Stormwater Software

Professional Engineer & PE Exam Forum

Help Support Professional Engineer & PE Exam Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
R

rktman

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
112
Reaction score
5
I am trying to decide on our next software purchase. We need something that can do Stormcad type calcs, but I really don't like what Bentley has done to the interface (if it's anything like WaterCad). So out of curiosity, what do you all use on a daily basis (not including Hec-1, HMS, RAS, etc)?

Thanks.

 
WinTR20 is the go to program for SCS methodology, although it does not have a real user friendly interface. Hydraflow Hydrographs (now part of Civil 3d since they got bought out by autodesk) is a good all around program which can run many different models for routing, Tc comps and complex addhyd's. The problem here is that you need to buy Civil 3D to access it now. Additionally, if you have complex outlet structures this may not be the best program since you are kind of limited on how it computes the discharge curve.

Other regional models such as VTPSUHM which is based upon PennDOT IDF curves uses the universal rational methodology to generate a volume for a rational routing, can be used.

I was never a fan of HydroCAD/waterCAD or any of the Bentley programs, I found them overly complex and the results always slightly off.

 
Some day, I will have to pull the trigger on C3D but hopefully not today. I do most small site development work. In my experience it's just not geared for the small civil firm. Maybe I can find an old version of the Hydraflow that is independent. Thanks.

 
My current firm is only 25 people ... much smaller than my previous company. We are actually Beta testers for AutoDesk so we get the latest and greatest C3D every year.

 
Are you doing small site drainage studies? Someone else mentioned Hydraflow Hydrographs... but its not worth the cost if it requires a Civil 3D license. And if you are doing small sites, what is wrong with hand calcs or excel?

Anything of significance, I would say Hec-HMS or SWMM. Just because its free, doesn't mean its not a great piece of software. Most watershed studies use HMS and RAS.

 
I do use HMS, RAS, HEC-1, spreadsheets for runoff calcs.

My original question was for Storm Inlet type calcs where a spreadsheet can get overly tedious and kill productive time. Just because its free, doesn't mean it's the best use of my time.

 
Hydraflow Stormsewers ... or excel, depends on how complex the syste, is and whether HGL comps have to be done a certain way.

 
Bentley completely destroyed StormCAD...we just upgraded to the new Bentley version because the Haestad version will not run on Windows 7.

I've given up using the Bentley version of StormCAD. They took what used to be a fairly stright-forward program and made it so difficult to use.

What did you end up going with? I have an old version of Hydraflow Storm Sewers sitting in my desk, I'll probably start using that.

My biggest fear is that Bentley buys out HydroCAD, and destroys that awesome program.

 
When I was in the private sector doing a lot of stormwater work for residential/commercial developments I developed my own Excel spreadsheet that worked really well. Just go in the first sheet and put in your catchbasin ID's and what is going to them, i.e. area, coefficient, etc. On the second page you just put in the system and the length and slope of the run and it figures everything else out and sticks it in the chart for you. If there were runs coming into a catchbasin from different directions it would actually pick that up and add in the flow from everything coming into the catchbasin when making it's calculations. It was one of those things I tweaked over time to the point that it became a pretty serious deal. At various times some of the senior engineers wanted me to show them how I did it since it worked so well, but they gave up after a few minutes and just accepted the fact that it worked.

Although the nice thing about McKeonCAD is that you only need a Ti-30. The bad news is you need to have an I.Q. of 147.

 
mikedee said:
Bentley completely destroyed StormCAD...we just upgraded to the new Bentley version because the Haestad version will not run on Windows 7.

I've given up using the Bentley version of StormCAD. They took what used to be a fairly stright-forward program and made it so difficult to use.

What did you end up going with? I have an old version of Hydraflow Storm Sewers sitting in my desk, I'll probably start using that.

My biggest fear is that Bentley buys out HydroCAD, and destroys that awesome program.
Click to expand...
Thank you for confirming. That's exactly what I was talking about. Bentley turned an awesome and intuitive program into a piece of crap.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
rktman said:
mikedee said:
Bentley completely destroyed StormCAD...we just upgraded to the new Bentley version because the Haestad version will not run on Windows 7.

I've given up using the Bentley version of StormCAD. They took what used to be a fairly stright-forward program and made it so difficult to use.

What did you end up going with? I have an old version of Hydraflow Storm Sewers sitting in my desk, I'll probably start using that.

My biggest fear is that Bentley buys out HydroCAD, and destroys that awesome program.
Click to expand...
Thank you for confirming. That's exactly what I was talking about. Bentley turned an awesome and intuitive program into a piece of crap.
Click to expand...
+1

 
Although the nice thing about McKeonCAD is that you only need a Ti-30. The bad news is you need to have an I.Q. of 147.
Click to expand...
That program is downright nasty to the user. I'm sure it would be the industry standard if it didn't have so many issues.

WOW ... I dont do work in Florida and have never heard of the program. Where can I download a copy?
Click to expand...
It ain't cheap, and I'll try to find a link for you, but if you want be wowed, check it out.

 
VTEnviro said:
bradlelf said:
VTEnviro said:
I think McKeonCAD is the best stormwater software out there.
Click to expand...
What is McKeonCAD ... link?
Click to expand...
You've never used it? It's the state stormwater modeling system of Florida. Very prestigious program, but geared towards experts in that field.
Click to expand...
State stormwater modeling system of Florida? I've been doing stormwater work in FL for 12 years and have never even heard of it that's how prestigious it is.

ASAD, HydraFlow, and ICPR are the top stormwater modeling programs for transportation drainage, site civil, and watershed modeling in the State of FL. Bridge hydraulics, water quality or groundwater, then you're looking at SWMM, HEC HMS/RAS.

I would look into ASAD or even an ICPR license, both will be within your budget.

 

Similar threads

jgerber
Environmental vs Civil WR&E
Replies
2
Views
2K
dougL
D
B
Albemarle is hiring a Project Manager, Engineering in Houston, TX
Replies
0
Views
630
btbsilent
B
D
Wanted Here is Practical Explanation about Next Life, Purpose of Human Life, philosophical/religious facts, theories etc.
Replies
0
Views
531
divisprk
D
R
Passed PE Civil Construction and here's my advice
Replies
1
Views
3K
ptatohed
ptatohed
R
Passed PE Civil Construction and here's my advice.
Replies
1
Views
6K
ptatohed
ptatohed

Latest posts

Back
Top