natural demolishing phenomenon, forecast Runoff For this purpose, models have been defined
of which is of high importance. Estimation of rainfall-runoff and requiring hydrological and meteorological data. Remote-
flood is a difficult task due to influence of different factors. So far, sensing and geographical information systems combined with
different methods have been proposed to analyze such phenomena. rainfall-runoff models are ideal means to estimate runoff
This study was conducted in the basin of Sheikh Bahaei Dam in
Isfahan Province to prioritize areas influencing the flood peak
volume, peak discharge, and the hydrograph. HEC-HMS
discharge or in other words, to specify areas with highest flood rainfall-runoff model is among the most applicable ones. HEC
potential. HEC-HMS hydrological model was used to simulate the model (1998) has been chosen to estimate and simulate
flow in the hydrological units of the area. The results showed that rainfall-runoff occurrence, in which method of the US Soil
areas near the output point of the basin play the highest role in flood Conservation Service, (SCS) developed in some small areas of
development and should be placed in the first priority of watershed the United States, is used. Some researchers who studied
management. The results can remarkably contribute to the
monitoring system of the area.
waterfloods particularly have used coefficient of variations to
Keywords—Flood, Rainfall-Runoff, HEC-HMS hydrological compare and explain differences of flood-susceptibility or
model, Sheikh Bahaei Dam Basin variability of waterfloods. In such studies, average coefficient
of variations of annual maximum waterflood series is used to
determine flood-susceptibility conditions of an area or a
I. INTRODUCTION country. Pourreza et al. (2007) have started the estimation and
zoning of waterflood in a part of Qara Ajaq River in Fars
E VERY year, vast areas of the country are influenced by
rivers overflow and flood running, whereby civil
facilities, communication means, arable lands, towns, and
Province using hydraulic models and ArcView application of
GIS software as well as HEC-GEOHMS appendix.
Identification of factors influencing flood-susceptibility
villages are destroyed. Irregular use of natural resources,
potential of basins and their zoning is inevitable and necessary
destructing them beside arid and semi-arid climate of the
in terms of runoff development. For this purpose, remote-
country has caused considerable increase of floods in terms of
sensing (RS) data and geographical information systems (GIS)
their occurrence times and damage intensity. This has placed
are useful and powerful means to identify factors influencing
Iran in the 7th place among the world’s countries as to being
flood-susceptibility potential of basins and their zoning in
flood-susceptible. Human interference in the natural cycle of
terms of flood-susceptibility potential. To prepare flood
water through the destruction of planted surface of watershed
hazard map in Bangladesh, NOAA-AVHRR satellite data and
areas, incorrect use of lands, expansion of impenetrable
GIS were used. Islam and Sado (2000) prepared flood hazard
surfaces, etc. lead to floods probability in different areas of the
map in Bangladesh using satellite data and GIS. For zoning of
world. In studies and researches related to flood-susceptibility
Gaverud basin in south of Kurdestan Province in terms of
and specifying the world’s flood-susceptible areas, a uniform
flood-susceptibility potential, GIS as databank and TM images
methodology has not been adopted. Methods to specify flood-
of Landsat Satellite were used. Urban areas development has
susceptible areas are mostly based on empirical formulas,
also meaningful effects on surface runoff of small basins.
statistical analysis of waterflood data, using remote-sensing
Relation between surface runoff, rainfall, and area of
data and GIS, and mathematical-computerized models of
impenetrable regions of the basin depend on spatial
rainfall-runoff which have been laid down mainly from the
distribution of impenetrable regions in the basin. Here, urban
view of flood development at basins level. is an important
lands around the main river have special effects on increase of
hydrological variable used in studies of water resources.
flood-susceptibility. Urban areas development, generally,
Runoff forecast in areas with no statistics is a difficult and
leads to increase of runoff volume, flood peak discharge, and
time-consuming process.
decrease of time lag of the basin. The aim of this study is to
use hydrological model HEC-HMS in simulation of the flow
in the rainfall-runoff process of Sheikh Bahaei Dam basin.
Masoud Nasri, Academic Member, Islamic Azad University Ardestan,
Branch, Isfahan, Iran, ps_sepahan@yahoo.com and m_nasri@iauard.ac.ir
Farshad Soleimani Sardoo: Faculty Member of Jiroft University Email:
fsolaimani@gmail.com
Mehdi Katani: Technical office of Esfahan Governor, Esfahan, Iran Email:
katani.mehdi@yahoo.com

