Civil engineering software
Many software programs are available for each
discipline of civil engineering. Most civil engineers
practice in specialized subsets of civil engineering,
such as geotechnical engineering, structural
engineering, transportation engineering, hydraulic
engineering, environmental engineering, project
and construction management and land surveying.
Early history
The trend to implement software programs into
the civil engineering industry began as educational
concerns for the future as civil engineering
prepared to enter the twenty-first century. Today,
these concerns and trends are centered on the
continuing education unit which have become
required as part of maintaining the professional
license. As a result of the expanding use and
demand for these software programs, there was
less of a necessity for occupations such as
draftsman, because the engineer began to prepare
and input the design parameters into the program,
thus eliminating the need for manual drafting.
Land surveying, a specialized subset of civil
engineering, relies heavily on the computerization
of the industry. University textbooks have already
since begun to include software applications for
students to gain experience with some kind of
software interface.
Infrastructure design
Another specific subset, infrastructure design,
relies heavily on estimates of load, pressure,
drainage and flow. Some software houses have
attempted to provide design software catering for
the variety of infrastructure design fields in an
integrated manner. However, general-purpose
software may be used in the same manner at a
fraction of the cost of design software. When
planning the construction phase, various project
management methods are used to estimate factors
such as cost, schedule and resourcing. Different
software packages rely on different formulas and
theories as the basis for these calculations.
Consulting engineers also take advantage of the
insight software can provide as far as crossing
services are concerned. A road design may have to
accommodate the presence of underground pipes
for example. Civil Designer is an example of a
design package which forms an integrated data
gathering, drawing, surface modeling and design
system for civil engineering infrastructure.
Maintenance
Another aspect of software programs utilized by
civil engineers is not only for the use of designing
site infrastructure, but also to maintain it. As
recent as 2011, there are programs available which
allow the engineer to monitor bridges for cracks
and settlements, as well as water distribution
networks for failing subsurface pipes through the
use of sensors installed. This has created the
ability for the engineer to eliminate some of the
costs and liabilities associated with human
inspectors. AutoCAD Civil 2012 offers the ability to
streamline applications as well as other Autodesk
programs, making it easier and cheaper for the
engineer to work with others. As a result, these
programs have become much faster than the
versions released five years ago, with the ability to
incorporate much more information.
AutoCAD
Developer(s)
Initial release
Stable release
Development
status
Operating
system
Available in
Type
License
Autodesk
December 1982
2016 / March 20, 2015
Active
MS Windows, Mac OS X & iOS,
Android
Multilingual
Computer-aided design
Proprietary
AutoCAD is a commercial software application for
2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and
drafting available since 1982 as a desktop
application and since 2010 as a mobile web- and
cloud-based app marketed as AutoCAD 360.
Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD
was first released in December 1982, running on
microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
Prior to the introduction of AutoCAD, most
commercial CAD programs ran on mainframe
computers or minicomputers, with each CAD
operator (user) working at a separate graphics
terminal.
AutoCAD is used across a wide range of industries,
by architects, project managers, engineers,
graphic designers, and other professionals. It is
supported by 750 training centers worldwide as of
1994.
As Autodesk's flagship product, by March 1986
AutoCAD had become the most ubiquitous CAD
program worldwide.
History
AutoCAD was derived from a program begun in
1977 and released in 1979 called Interact CAD, also
referred to in early Autodesk documents as
MicroCAD, which was written prior to Autodesk's
(then Marinchip Software Partners) formation by
Autodesk cofounder Mike Riddle.
The first version by Autodesk was demonstrated at
the 1982 Comdex and released that December. The
2016 release marked the 30th major release of
AutoCAD for Windows. The 2014 release marked
the fourth consecutive year of AutoCAD for Mac.
Design
File formats and versions
The native file format of AutoCAD is .dwg. This
and, to a lesser extent, its interchange file format
DXF, have become de facto, if proprietary,
standards for CAD data interoperability,
particularly for 2D drawing exchange. AutoCAD has
included support for .dwf, a format developed and
promoted by Autodesk, for publishing CAD data.
Compatibility with other software
ESRI ArcMap 10 permits export as AutoCAD
drawing files. Civil 3D permits export as AutoCAD
objects and as LandXML. Third-party file
converters exist for specific formats such as
Bentley MX GENIO Extension, PISTE Extension
(France), ISYBAU (Germany), OKSTRA and
Microdrainage (UK); also, conversion of .pdf files is
feasible, however, the accuracy of the results may
be unpredictable or distorted, as that of jagged
edges.
