Linking HMS to HEC-RAS

Quick Start

from hms_commander import init_hms_project, HmsCmdr, HmsResults, HmsGeo

# 1. Execute HMS simulation
init_hms_project("watershed")
HmsCmdr.compute_run("Design_Storm")

# 2. Extract flow hydrograph for RAS
dss_file = hms.run_df.loc["Design_Storm", "dss_file"]
flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, "Watershed_Outlet")

# 3. Document outlet location for spatial matching
lat, lon = HmsGeo.get_project_centroid_latlon("project.geo")
print(f"Outlet location: {lat:.4f}°N, {lon:.4f}°W")

# 4. Handoff to RAS engineer
print(f"DSS file: {dss_file}")
print(f"Pathname: /BASIN/WATERSHED_OUTLET/FLOW/15MIN/DESIGN_STORM/")
print(f"Peak flow: {flows['Flow'].max()} cfs")

Primary Sources

Code:

• hms_commander/HmsResults.py

  - Flow extraction

• hms_commander/HmsDss.py

  - DSS operations (wraps RasDss)

• hms_commander/HmsGeo.py

  - Spatial reference

Integration: Uses

ras_commander.RasDss

for shared DSS infrastructure

Rules:

.claude/rules/integration/hms-ras-linking.md

- Complete workflow

Cross-Reference:

ras-commander/.claude/skills/importing-hms-boundaries/

- RAS side

When to Use This Skill

• Setting up integrated HMS→RAS modeling workflows
• Exporting HMS hydrographs for RAS boundary conditions
• Preparing upstream boundary conditions from watershed analysis
• Coordinating watershed-to-river models
• Validating HMS results before handoff to RAS
• Documenting spatial reference for outlet matching

Workflow Overview

HEC-HMS (Watershed)          HEC-RAS (River)
    ↓                            ↓
1. Precipitation             Geometry
    ↓                            ↓
2. Runoff Generation     ←── 5. Import HMS Flows
    ↓                            ↓
3. DSS Output           6. Hydraulic Analysis
    ↓                            ↓
4. Extract & Validate    Flood Inundation

HMS Responsibilities (this skill):

1. Execute watershed simulation
2. Generate runoff hydrographs
3. Export to DSS format
4. Extract flows for validation
5. Document spatial reference
6. Validate quality before handoff

RAS Responsibilities (see ras-commander):

• Import DSS as boundary condition
• Spatial matching (HMS outlet → RAS cross section)
• Time series alignment
• Hydraulic analysis

Core Capabilities

1. Flow Hydrograph Extraction

from hms_commander import HmsResults

# Extract single outlet
flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, "Outlet")
# Returns: DataFrame with datetime index, flow in cfs

# Extract multiple tributaries
tributaries = ["Trib_A", "Trib_B", "Trib_C"]
for trib in tributaries:
    flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, trib)
    print(f"{trib}: Peak = {flows['Flow'].max()} cfs")

See:

extracting-dss-results

skill for complete extraction capabilities

2. Spatial Reference Documentation

from hms_commander import HmsGeo

# Get project centroid (general reference)
lat, lon = HmsGeo.get_project_centroid_latlon("project.geo", crs_epsg="EPSG:2278")

# Export subbasin boundaries to GeoJSON
HmsGeo.export_all_geojson(
    basin_path="project.basin",
    output_dir="geojson",
    geo_path="project.geo"
)
# Creates: geojson/subbasins.geojson
# RAS engineer can view in GIS to match outlets → cross sections

Critical: RAS engineer needs outlet locations to spatially match HMS→RAS

3. DSS Pathname Format

HMS uses standard DSS pathname:

/A/B/C/D/E/F/

Parts:

• A: Basin name
• B: Element name (outlet, junction, reach)
• C: Parameter (FLOW)
• D: Time interval (15MIN, 1HOUR)
• E: Run name
• F: Version (blank)

Example:

/WATERSHED/OUTLET/FLOW/15MIN/100YR/

from hms_commander import HmsDss

# Parse pathname
parts = HmsDss.parse_dss_pathname("/WATERSHED/OUTLET/FLOW/15MIN/100YR/")
# Returns: {'basin': 'WATERSHED', 'element': 'OUTLET', ...}

# Create pathname
pathname = HmsDss.create_dss_pathname(
    basin="WATERSHED",
    element="Outlet",
    param_type="FLOW",
    interval="15MIN"
)

See:

.claude/rules/integration/hms-ras-linking.md

for pathname details

4. Quality Validation

Before handing off to RAS:

from hms_commander import HmsResults

# Check peak flows
peaks = HmsResults.get_peak_flows(dss_file)
assert all(peaks["Peak Flow (cfs)"] > 0), "Negative peaks!"