548
 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 54 2011

II. METHODOLOGY
2-1- Geographical Position of the Studied Area
TABLE I
With regard to political limitation, the basin of Sheikh : AMOUNTS OF THE CURVE NUMBER OF THE AREA’S HYDROLOGICAL UNITS.
Bahaei Dam is located in Qahrud village, Qamsar district, Subbasin
AMC CN AMC CN subbasin row
Kashan County. Basin of Sheikh Bahaei Dam with an area of area(km2)
7212.34 hectares is located in 8.5 I 67.8 II 83.1 SubBasin1 1
Since the basin is positioned north-south, some hills 7.9 I 68.8 II 83.7 SubBasin2 2
8.9 I 66.5 II 82.2 SubBasin3 3
surround it. Annual maximum and minimum rainfall of this
8.7 I 67.2 II 82.7 SubBasin4 4
area are respectively 228.1 and 199.2mm and average annual
9.4 I 63.8 II 83.4 SubBasin5 5
rainfall is 209.2mm.
8.5 I 68.9 II 83.8 SubBasin6 6
Average annual temperature is 10.2 °C, extreme min. 7.8 I 67.2 II 82.7 SubBasin7 7
temperature is -30.7°C, and extreme max. temperature is 5.8 I 67.2 II 82.7 SubBasin8 8
36.7°C (Fig. 1). 6.5 I 66.9 II 82.5 SubBasin9 9
6.1 I 68.5 II 83.5 SubBasin10 10

2- Time Lag
In order to calculate the time lag, the basin’s time of
concentration has to be calculated first. SCS formula was used
to calculate the time of concentration of each sub-basin and by
use of Equation 4 the time of concentration was converted to
time lag.
To determine time of concentration, the respective runoff
hydrograph and rainfall hyetograph can be used. Many
empirical formulas have been presented to determine this
parameter and SCS method was used in this study.

Fig. 1 Geographical position of the studied area SCS formula: T = L ( S + 1)

0.8 0.7

C 0.5
1140WS
2-2- HEC-HMS Hydrological Model Relation (3):
The HEC-HMS Rainfall-Runoff Model was programmed
by US Hydrology Center to simulate the flow in mountainous Where,
regions. This model is composed of three models: 1. basin Tc: time of concentration in hours
model 2. climatic model 3. control indices. L: length of the main waterway in feet
To calculate runoff in the sub-basins, SCS method, runoff S: maximum reserved potential of the basin in inches
transfer from hydrograph method, and time lag method to find Ws: average weight slope of the basin in percent
the process of flood were used. Also, SCS rainstorm was used The US Soil Conservation Service suggests the following
to input meteorological data into the model; hydrometric data equation to calculate time lag of the basin:
of Gabrabad Station was used as well.
Equation (4) Tlag = 0.6TC
Where,
III.RESULTS Tc is time of concentration and Tlag is time lag.
3-1- Model Calibration to Simulate the Flow
3-1-1- Input Data Optimization TABLE II
DATA RELATED TO TIME OF CONCENTRATION AND TIME LAG AMOUNTS OF
Parameters used for optimization include 1. Curve number 2. SUB-BASINS OF THE STUDIED AREA.
Initial absorption rate 3. Time lag.
Concentration

Concentration
Lag time(tc) .

Lag time(tc) .

time (tc) .min

time(tc) .min

1. Sub-basins Curve Number

subbasin

subbasin

By combining the hydrological group map with the land use

min

row

min

row

map in Ilwis application, the basin’s curve number map was

prepared and amounts of the curve number of each unit were
extracted (Table 1) and inputted into the model as initial
15.12 25.2 SubBasin6 6 30.6 51 SubBasin1
amounts. Because 5 days prior to rainstorm selection no 12.6 21 SubBasin7 7 28.44 47.4 SubBasin2
1
2
rainfall was recorded, amounts of the curve number for arid 20.52 34.2 SubBasin8 8 28.08 46.8 SubBasin3
3
conditions (l) were calculated and inputted into the model. 12.96 21.6 SubBasin9 9 23.76 39.6 SubBasin4
4
12.24 20.4 SubBasin10 10 19.44 32.4 SubBasin5
5

549
 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 54 2011

3. Initial Infiltration Amount

In order to estimate the initial infiltration amount in any of
the studied sub-basins, 20% of the basin's detention (S)
obtained by use of the curve number was introduced to the
model as the initial amount Ia.
Equation (5): Ia=0.2S

TABLE III
DATA OF THE AMOUNTS OF INITIAL DETENTION (S) AND INITIAL
INFILTRATION (IA) OF THE BASINS OF THE STUDIED AREA
Ia(mm) S subbasin row Ia(mm) S subbasin row

23 115 SubBasin6 6 24 120.6 SubBasin1 1

25 124 SubBasin7 7 23 115.5 SubBasin2 2
25 124 SubBasin8 8 26 128.4 SubBasin3 3 Fig. 3 The observed and simulated hydrographs in Gabrabad Station
25 126 SubBasin9 9 25 124 SubBasin4 4
23 117 SubBasin10 10 25 126.6 SubBasin5 5
As shown in Fig. 3, the two hydrographs have a good
fitness to each other and considering Fig. 4, difference
Then the schematic design of the studied basin was drawn between the simulated and observed peak discharge is very
by the application and hydrological elements were defined for low. Therefore, input amounts in this stage are chosen as
the basin. Figure 2 shows the basin of Sheikh Bahaei Dam optimized amounts of the parameters. Table 4 shows
with the hydrological elements. optimized amounts of the parameters.