Languages
AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 are available
for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish,
Japanese, Korean, Chinese Simplified, Chinese
Traditional and Brazilian Portuguese. Russian,
Czech, Polish, Hungarian will be available later on.
The extent of localization varies from full
translation of the product to documentation only.
The AutoCAD command set is localized as a part of
the software localization.
Extensions
AutoCAD supports a number of APIs for
customization and automation. These include
AutoLISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET and ObjectARX.
ObjectARX is a C++ class library, which was also
the base for:
a) products extending AutoCAD functionality to
specific fields;
b) creating products such as AutoCAD
Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil
3D; or
c) third-party AutoCAD-based application.
There are a large number of AutoCAD plugins (addon applications) available on the application store
Autodesk Exchange Apps. AutoCAD's DXF, drawing
exchange format, allows importing and exporting
drawing information.
Vertical integration
Autodesk has also developed a few vertical
programs (AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Civil
3D, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD ecscad, AutoCAD
Map 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP,
AutoCAD Structural Detailing, AutoCAD Utility
Design, AutoCAD P&ID and AutoCAD Plant 3D) for
discipline-specific enhancements. For example,
AutoCAD Architecture (formerly Architectural
Desktop) permits architectural designers to draw
3D objects, such as walls, doors and windows, with
more intelligent data associated with them rather
than simple objects, such as lines and circles. The
data can be programmed to represent specific
architectural products sold in the construction
industry, or extracted into a data file for pricing,
materials estimation, and other values related to
the objects represented. Additional tools generate
standard 2D drawings, such as elevations and
sections, from a 3D architectural model. Similarly,
Civil Design, Civil Design 3D, and Civil Design
Professional support data-specific objects,
facilitating easy standard civil engineering
calculations and representations. Civil 3D was
originally developed as an AutoCAD add-on by a
company in New Hampshire called Softdesk
(originally DCA). Softdesk was acquired by
Autodesk, and civil 3D was further evolved.
Variants
AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD LT is the lower cost version of AutoCAD,
with reduced capabilities, first released in
November 1993. Autodesk developed AutoCAD LT
to have an entry-level CAD package to compete in
the lower price level. AutoCAD LT, priced at $495,
became the first AutoCAD product priced below
$1000. It is sold directly by Autodesk and can also
be purchased at computer stores (unlike the full
version of AutoCAD, which must be purchased from
official Autodesk dealers).
As of the 2011 release the AutoCAD LT MSRP has
risen to $1200. While there are hundreds of small
differences between the full AutoCAD package and
AutoCAD LT, there are a few recognized major
differences in the software's features:
3D Capabilities: AutoCAD LT lacks the ability to
create, visualize and render 3D models as well
as 3D printing.
Network Licensing: AutoCAD LT cannot be used
on multiple machines over a network.
Customization: AutoCAD LT does not support
customization with LISP, ARX, and VBA.
Management and automation capabilities with
Sheet Set Manager and Action Recorder.
CAD standards management tools.
AutoCAD 360
Formerly marketed as AutoCAD WS, AutoCAD 360
is an account-based mobile and web application
enabling registered users to view, edit, and share
AutoCAD files via mobile device and web using a
limited AutoCAD feature set and using cloudstored drawing files. Having evolved from Flashbased software, AutoCAD 360 uses HTML5 browser
technology available in newer browsers including
Firefox and Google Chrome.
AutoCAD WS began with a version for the iPhone
and subsequently expanded to include versions for
the iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones, and Android
tablets. Autodesk released the iOS version in
September 2010, following with the Android
version on April 20, 2011. The program is available
via download at no cost from the App Store (iOS),
Google Play (Android) and Amazon Appstore
(Android).
In its initial iOS version, AutoCAD WS supported
drawing of lines, circles, and other shapes;
creation of text and comment boxes; and
management of color, layer, and measurements
in both landscape and portrait modes. Version 1.3,
released August 17, 2011, added support of unit
typing, layer visibility, area measurement and file
management. The Android variant includes the iOS
feature set along with such unique features as the
ability to insert text or captions by voice command
as well as manually. Both Android and iOS versions
allow the user to save files on-line or off-line in
the absence of an Internet connection.