# Check volume conservation
volumes = HmsResults.get_volume_summary(dss_file)
precip_vol = volumes["Precipitation Volume (ac-ft)"].sum()
runoff_vol = volumes["Runoff Volume (ac-ft)"].sum()
loss_ratio = 1 - (runoff_vol / precip_vol)
print(f"Loss ratio: {loss_ratio:.1%}")  # Should be 20-70%

# Check time series completeness
flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, "Outlet")
assert flows.notna().all().all(), "Missing data!"

Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Single Watershed Outlet → RAS Upstream BC

Complete Example:

from hms_commander import init_hms_project, HmsCmdr, HmsResults, HmsGeo, hms

# === HMS SIDE ===

# 1. Execute watershed simulation
init_hms_project(r"C:\Projects\Watershed")
HmsCmdr.compute_run("100yr_Storm")

# 2. Extract results
dss_file = hms.run_df.loc["100yr_Storm", "dss_file"]
outlet_flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, "Watershed_Outlet")

# 3. Validate quality
peaks = HmsResults.get_peak_flows(dss_file)
peak_flow = peaks.loc["Watershed_Outlet", "Peak Flow (cfs)"]
peak_time = peaks.loc["Watershed_Outlet", "Time to Peak"]
print(f"Peak: {peak_flow} cfs at {peak_time}")

# 4. Document spatial reference
lat, lon = HmsGeo.get_project_centroid_latlon("Watershed.geo", crs_epsg="EPSG:2278")
HmsGeo.export_all_geojson("Watershed.basin", "geojson", "Watershed.geo")

# 5. Prepare handoff documentation
print(f"""
HMS Results Ready for RAS Import
=================================
DSS File: {dss_file}
Pathname: /WATERSHED/WATERSHED_OUTLET/FLOW/15MIN/100YR_STORM/
Outlet Location: {lat:.4f}°N, {lon:.4f}°W
Peak Flow: {peak_flow} cfs
Time to Peak: {peak_time}
GeoJSON: geojson/subbasins.geojson (view in GIS for spatial matching)

Next Step: RAS engineer imports as upstream boundary condition
""")

# === RAS SIDE (informational, see ras-commander) ===
# 1. Open RAS project
# 2. Import DSS file as upstream boundary condition
# 3. Spatially match outlet location to RAS cross section
# 4. Validate time series alignment
# 5. Run hydraulic analysis

See:

examples/single-outlet-to-ras.md

for complete walkthrough

Workflow 2: Multiple Tributaries → Multiple RAS BCs

# Extract flows for multiple tributaries
tributaries = ["North_Fork", "South_Fork", "West_Branch"]

for trib in tributaries:
    flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, trib)
    peak = flows['Flow'].max()
    print(f"{trib}: Peak = {peak} cfs")
    # Each becomes separate RAS upstream BC

See:

examples/multiple-tributaries.md

for complete example

Workflow 3: Internal Junctions → RAS Lateral Inflows

from hms_commander import HmsBasin

# Get all junctions in basin model
junctions = HmsBasin.get_junctions("project.basin")

# Extract flows at each junction
for junction in junctions.index:
    flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, junction)
    # Each junction becomes lateral inflow in RAS

See:

examples/lateral-inflows.md

for complete example

Cross-Tool Integration

Shared DSS Infrastructure

Both HMS and RAS use RasDss:

from hms_commander import HmsDss

# HmsDss wraps ras_commander.RasDss
if HmsDss.is_available():
    catalog = HmsDss.get_catalog(dss_file)
    flows = HmsDss.read_timeseries(dss_file, pathname)

Why This Matters:

• RAS can directly read HMS DSS files (same Java bridge)
• No format conversion needed
• Consistent operations across tools

See:

.claude/rules/hec-hms/dss-operations.md

for DSS integration details

Time Step Compatibility

HMS: Typically 15-minute or 1-hour intervals RAS: Computation interval set in unsteady flow plan

Recommendations:

• Urban watersheds: 15-minute HMS interval
• Large rural watersheds: 1-hour HMS interval
• RAS can interpolate, but matching intervals preferred

Units Consistency

HMS: CFS (cubic feet per second) - standard RAS: CFS (cubic feet per second) - standard

