Projects & Database

Overview

Hydrology+ introduces a new database to store hydrological data and analysis in one location, providing a secure and consistent common data environment. The database is configured on your computer as part of Flood Modeller installation and is configured as an SQL database service.  

By default, the database stores hydrometric data from UK gauges as well as FEH Catchment Descriptors imported from FEH online. Hydrological analysis using WINFAP and REFH2 is enabled by creating Hydrology+ projects.

To optimise performance, the hydrology database is stored on your local computer. Users are advised to backup the database regularly to mitigate the risk of data loss using functionality built into Flood Modeller. 

Accessing the Hydrology+ database and projects

Within the Hydrology+ tab, you can:

1. Configure the Hydrology Database
2. Import, view and manage FEH Catchment Descriptors
3. Create new projects, and import and export existing projects.
4. Under projects, create and managed flood estimation Calculation Points

Creating new Hydrology+ projects

Hydrological analysis is undertaken within a Hydrology+ Project, with each project able to support a magnitude of Calculation Points.  Typically users would create a project for each study or commission undertaken to help manage data.

What is a Calculation Point?

Also known as Flood Estimation Points (FEP) are central to H+. Each Calculation Point is a location on a river where hydrological analysis is to be undertaken, typically these points coincide with either a river gauging station or catchment descriptors purchased via FEH Online. Each H+ project can support many Calculation Points, allowing complex schematisation of catchments. Calculation Point data includes; FEH Catchment Descriptors, River Gauge Data, ReFH2 analysis, WINFAP analysis, climate change uplifts, hydrograph libraries. Example Calculation Point schematisation within a hydrological catchment.

A new H+ project is created by:

1. In the Hydrology+ tab, click New.
2. Provide a Name for your project.
3. Populate the optional information, this will help you and future users to understand the analysis undertaken. These can be updated at any time.
   1. Project Number - Reference number for study or analysis.
   2. Description - Overview of the project, including objectives, who it was commissioned by, etc.
   3. Comments - Relevant comments on status of project.
4. Click OK and the H+ project will be created and open, ready for you to begin.

Opening Hydrology+ projects

A H+ project can be opened from the Hydrology+ tab, by selecting it from the Current Hydrology+ project drop-down. Alternatively, click Open, select the project from the Project drop-down, then click the Open Hydrology+ project button. 

Importing and exporting Hydrology+ projects

Hydrology+ projects are stored within your Hydrology database. They can be exported to a location of your choice to share data with colleagues. 

On the Hydrology+ tab, buttons are provided to Import and Export Hydrology+ projects. Hydrology+ project datafiles are exported with extension .hpexp.

Deleting Hydrology+ projects

To delete a Hydrology+ project:

1. On the Hydrology+ tab, click Open (as if opening a H+ project).
2. From the Project drop-down, select the project you wish to delete.
3. Click the Remove Hydrology+ project button.

Hydrology database backup

Hydrology+ operates with a local database on your desktop machine. To mitigate for the risk of data loss, we strongly advise maintaining a backup of your Hydrology+ database in a secure location of your choosing, such as a protected network, cloud storage or external drive. You can recover your Hydrology+ database at any time, ensuring no loss of critical analysis. We recommend setting a reminder to backup your data regularly.

Creating a database backup

To create a backup of your Hydrology database:

1. On the Hydrology+ tab, click the Settings button.
2. Click on the Backup/restore tab.
3. Click Backup... and select a secure location.

Note:

The most likely cause of the Failure: Hydrology+ database could not be backed up message is the location you are trying to save your backup cannot be written to. Try a different location if this message appears. 

We recommend providing details on the Backup/restore tab of the Settings so the software will remind you to perform a backup regularly.

• Remind me to backup the database every X days after the previous backup - in the field, provide a number of days between database backups. After this number of days, the software will remind you to perform a backup, if the checkbox at the bottom of the tab is checked on.
• Show database backup reminder - ensure this box is checked. Flood Modeller will display a pop-up reminder to backup your database after the number of days between backups (above) have passed.

Restoring a database

To restore your database to one of your previous backups:

1. On the Hydrology+ tab, click the Settings button.
2. Click on the Backup/restore tab.
3. Click Restore... and select one of your previous backup (.fmb) files.

You cannot restore the database if you are accessing the current database, i.e. have already selected a Hydrology+ project within the session. If a pop-up warns you you cannot restore the database for this reason, close Flood Modeller, reopen the software, and restore the database as the first thing you do that session.