In 2011, Autodesk announced plans to migrate the
majority of its software to "the cloud", starting
with the AutoCAD WS mobile application.
Student versions
AutoCAD is licensed, for free, to qualifying
students and teachers, with an 18-month
renewable license available. The student version of
AutoCAD is functionally identical to the full
commercial version, with one exception: DWG files
created or edited by a student version have an
internal bit-flag set (the "educational flag"). When
such a DWG file is printed by any version of
AutoCAD (commercial or student) older than
AutoCAD 2014 SP1, the output includes a plot
stamp / banner on all four sides. Objects created in
the Student Version cannot be used for commercial
use. Student Version objects "infect" a commercial
version DWG file if it is imported in older versions
than AutoCAD 2015.
The Autodesk Education Community provides
registered students and faculty with free access to
different Autodesk applications.
Civil Designer
Civil Designer is a suite of nine civil infrastructure
design modules. It began as a simple CAD package
in the early 90s and has been developed by South
African software development house Knowledge
Base Pty Ltd to service the design requirements of
the civil engineering sector. Civil Designer offers
Survey, Water, Sewer, Roads, Turn, and Storm
water modules. The Current version is Civil
Designer 2015.
Purpose
Infrastructure design package built to handle large
drawings, DTM models, multiple aerial
photographs or orthophotos, large sewer, storm
water or water network design projects.
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of
computer systems to aid in the creation,
modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.
CAD software is used to increase the productivity
of the designer, improve the quality of design,
improve communications through documentation,
and to create a database for manufacturing. CAD
output is often in the form of electronic files for
print, machining, or other manufacturing
operations.
Computer-aided design is used in many fields. Its
use in designing electronic systems is known as
electronic design automation, or EDA. In
mechanical design it is known as mechanical
design automation (MDA) or computer-aided
design (CAD), which includes the process of
creating a technical drawing with the use of
computer software.
CAD software for mechanical design uses either
vector-based graphics to depict the objects of
traditional drafting, or may also produce raster
graphics showing the overall appearance of
designed objects. However, it involves more than
just shapes. As in the manual drafting of technical
and engineering drawings, the output of CAD must
convey information, such as materials, processes,
dimensions, and tolerances, according to
application-specific conventions.
CAD may be used to design curves and figures in
two-dimensional (2D) space; or curves, surfaces,
and solids in three-dimensional (3D) space.
CAD is an important industrial art extensively used
in many applications, including automotive,
shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial
and architectural design, prosthetics, and many
more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer
animation for special effects in movies, advertising
and technical manuals, often called DCC digital
content creation. The modern ubiquity and power
of computers means that even perfume bottles and
shampoo dispensers are designed using
techniques unheard of by engineers of the 1960s.
Because of its enormous economic importance,
CAD has been a major driving force for research in
computational geometry, computer graphics (both
hardware and software), and discrete differential
geometry.
Overview of CAD Software
Starting around the mid-1970s, as computer aided
design systems began to provide more capability
than just an ability to reproduce manual drafting
with electronic drafting, the cost benefit for
companies to switch to CAD became apparent. The
benefit of CAD systems over manual drafting are
the capabilities one often takes for granted from
computer systems today; automated generation of
Bill of Material, auto layout in integrated circuits,
interference checking, and many others. Eventually
CAD provided the designer with the ability to
perform engineering calculations. During this
transition, calculations were still performed either
by hand or by those individuals who could run
computer programs. CAD was a revolutionary
change in the engineering industry, where
draftsmen, designers and engineering roles begin
to merge. It did not eliminate departments, as
much as it merged departments and empowered
draftsman, designers and engineers. CAD is just
another example of the pervasive effect computers
were beginning to have on industry. Current
computer-aided design software packages range
from 2D vector-based drafting systems to 3D solid
and surface modelers. Modern CAD packages can
also frequently allow rotations in three
dimensions, allowing viewing of a designed object
from any desired angle, even from the inside
looking out. Some CAD software is capable of
dynamic mathematical modeling, in which case it
may be marketed as CAD.
CAD technology is used in the design of tools and
machinery and in the drafting and design of all
types of buildings, from small residential types
(houses) to the largest commercial and industrial
structures (hospitals and factories).