✅ Units match - no conversion needed

Coordinate Systems

Critical: Both must use same coordinate system

# Ensure HMS uses same CRS as RAS project
lat, lon = HmsGeo.get_project_centroid_latlon(
    "project.geo",
    crs_epsg="EPSG:2278"  # Match RAS project CRS
)

Quality Checks

Pre-Handoff Validation

def validate_hms_results_for_ras(dss_file, outlet_name):
    """Validate HMS results before RAS import."""
    from hms_commander import HmsResults

    # 1. Check peak flows are positive
    peaks = HmsResults.get_peak_flows(dss_file)
    assert peaks.loc[outlet_name, "Peak Flow (cfs)"] > 0, "Zero or negative peak!"

    # 2. Check volume conservation
    volumes = HmsResults.get_volume_summary(dss_file)
    precip_vol = volumes["Precipitation Volume (ac-ft)"].sum()
    runoff_vol = volumes["Runoff Volume (ac-ft)"].sum()
    loss_ratio = 1 - (runoff_vol / precip_vol)
    assert 0.2 <= loss_ratio <= 0.7, f"Unrealistic loss ratio: {loss_ratio:.1%}"

    # 3. Check time series has no gaps
    flows = HmsResults.get_outflow_timeseries(dss_file, outlet_name)
    assert flows.notna().all().all(), "Missing data in time series!"

    # 4. Check reasonable flow values
    assert flows["Flow"].min() >= 0, "Negative flows detected!"

    print("✅ HMS results validated for RAS import")
    return True

See:

reference/quality-checks.md

for complete validation procedures

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: RAS Can't Find DSS File

Symptom: RAS reports "DSS file not found"

Solution: Provide absolute path or copy DSS to RAS project folder

import shutil
shutil.copy(hms_dss_file, ras_project_folder)

Issue 2: Spatial Mismatch

Symptom: Uncertain which RAS cross section matches HMS outlet

Solution: Export HMS boundaries to GeoJSON, view in GIS alongside RAS geometry

HmsGeo.export_all_geojson("basin.basin", "geojson", "project.geo")
# Open geojson/subbasins.geojson in QGIS/ArcGIS with RAS geometry

Issue 3: Time Series Gaps

Symptom: HMS results have missing timesteps

Solution: Check HMS log file, re-run with shorter time interval

# Check for computation errors in HMS log
log_file = hms.project_folder / "RUN_Design_Storm.log"
print(log_file.read_text())

Reference Files

Detailed Documentation (load on-demand):

• reference/dss-pathname-format.md

  - Complete pathname structure

• reference/spatial-matching.md

  - GIS-based outlet matching

• reference/quality-checks.md

  - Validation procedures

• reference/time-alignment.md

  - Time step compatibility

Complete Examples:

• examples/single-outlet-to-ras.md

  - Basic workflow

• examples/multiple-tributaries.md

  - Multiple upstream BCs

• examples/lateral-inflows.md

  - Internal junction flows

• examples/qaqc-checklist.md

  - Pre-handoff validation

Integration Points

Before This Skill:

• Execute HMS simulation (see

  executing-hms-runs

  skill)
• Validate basin model (see

  parsing-basin-models

  skill)
• Update precipitation if needed (see

  updating-met-models

  skill)

After This Skill:

• RAS imports boundary conditions (see

  ras-commander/.claude/skills/importing-hms-boundaries/

  )
• RAS runs hydraulic analysis
• Compare HMS peaks vs RAS peaks (QAQC)

Related Skills

• executing-hms-runs - Generate HMS results
• extracting-dss-results - Extract and validate flows
• parsing-basin-models - Understand watershed structure

Cross-Repository:

• ras-commander/importing-hms-boundaries - RAS side of workflow
• hms-ras-workflow-coordinator (subagent) - Coordinates both sides

Future Automation

Potential: Production task agent for end-to-end linking

Would Automate:

1. Extract HMS hydrographs from DSS
2. Spatial matching (HMS outlets → RAS cross sections)
3. Import to RAS boundary conditions
4. Validate alignment (peak, volume, timing)
5. Generate QAQC report

Status: Documented in planning, not yet implemented

See:

hms_agents/HMS_to_RAS_Linker/

(placeholder for future)

---

Navigation: This skill covers the HMS side of HMS→RAS integration. For the RAS side, see

ras-commander/.claude/skills/importing-hms-boundaries/

. For coordinated workflows, use the

hms-ras-workflow-coordinator

subagent.