PC-HYDRO Version 5.x

PC-Hydro Hydrologic Modeling Software

On March 13, 2007, the District announced the release of PC-HYDRO V5.

The PC-HYDRO computer program, version 5.x, will calculate flood peaks of varying frequencies for use in the analysis and design of natural and constructed drainage systems located in unincorporated Pima County, Arizona. The program is based on the Pima County Hydrology Procedures described in the Hydrology Manual for Engineering Design and Flood Plain Management within Pima County, Arizona (1977 and 1979, Pima County Department of Transportation and Flood Control District). PC-HYDRO and its User Guide are intended to replace the previous Hydrology Manual.

PC-HYDRO Version 5.x is improved over previous versions of this software, through inclusion of the following features:

• The availability from, and endorsement of, the software by the Pima County Regional Flood Control District (PCRFCD).
• The addition of context-sensitive Help files integrated into the toolbar of each Data Input Form.
• The availability of this User Guide describing the acceptable use of PC-HYDRO.
• The addition of rainfall intensity-duration-frequency data from NOAA Atlas 14, and the ability to quickly and accurately input these upper 90% confidence limit values by entering the latitude and longitude of the centroid of the watershed under investigation.
• The ability to produce and export hydrograph output as well as peak discharge estimates. The synthetic hydrograph method is the same as used in the Stormwater Detention/ Retention Manual (PCDOT&FCD, 1987).
• The addition of Hydrologic Soils Group maps for quick reference.

ALERTS:

A a minor error in the cumulative volume calculation in the hydrograph file (*.Hyd file) was found in PC Hydro Version 5.3. This has been corrected in Version 5.4.2, available from the ftp site as described below.

To remove version 5.3. and install PC Hydro 5.4.2, include the following additional steps to the installation instructions found below:

• Go to the ‘Add or Remove Programs’ Tab in the Control Panel
• Find PC Hydro Version 5.3 and click the ‘Change/Remove’ button. 
• When the Program asks ‘Are you sure you want to completely remove PC Hydro and all its components? Click the ‘Yes’ button.
• Check to see if there is an empty PC-Hydro folder on the directory where the old PC-Hydro Version 5.3 was installed.
  It is usually c:\Program Files\.  Delete this empty folder.
• Unpack the zip file, which will make a ‘PC-Hydro5.4.2’ folder.
• Go into the‘PC-Hydro5.4.2’ folder and double click the ‘Setup.exe’ file. Follow all prompts.

Availability:

Hard copies of the User Guide and software with electronic Hydrologic Soils Group maps will be available from the District for a small fee. The User Guide, program, and electronic Hydrologic Soils Group maps are also available by free anonymous FTP download. The District recommends typing the following URL ftp://ftpgis.pima.gov/pub/rfcd/pchydro/ into your browser to download the files from the FTP site. If prompted for a username and password, enter "anonymous" (without quotes) as the username and your complete e-mail address as the password.

MapGuide:

A MapGuide site, that includes the Hydrologic Soils Groups for Pima County, can be found at:
http://dot.pima.gov/gis/maps/pchydro/

System Requirements:

To install and use PC-HYDRO Version 5.X, you must have the following:

• IBM PC or compatible.
• Microsoft Windows 98/2000/ME/XP or above.
• It is recommended that you have the latest service pack for each operating system.
• This program has not been tested with Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7.
• Adobe Reader 6.0 or above.
• Installation and operation of PC-HYDRO requires at least 52 MB of free disk space and a video card capable of displaying 256 colors, or more, set to optimal resolution.

Installing PC-HYDRO:

1. Download PCHydroProgramV5_4_2.zip.

2. Unzip PCHydroProgramV5_4_2.zip to a destination directory.

3. Exit any applications you are running including toolbars, memory management programs, screen savers, and virus protection programs. Uninstall any previous versions of PC-HYDRO from the computer, and reboot.

If a previous version of PC Hydro is installed, follow the following steps:

• Go to the ‘Add or Remove Programs’ Tab in the Control Panel
• Find PC Hydro Version 5.3 and click the ‘Change/Remove’ button. 
• When the Program asks ‘Are you sure you want to completely remove PC Hydro and all its components? Click the ‘Yes’ button.
• Check to see if there is an empty PC-Hydro folder on the directory where the old PC-Hydro Version 5.3 was installed.
  It is usually c:\Program Files\.  Delete this empty folder.

4. Browse to the destination directory.

5. Double click the ‘Setup.exe’ file. Follow all prompts.

6. Read the PC-HYDRO Setup window. Then click Next.

7. Verify the destination directory by selecting Change Directory and Browsing to the desired destination and then press OK. Afterwards, click the Installation Button. The default program directory is C:\Program Files\PC-Hydro.

PC-HYDRO is installed in the selected destination directory.

8. Read the “PC-HYDRO Setup was completed successfully” screen, and click OK.

9. Go to the program destination file and copy the PC-HYDRO icon to the desktop. Use the Windows Start menu or Double-click this new desktop icon to start the program.

Installing the PC-HYDRO User Guide:

1. Download PCHydroUserGuide.zip.

2. Unzip PCHydroUserGuide.zip to your destination directory.

3. The following Adobe Acrobat files will be unzipped to that directory.

• PC-HYDRO User Guide.pdf
• Appendix A: Conditions of Use.pdf
• Appendix B: Software Installation Guide.pdf
• Appendix C: Quick Start Guide.pdf
• Appendix D: Tables and Figures.pdf
• Appendix E: Estimating Hydrologic Cover Density.pdf
• Appendix F: Examples.pdf

Hydrologic Soils Group Maps:

Hydrologic Soils Group maps are available for download from the ftpgis.pima.gov FTP server in the /pub/rfcd/pchydro/HydrologicSoilsGroupMaps/ area. The README.txt file in this directory explains the file naming convention of the soils map.

Contact Information:

Please report any computational or other problems with this software to Evan Canfield at the Pima County Regional Flood Control District (520-243-1800) or Evan.Canfield@rfcd.pima.gov .

References:

PCDOT&FCD, 1977 and 1979. Hydrology Manual for Engineering Design and Flood Plain Management within Pima County, Arizona. Pima County Department of Transportation and Flood Control District, Tucson, Arizona. This manual was written by Michael E. Zeller, PE.

PCDOT&FCD, 1987. Stormwater Detention/Retention Manual. Pima County Department of Transportation and Flood Control District, and the City of Tucson Department of Transportation, Tucson, Arizona.