CAD is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D
models and/or 2D drawings of physical
components, but it is also used throughout the
engineering process from conceptual design and
layout of products, through strength and dynamic
analysis of assemblies to definition of
manufacturing methods of components. It can also
be used to design objects. Furthermore, many CAD
applications now offer advanced rendering and
animation capabilities so engineers can better
visualize their product designs. 4D BIM is a type of
virtual construction engineering simulation
incorporating time or schedule related information
for project management.
CAD has become an especially important
technology within the scope of computer-aided
technologies, with benefits such as lower product
development costs and a greatly shortened design
cycle. CAD enables designers to layout and develop
work on screen, print it out and save it for future
editing, saving time on their drawings.
Uses
Computer-aided design is one of the many tools
used by engineers and designers and is used in
many ways depending on the profession of the
user and the type of software in question.
CAD is one part of the whole Digital Product
Development (DPD) activity within the Product
Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes, and as
such is used together with other tools, which are
either integrated modules or stand-alone products,
such as:
Computer-aided engineering (CAE) and Finite
element analysis (FEA)
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
including instructions to Computer Numerical
Control (CNC) machines
Photo realistic rendering and Motion
Simulation.
Document management and revision control
using Product Data Management (PDM).
CAD is also used for the accurate creation of photo
simulations that are often required in the
preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, in
which computer-aided designs of intended
buildings are superimposed into photographs of
existing environments to represent what that
locale will be like, where the proposed facilities are
allowed to be built. Potential blockage of view
corridors and shadow studies are also frequently
analyzed through the use of CAD.
CAD has been proven to be useful to engineers as
well. Using four properties which are history,
features, parameterization, and high level
constraints. The construction history can be used
to look back into the model's personal features and
work on the single area rather than the whole
model. Parameters and constraints can be used to
determine the size, shape, and other properties of
the different modeling elements. The features in
the CAD system can be used for the variety of tools
for measurement such as tensile strength, yield
strength, electrical or electro-magnetic properties.
Also its stress, strain, timing or how the element
gets affected in certain temperatures, etc.
Types
There are several different types of CAD, each
requiring the operator to think differently about
how to use them and design their virtual
components in a different manner for each.
There are many producers of the lower-end 2D
systems, including a number of free and open
source programs. These provide an approach to
the drawing process without all the fuss over scale
and placement on the drawing sheet that
accompanied hand drafting, since these can be
adjusted as required during the creation of the
final draft.
3D wireframe is basically an extension of 2D
drafting (not often used today). Each line has to be
manually inserted into the drawing. The final
product has no mass properties associated with it
and cannot have features directly added to it, such
as holes. The operator approaches these in a
similar fashion to the 2D systems, although many
3D systems allow using the wireframe model to
make the final engineering drawing views.
3D "dumb" solids are created in a way analogous to
manipulations of real world objects (not often used
today). Basic three-dimensional geometric forms
(prisms, cylinders, spheres, and so on) have solid
volumes added or subtracted from them, as if
assembling or cutting real-world objects. Twodimensional projected views can easily be
generated from the models. Basic 3D solids don't
usually include tools to easily allow motion of
components, set limits to their motion, or identify
interference between components.
There are two types of 3D Solid Modeling
[Link] modeling allows the operator to use
what is referred to as "design intent". The
objects and features created are modifiable.
Any future modifications can be made by
changing how the original part was created. If
a feature was intended to be located from the
center of the part, the operator should locate it
from the center of the model. The feature
could be located using any geometric object
already available in the part, but this random
placement would defeat the design intent. If
the operator designs the part as it functions
the parametric modeler is able to make
changes to the part while maintaining
geometric and functional relationships.
[Link] or Explicit modeling provide the ability
to edit geometry without a history tree. With
direct modeling once a sketch is used to create
geometry the sketch is incorporated into the
new geometry and the designer just modifies
the geometry without needing the original
sketch. As with parametric modeling, direct
modeling has the ability to include
relationships between selected geometry (e.g.,
tangency, concentricity).
Top end systems offer the capabilities to
incorporate more organic, aesthetics and
ergonomic features into designs. Freeform surface
modeling is often combined with solids to allow the
designer to create products that fit the human
form and visual requirements as well as they
interface with the machine.
Technology
Originally hardware for Computer-Aided Design
systems was developed with computer languages
such as FORTRAN, ALGOL but with the
advancement of object-oriented programming
methods this has radically changed. Typical
modern parametric feature based modeler and
freeform surface systems are built around a
number of key C modules with their own APIs. A
CAD system can be seen as built up from the
interaction of a graphical user interface (GUI) with
NURBS geometry and/or boundary representation
(B-rep) data via a geometric modeling kernel. A
geometry constraint engine may also be employed
to manage the associative relationships between
geometry, such as wireframe geometry in a sketch
or components in an assembly.
