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HEC-HMS Calibration steps: (Auto-Calibration) Binod Bhatta Model Calibration

Method · October 2018

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Binod Bhatta
Asian Institute of Technology
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Model Calibration
The model simulated discharges and observed discharges show a significant amount of bias or
difference. This is because, different parameters of the watershed are not assessed correctly. We
need to find out the appropriate values of parameters that influence the hydrology of the watershed.
This is called model calibration. There are three ways of optimizing model parameters.
Manual Calibration with Trial and Error:
Assign parameter values, run the model, compare simulated and observed hydrographs, and check
performance indicators (NS, PBIAS etc.). If the performance is satisfactory, then accept otherwise
repeat the process.
Automatic Calibration with Optimization Trials:
The optimization process begins with initial parameter estimates and adjusts them so that the
simulated flows match the observed flows as closely as possible. Most parameters for methods
included in subbasin and reach elements can be estimated automatically using optimization trials.
Observed discharge must be available for at least one element before optimization can begin.
Parameters at any element upstream of the observed flow location can be estimated. Seven
different objective functions are available to estimate the goodness-of-fit between the computed
results and observed discharge. Two different search methods can be used to minimize the
objective function. Constraints can be imposed to restrict the parameter space of the search method.
This could be done by creating Optimization Trial in HEC-HMS as follows.
STEP 1: Click Compute  Create Optimization Trial
STEP 2: Provide Name or accept default, Click Next
STEP 3: Choose the correct Basin Model and Click Next
STEP 4: Choose the correct element (subbasin or reach) for which parameters need optimization
and Click Next
STEP 5: Choose the correct Meteorologic Model and Click Finish
STEP 6: Under the Compute tab, expand the Optimization Trials tree
STEP 7: Expand the Trial tree and Click on Correct_Hkamti, fill in Start Date, Start Time, End
Date, End Time and Select correct Time Interval as below. We will select calibration
period to optimize model parameters.
STEP 8: Click on Objective Function, Select Method (Nash Sutcliffe), Location (Hkamti in this
case), Missing Flow (10%) as below.

STEP 9: Right click on the Correct_Hkamti you just created and click Add Parameter (repeat this
step until you have as many parameters as needed)
STEP 10: Click on Parameter 1
STEP 11: Under the Parameter 1 tab, choose your basin under the element drop down menu.
STEP 12: Under the Parameter 1 tab, choose the parameter you want to optimize under the
Parameter drop down menu
STEP 13: Under the Parameter 1 tab, choose “No” under the Locked drop down menu, and choose
appropriate values for the Initial Value, Minimum, and Maximum
STEP 14: Repeat Steps 10-13 for all the parameters added
STEP 15: Right click on the trial Correct_Hkamti and click Compute. When the computation is
finished, Click Close.
STEP 16: Click the Results tab
STEP 17: Expand the Optimization Trials tree
STEP 18: Expand the Correct_Hkamti tree and select Hydrograph comparison

STEP 19: Click on Objective Function to view the improvement in the objective function (Nash
Sutcliffe in this case)’s value.
(Note the improvement in value of NSE for Hkamti. It has gone up from -3.1 to -2.65 within 20
iterations)
STEP 20: Click Optimized parameters to see the values set before and after optimization. You can
see the sensitivity of parameters as well.

(Note that storage coefficient is negatively sensitive to the objective function set)
STEP 20: Check Results for watershed and junction elements. Repeat the process to get best
parameter values.
Calibration Aids:
Elements with observed data in the basin model can be designated as computation points so that
manual calibration could be done using the slider bars to adjust parameter values upstream of the
computation points.
There are two ways to select an element as computation point. The first way is to click on the
element in the Basin Model Map window using the right mouse button and choose the Select
Computation Point command. An element selected as a computation point shows a small red
circle added to the icon in the Basin Model Map window and in the Watershed Explorer.

The second way to select an element as a computation point is by using the Computation Point
Manager window. Click on Parameters => Computation Point Manager command. The
Manager shows all the elements that have been selected as computation points. Press Select
Elements button, click on the row in the table and press the Select button.
Press the Close button when all elements are selected. Similarly, you can unselect an element
which is no longer a computation point. Select the computation point and press the Parameters
button. Click on an element in the list on the left side of the window, select parameters on the right
side of the window by holding the control key and clicking on several parameters. Press the Select
button. When you are finished selecting the parameters, press the Close button to return to the
Computation Point Manager window. Press the Parameter Settings button, specify the minimum
and maximum values, press Apply and Close.
 Press the Results button to configure the results. Select the Element and Time-Series and press
Select button.

Right-click on a computation point in the map and select the Calibration Aids command. The
command can only be selected when there is a current simulation run. Selecting the command will
open the customizable editor and the customized result graphs.
Adjust a parameter value for an element using the slider bar for that parameter. The results for the
computation point and all elements upstream of it are recomputed immediately after changing a
parameter value with a slider bar. The result graphs will automatically update to reflect changes.
Press Apply button and Close.

Right-click on a computation point in the map and select the View Results command. Then select
Graph, Summary Table or Time-Series Table to view results.

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