Fig. 4 Data obtained by calibration of HEC-HMS model

TABLE IV
OPTIMIZED AMOUNTS OF THE PARAMETERS USING HEC-HMS MODEL
optimized values optimized values
subbasin row subbasin row
CN tl Ia CN tl Ia
Fig. 2 Schematic design of the basin of Sheikh Bahaei Dam using
78.1 25 23 SubBasin6 6 85.1 27.8 24.8 SubBasin1 1
hydrological elements in HEC-HMS application 69.2 25 24 SubBasin7 7 86.2 26.14 23.6 SubBasin2 2
78.3 29 21 SubBasin8 8 70.4 27.28 25.1 SubBasin3 3
84.2 24 25 SubBasin9 9 84.5 23.78 24 SubBasin4 4
The model was implemented for the first time using the 87.4 23 20 SubBasin10 10 76.2 21.1 25.9 SubBasin5 5
initial amounts of the parameters (RUNI) and the results
obtained in Gabrabad Station were studied and difference rate Results of HEC-HMS Model Using the Optimized Amounts
of the simulated and observed hydrographs compared. This After calibration of the model and inputting the optimized
process should be continued until the amount of error function amount of the curve number parameters, initial infiltration &
between the two hydrographs reaches the possible least time lag, and peak discharge amounts simulated in HEC-HMS
amount. In this study, error function in RUN4 reached the model of each sub-basin were extracted. Table 5 presents data
lowest rate and the simulated and observed hydrographs of of peak discharge.
Gabrabad Station showed the highest conformity to each
other. Figure 3 shows position of the two hydrographs to each
other in the said station.

550
 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 54 2011

TABLE V Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services,

AMOUNTS OF PEAK DISCHARGE OF THE STUDIED SUB-BASINS SIMULATED IN Conservation Engineering Division, Technical Release TR-55
HEC-HMS MODEL.
peak peak
discharge subbasin row discharge subbasin row
(m3/s) (m3/s)

13 SubBasin6 6 15.18 SubBasin1 1

9.6 SubBasin7 7 15.1 SubBasin2 2
9.5 SubBasin8 8 12.5 SubBasin3 3
16.1 SubBasin9 9 15.7 SubBasin4 4
16.2 SubBasin10 10 14.2 SubBasin5 5

IV.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results indicate that sub-basins located near the output
point of the area have a stronger role in flood development in
the area and so implementation of watershed management
projects in such regions is of special importance. Sub-basin
10, at the end of which Sheikh Bahaei Dam is located should
receive primary priority in actions against floods, erosion, and
sedimentation because it has the highest peak discharge
considering peak discharges simulated by HEC-HMS model.

REFERENCES
[1] Purreza, M. Shahri, 2007, flood mapping using GIS, study design: a part
of Ghareaghaj river in Fars province, Iran, GIS conference, p 24, Tehran.
[2] Jalali, Hosein, 1989, investigation of Iran’s floods, proceedings of first
Iranian conference on hydrology, p 37-102, ministry of power.Iran.
[3] Khosroshahi, M. and Ghavvami, Sh., 1998, warning, forest, range and
watershed management organization, third edition, p 108.Iran.
[4] Daftari, B., 2007, settlement of destroyed from events and camp
management, red crescent education center, p 12, Tehran.
[5] Molaei, A., 2002, curve number determination for runoff volume
estimation using GIS, proceedings of 6th international conference on
river engineering, volume 2, p 1139-1144, Ahwaz, Iran.
[6] Nosrati, A., 2000, flood potential mapping of Gaverud basin using GIS
and RS, college of natural resources, Tarbiat Modarres university,
Tehran, Iran.
[7] Bellal, M., Sillen, X., Zeck, Y., 1996, Coupling GIS with a distributed
hydrological model for studying the effect of various urban planning
options on rainfall-runoff relationship in urbanized basins, in Kovar, K.,
Nachtnebel, H.P. (eds.), Application of Geographic Information Systems
in Hydrology and Water Resources Management: International
Association of Hydrological Sciences, Series of Proceedings and
Reports, 235, 99-106.
[8] Demayo, A., Steel, A., 1996, Data handling and presentation, in
hapman,D. (ed), Water Quality Assessments, A Guide to the Use of
Biota, Sediments and Water in Environmental Monitoring:
London,United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, World Health organization, United ations Environment
Program, 2nd edition, Chapter 10, 511-612.
[9] Hjelmtelt, A, 1999., Modeling hydrologic and water quality responses to
grass waterway , journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 4(3):251-256
[10] Miloradov, M., Marjanovic, P., 1991, Geographic information system in
environmentally sound river basin development, in 3rdRhine-Danube
Workshop, Proceedings, 7-8 October: Delft, the Netherlands,
Technische Universiteit Delft.Olivera, F., Maidment, D.R., 1998a, HEC-
PrePro v.
[11] Rodel.R.2002. Stability and Variability of Global Runoff as a Reaction
to Climatic and Anthropogenic Control Mechanisms, Third International
Conference on Water Resources and Environment Research, Dresden
University of Technology, pp.264-268
[12] United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 2000, Hydrologic
Modeling System HEC-HMS: Davis, CA, United States Army Corps of
Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center, Technical Reference Manual,
CPD-74B, 149 p.
[13] United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1986, Urban
Hydrology for Small Watersheds: Springfield , VA, United States

551