Unexpected capabilities of these associative
relationships have led to a new form of prototyping
called digital prototyping. In contrast to physical
prototypes, which entail manufacturing time in the
design. That said, CAD models can be generated by
a computer after the physical prototype has been
scanned using an industrial CT scanning machine.
Depending on the nature of the business, digital or
physical prototypes can be initially chosen
according to specific needs.
Today, CAD systems exist for all the major
platforms (Windows, Linux, UNIX and Mac OS X);
some packages even support multiple platforms.
Right now, no special hardware is required for
most CAD software. However, some CAD systems
can do graphically and computationally intensive
tasks, so a modern graphics card, high speed (and
possibly multiple) CPUs and large amounts of RAM
may be recommended.
The human-machine interface is generally via a
computer mouse but can also be via a pen and
digitizing graphics tablet. Manipulation of the view
of the model on the screen is also sometimes done
with the use of a Space mouse/SpaceBall. Some
systems also support stereoscopic glasses for
model. Technologies which in the past were limited
to larger installations or specialist applications
have become available to a wide group of users.
These include the CAVE or HMD`s and interactive
devices like motion-sensing technology
Open Source CAD Software
A continuing education unit (CEU) or continuing
education credit (CEC) is a measure used in
continuing education programs, particularly those
required in a licensed profession, for the
professional to maintain the license. Examples of
people who need CEUs include teachers, interior
designers/interior architects, lighting designers,
architects, engineers, emergency management
professionals, school administrators, educators,
nurses, mental health professionals, and social
workers. Generally, a CEU is defined as ten hours
of participation in a recognized continuing
education program, with qualified instruction and
sponsorship. CEU records are widely used to
provide evidence of completion of continuing
education requirements mandated by certification
bodies, professional societies, or governmental
licensing boards. The records also provide
employers with information on training pertinent
to particular occupations.
The term CEU is in the public domain. Any
organization may award a traditional CEU without
requiring any accreditation. With a traditional CEU
an employer or other organization must decide on
an individual basis whether to honor the CEU from
training providers.
Drafter
A drafter, draughtsman (British English) or
draftsman (American English) is a person who
prepares technical drawings and plans under the
direction of an architect or engineer. It should be
noted that a Drafter is not the same as a Designer
and likewise, Designer is not an Americanism for
Drafter. This can be difficult to comprehend to
some older drafters who have limited experience in
modern practices.
Overview
In the past, drafters sat at drawing boards and
used pencils, pens, compasses, protractors,
triangles, and other drafting devices to prepare a
drawing by hand. From the 1980s through 1990s it
seemed like board drawings were going out of
style as the newly developed computer-aided
design (CAD) system was released and was able to
produce technical drawings at a faster pace. But,
board drafting still remains the base of the CAD
system. Consequently, some drafters may be
referred to as CAD operators.
With CAD systems, drafters can create and store
drawings electronically so that they can be viewed,
printed, or programmed directly into automated
manufacturing systems. CAD systems also permit
drafters to quickly prepare variations of a design.
Although drafters use CAD extensively, it is only a
tool. Drafters still need knowledge of traditional
drafting techniques, in addition to CAD skills.
Despite the near global use of CAD systems,
manual drafting and sketching are used in certain
applications.
Drafters drawings provide visual guidelines and
show how to construct a product or structure.
Drawings include technical details and specify
dimensions, materials, and procedures. Drafters fill
in technical details using drawings, rough
sketches, specifications, and calculations made by
engineers, surveyors, architects, or scientists. For
example, drafters use their knowledge of
standardized building techniques to draw in the
details of a structure. Some use their
understanding of engineering and manufacturing
theory and standards to draw the parts of a
machine; they determine design elements, such as
the numbers and kinds of fasteners needed to
assemble the machine. Drafters use technical
handbooks, tables, calculators, and computers to
complete their work.
Specialties
Drafting work has many specialties such as:
Aeronautical drafters prepare engineering
drawings detailing plans and specifications
used in the manufacture of aircraft, missiles,
and related parts.
Architectural drafters draw architectural and
structural features of buildings and other
structures. These workers may specialize in a
type of structure, such as residential or
commercial, or in a kind of material used, such
as reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, or
timber.
