Load HEC-RAS 2D Results Summary Layers

Use this tool to create GIS point layers for maximum water-surface elevation at 2D cell centers and maximum velocity at cell-face centroids.

Required input

Select a computed plan HDF such as Project.p01.hdf. A geometry HDF does not contain the required summary results. The plan must contain the HEC-RAS unsteady 2D summary-output groups used by the tool.

Parameters

Parameter	Required	Behavior
Plan HDF File with Results	Yes	Reads summary results and the associated 2D geometry from p*.hdf.
Override CRS	No	Used only if automatic CRS detection fails; it does not reproject a detected CRS.
Results to Load	Yes	Select maximum WSE, maximum face velocity, or both. Defaults to maximum WSE.
Output Max WSE at Cell Centers	Conditional	Point output for each cell with a supported maximum WSE record.
Output Max Vel at Cell Faces	Conditional	Point output at each supported cell-face centroid.
Output Geodatabase	No	Persistent file geodatabase destination.
Create New Geodatabase	No	Enabled by default; creates/reuses Project.pXX.gdb.

Procedure

1. Confirm that the intended HEC-RAS plan computed successfully and that its HDF results are current.
2. Open Load HEC-RAS 2D Results Summary Layers and select the plan HDF.
3. Choose one or both result types.
4. Set Override CRS only if automatic detection fails.
5. Keep automatic geodatabase creation enabled for a persistent output.
6. Run the tool and review messages for each 2D flow area.
7. Compare several locations and values with RAS Mapper before using the layer for mapping or analysis.

Output fields

Output	Geometry	Fields
MaxWSE	Point at cell center	mesh_name, cell_id, max_wse, max_wse_time
MaxVelocity	Point at cell-face centroid	mesh_name, face_id, max_vel, time_of_max

The HDF summary datasets store a maximum value and the time offset at which it occurred. The tool adds that offset to the simulation start time and writes an ArcGIS date field.

Units and interpretation

• WSE and velocity remain in the source model's unit system. No conversion is performed.
• Maximum WSE and maximum face velocity are independent summaries; their timestamps need not match.
• Face velocity is represented at a point derived from the face geometry, not as a cell-average velocity polygon.
• The tool does not calculate depth, hazard classifications, inundation polygons, or full time series.
• Review unexpected sentinel/NoData values from the source HDF before symbolizing or calculating statistics.

Common checks

• Confirm the plan number, simulation window, and compute status.
• Compare the number of WSE points with the available cell centers for each mesh.
• Compare sample maxima and times with RAS Mapper.
• Verify the model unit system before labeling legends or exporting tables.
• Confirm the CRS and layer alignment before raster interpolation or spatial joins.

For a broader result workflow, use the full RAS Commander guide.