The Measuring Tool

Written by ironcore | May 9, 2014


I don’t think you’ll find this anywhere in the manuals, but HEC-RAS has a very convenient tool for measuring lengths and slopes in the Geometry window and just about any graphical plot.  It only works in the geometry window if your RAS model is georeferenced, as it measures distances based on coordinates.  However, in the graphical plots, it works great whether your model is georeferenced or not.

While in the Geometry window or any graphical plot, push and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.  You’ll see your cursor change from a pointer to a crosshair with a measuring square like this:

image

While keeping the Ctrl key pressed, mouse click and move the measuring tool.  You’ll see a line drawn on the plot.

image

When you release the Ctrl key, you’ll see a window pop up with the line length, as well as the x direction length (dx) and the y direction length (dy).  dy/dx gives you the slope of the line.  This is very useful for getting river bed slopes for using the normal depth boundary condition or for calculating n values using Jarrett’s equation.  You’ll notice that Polygon Area is also provided.  This works if you click multiple times in the plot, making a polygon.  This is useful if you’re interested in measuring surface area of a storage area in the geometry window.

image

You’ll notice that Polygon Area is also provided.  This works if you click multiple times in the plot, making a polygon.  This is useful if you’re interested in measuring surface area of a storage area in the geometry window.  Just be sure to keep the Ctrl key depressed while making your “clicks” to define the polygon.

image

Comments

  1. Muhammed Mustafa

    on March 11, 2015

    Thanks for this useful info., However, I tried to use this for measuring distances between LOB of two different cross section on a river reach and I got wrong values!! do you have any advice?

  2. Chris Goodell

    on March 11, 2015

    Is your geometry georeferenced? If not, the measuring tool will not work in the geometry editor. If georeferenced, the measuring tool will be correct and it's possible that the reach lengths in your cross sections could be incorrect.

Add Your Comment


Related Posts

SEE ALL BLOG POSTS