Civil drafters prepare drawings and
topographical and relief maps used in major
construction or civil engineering projects such
as buildings, highways, bridges, pipelines,
flood control projects, and water and sewage
systems.
Electrical drafters prepare wiring and layout
diagrams used by workers who erect, install,
and repair electrical equipment and wiring in
communication centers, power plants,
electrical distribution systems, and buildings.
Electronics drafters draw wiring diagrams,
circuit board assembly diagrams, schematics,
and layout drawings used in the manufacture,
installation, and repair of electronic devices
and components.
Mechanical drafters prepare drawings showing
the detail and assembly of a wide variety of
machinery and mechanical devices, indicating
dimensions, fastening methods, and other
requirements.
Process piping or pipeline drafters prepare
drawings used in the layout, construction, and
operation of oil and gas fields, refineries,
chemical plants, and process piping systems.
Photovoltaic drafters prepare drawings
showing inverter Pad location drawings and
slab construction drawings, also prepare
specific photovoltaic system assembly details
and some wiring diagrams.
Work environment
Drafters usually work in offices, seated at
adjustable drawing boards or drafting tables when
doing manual drawings, although modern drafters
work at computer terminals much of the time.
Because they spend long periods in front of
computers doing detailed work, drafters may be
susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and
hand and wrist problems. Most drafters work
standard 40-hour weeks; only a small number work
part-time.
Education and training
High school courses in mathematics, science,
computer technology, design, computer graphics,
and, where available, drafting are useful for people
considering a drafting career. Employers prefer
applicants who have also completed training after
high school at a technical institute, community
college, or four-year college or university.
The kind and quality of drafting training programs
vary considerably, in terms of the kinds of jobs
their graduates get, the type and condition of
instructional facilities and equipment, and teacher
qualifications.
Technical institutes offer intensive technical
training, but they provide a less general education
than do community colleges. either certificates or
diplomas may be awarded. Many technical
institutes offer two-year associate degree
programs, which are similar to, or part of, the
programs offered by community colleges or state
university systems. Their programs vary
considerably in length and in the type of courses
offered. Some public vocational-technical schools
serve local students and emphasize the type of
training preferred by local employers. Most require
a high school diploma or its equivalent for
admission. Other technical institutes are run by
private, often for-profit, organizations sometimes
called proprietary schools.
Softree Technical Systems
Softree Technologies is a North Vancouver, BC based
company that develops software for the forestry, civil
engineering, and energy industries.
Road Engineering
RoadEng is the original software program
developed by Softree Technologies, with early
adopters including government agencies like the
USDA Forest Service. Early versions of the software
had three modules: road notes (where a surveyor
enters their field notes), grade design, and plan
view. The program is a forest-road-design system,
that allows people to easily determine where the
best extraction paths would be for timber or other
wilderness-based primary resources, especially the
alignment of the roads needed for the extraction of
the resource and the insertion of the machinery
needed to extract it. It utilizes 3D approximations
of the environment and allows individuals to preplan their projects. It is able to accept data
produced by hand by surveyors, or produce
approximations based upon other variables.
Terrain Tools
Terrain Tools is a civil engineering software
product that is available for professional
engineers, but also targets the user base of
individual researchers or small budget groups with
a freeware version of its software. It accepts
survey data into its program, in order to plot
coordinates visually and statistically for the user.
Softree Optimal
Softree Optimal is a mathematical technique to
automatically determine the lowest cost vertical
alignment for corridor based infrastructure
projects such as roads, pipelines and railways. It
was developed by the University of B.C. and
Softree Technical Systems Inc. in 2012 based on a
Mixed (Integer programming) model.
SoftreeOptimal accounts for excavation, grading
and material movement costs while matching user
criteria such as design speed, cross section
configuration, and horizontal alignment,
SoftreeOptimal uses a new (patent pending)
mathematical optimization methodology which
guarantees optimality, while accounting for
detailed design conditions.
HEC-RAS
HEC-RAS is a computer program that models the
hydraulics of water flow through natural rivers and
other channels. The program is one-dimensional,
meaning that there is no direct modeling of the
hydraulic effect of cross section shape changes,
bends, and other two- and three-dimensional
aspects of flow. The program was developed by the
US Department of Defense, Army Corps of
Engineers in order to manage the rivers, harbors,
and other public works under their jurisdiction; it
has found wide acceptance by many others since
its public release in 1995.
How it works
The basic computational procedure of HEC-RAS for
steady flow is based on the solution of the onedimensional energy equation. Energy losses are
evaluated by friction and contraction / expansion.
The momentum equation may be used in situations
where the water surface profile is rapidly varied.
These situations include hydraulic jumps,
hydraulics of bridges, and evaluating profiles at
river confluences.
HEC-RAS is equipped to model a network of
channels, a dendritic system or a single river
reach. Certain simplifications must be made in
order to model some complex flow situations using
the HEC-RAS one-dimensional approach. It is
capable of modeling subcritical, supercritical, and
mixed flow regime flow along with the effects of
bridges, culverts, weirs, and structures.
Use
HEC-RAS is a computer program for modeling
water flowing through systems of open channels
and computing water surface profiles. HEC-RAS
finds particular commercial application in
floodplain management and flood insurance
studies to evaluate floodway encroachments. Some
of the additional uses are: bridge and culvert
design and analysis, levee studies, and channel
modification studies. It can be used for dam breach
analysis, though other modeling methods are
presently more widely accepted for this purpose.
Advantages
HEC-RAS has merits, notably its support by the US
Army Corps of Engineers, the future enhancements
in progress, and its acceptance by many
government agencies and private firms. It is in the
public domain and peer-reviewed, and available to
download free of charge from HEC's web site.
Various private companies are registered as official
"vendors" and offer consulting support and add on
software. Some also distribute the software in
countries that are not permitted to access US Army
web sites. However, the direct download from HEC
includes extensive documentation, and scientists
and engineers versed in hydraulic analysis should
have little difficulty utilizing the software.
Disadvantages
Users may find numerical instability problems
during unsteady analyses, especially in steep
and/or highly dynamic rivers and streams. It is
often possible to use HEC-RAS to overcome
instability issues on river problems. HEC-RAS is a
1-dimensional hydrodynamic model and will
therefore not work well in environments that
require multi-dimensional modeling. However,
there are built-in features that can be used to
approximate multi-dimensional hydraulics.
HEC-RAS programs
Aquaterra
Aquaterra is a professional software for canals and
river engineering works design. Seamless
integration in CAD environment makes it very easy
to learn and use. Engineers use Aquaterra to
create detailed designs as well as for conceptual
studies and designs. HEC-RAS interface is intended
for communication between CAD environment and
HEC-RAS. This module prepares the HEC-RAS
geometric input file based on cross sections, banks
and Manning coefficient data and transfers the
resulting water levels back to Aquaterra.
ArcView
HEC-RAS can also be used in the GIS program
ArcView (With 3-D analyst and Spatial Analyst
extensions). ArcView can read-in AutoCAD
drawings for backgrounds and can create a Digital
Terrain Model (DTM). In a similar way to river CAD,
Geo-RAS can be used to create cross sections and
other geometric data for use in HEC-RAS and can
be used to export water surface data from HECRAS back into ArcView to create flood maps with
depths and extents of flooding.
RAS
HEC-RAS has a dll library that allows you to create
an application for use without a user interface.
This dll proved to be useful for advanced analysis
such as Monte Carlo uncertainty. The freeware
application ARAS takes advantage of such
capability, and allows to automate several tasks
like running several plans of updating roughness.
"RAS" River Analysis System.
AutoCAD
HEC-RAS can be used along with AutoCAD. A digital
terrain model (DTM) can be constructed in
AutoCAD and sections can be cut from the DTM and
imported into HEC-RAS.
WMS (Watershed Modeling System)
WMS (Watershed Modeling System) provides pre
and post-processing tools for use with HEC-RAS.
The development of WMS was funded primarily by
The United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Commercial licenses to WMS are available from the
developer, Aquaveo LLC. Features include:
Use feature objects (centerline, cross section
lines) and a TIN to develop the geometry of a
HEC-RAS model.
Edit, merge, and create cross sections in a
database for use with HEC-RAS and other
hydraulic models.
Delineate flood plains from water surface
elevation data. Water surface elevations can
be computed by HEC-RAS, defined
interactively, or imported from a file.
Link multiple simulations of HEC-1 to HEC-RAS
to determine the uncertainty in modeling
parameters on a delineated flood plain. Curve
Number and Precipitation can be stochastically
varied among HEC-1 parameters and Manning's
n value for HEC-RAS.