Is AutoCAD commonly used in the hydrology field?

[u/ElderberryBusiness92]

Hi, I am wondering if AutoCAD is ever used for hydrology related activities? If so, when?

I am looking to develop skills with softwares that are commonly used in the hydrology field. I will ml begin with HEC-HMS (and probably HEC-RAS) and either ArcGIS or QGIS. Any suggestions on softwares/programs (or anything really) to learn which might be useful in the hydrology field?

I am currently a student, I can likely get both AutoCAD and ArcGIS for free, so wondering if I should take advantage of this while I have the chance.

[u/Tutkanator]

I worked in hydrology and am now a water resources engineer. No, CAD is not really used unless you are an engineer or CAD technician. GIS will be very useful for you as well as understanding statistics and working with time series data. That means Excel and if you're up for the challenge, Python. Namely learning packages such as numpy, pandas, and matplotlib.

[u/Gandalfthebran → u/Tutkanator]

How is working as water resource engineer different than Hydrology for you? Any specific difference? Btw, what degree did you have in undergrad and masters?

[u/Tutkanator → u/Gandalfthebran]

I earned a BS in biology (natural resources) and did that before I became a hydrologic technician and decided to go the water route. I thought engineering would have a larger impact so I earned an MS in water resources engineering nine years after finishing my BS.

What is the difference? I have many scientist friends so I'm aware that everyone likes to think in their own way, but my brain loves the problem solving that engineering provides. Engineering school essentially weaponized my brain and I have to be very careful now. Having more experience at this point is a big factor, but WRE pays better. I used to work 55hr weeks and slept in hotels. Now, I can make a comfortable living in any town working 40hrs/week with no per diem. I work in consulting and the work is much more varied and there are many skills to learn. Lastly, as a hydrologist, I didn't feel satisfied just working with data. I went into this field because I love water and what it provides for us and now I get to design water infrastructure and make decisions which is awesome. 100% worth getting through the engineering courses.

[u/Gandalfthebran → u/Tutkanator]

Interesting. I asked because I have a similar trajectory but reverse in a way. I did my undergrad in Civil Engineering and am doing masters in hydrology. Btw do they require an engineering MS to call you a ‘engineer’?

I am asking because my undergrad in engineering is not from the US but MS is going to be in hydrology from the US. Would, for example, firms like the one you are working in, hire someone with my credential to do, sort of a combo of engineering and Science job or would they strictly seek a MS in engineering?

[u/jaylegs]

I work for a civil engineering consultant as part of the surface water modelling team and the only time I use CAD/Civil3D is to convert data from a dwg into something the modelling software can read.

Other people in our broader team take my results from hydrologic/hydraulic assessment and design structures (bridges, culverts, levees etc). Those people spend a lot more time using CAD programs. One colleague of mine does a bit of both (modelling and design), and learnt CAD very early on. He uses it to make some professional-looking sketches for his reports more than civil design itself.

So it can depend a bit on where you see yourself going. As someone whose role is closer to hydrology than civil design, I‘ve gotten a lot more value from developing Python skills than I would have from developing CAD skills.

GIS skills are a must though, so I’m glad you’ve identified that already. We use QGIS in my org but a lot of government agencies (at least throughout Australia, NZ and the Netherlands) use ESRI products so it helps to be familiar with those.

[u/Gandalfthebran → u/jaylegs]

If it’s alright to ask, which engineering consultant?

[u/jaylegs → u/Gandalfthebran]

Will PM you

[u/IJellyWackerI → u/jaylegs]

Can you explain some problems you’re solving or types of projects you’re working on?

[u/jaylegs → u/IJellyWackerI]

Most projects involve using flood modelling software to develop a model of a catchment and simulate flood events. We do “flood studies”, where we’re estimate the existing flood risk and identify mitigation measures. Sometimes those projects progress to design of those mitigation measures, where our civil team becomes more involved. We also do “flood impact assessments” to quantify the flood impact of proposed development, and maybe improving the development’s design to reduce the impact.

Recently we’ve also been doing a bit of flood forecasting work, setting up automated systems that alert governments when predicted rainfall is likely to result in flooding. Super interesting projects but lots of uncertainty to work around.

I use Python to do analysis of rainfall and water level gauge data mostly. Often for input into flood models. Also use it for some visualisation stuff (leaflet maps, interactive plots). GIS is used every day for mapping and creating/manipulating flood model inputs.

Are you working as a hydrologist yourself?

[u/jaylegs → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, usually bringing in a DEM as a geotiff or ascii straight into QGIS. And if we’re provided survey as dwg then we’ll convert it with Civil3D into a GIS-friendly format, and working with it that way. If i need to adjust the DEM to model something (e.g. represent the raising of a road), there’s functions within the modelling software that allow me to do that without having to edit the surface again in Civil3D.

[u/jaylegs → u/[deleted]]

Proprietary (usually TUFLOW) unless we’re looking at pier scour, then we’ll use HEC-RAS. But we’re starting to see some more demand for us to use open source products, particularly for clients with less funding as they try to make the models more accessible for future use. WBNM is what seems to be the locally preferred hydrological modelling software, but we have used HEC-HMS for some applications too.

[u/jaylegs → u/[deleted]]

Prepare graphs and charts, yes definitely. Especially box and whisker plots when we’re picking out “design storm”.

In Australia we have some rainfall and runoff estimation guidelines which involve us running several flood events, then performing some analysis on the results to select a representative design flood/storm for the catchment. We feed the results from the “several flood events” into a script which processes the data, returns some box and whisker plots, and identifies the “representative design storm” for us to use with all further modelling.

Another example is calibration plots. I have script set up to read the observed gauge data from online (via API), then extract results from the model, then output to a graph to compare them. Can be really useful when making several iterations to the model and wanting to quickly generate plots at several gauge locations.

At a simpler level, just taking gauge measurements and resampling into equal intervals (eg aggregate randomly collected data into 15 min intervals) makes it nicer to play with in excel.

My Python skills are quite novice so I’m not doing anything too ground breaking, and some of the analysis is really specific to our local guidelines, but the same ideas can be applied elsewhere

[u/OttoJohs]

For hydrologic studies AutoCAD is rarely used. Your time would be better spent with hydraulic/hydrologic modeling software, learning GIS, and possibly some programming basics.

AutoCAD is most commonly used for creating construction (design) drawings, incorporating survey data, and developing grading plans. If you are going to work for an engineering/environmental consultant it could be a useful skill for a junior staffer to know since it is easy billable work. But then again, some companies have dedicated drafters, so YMMV on how much/often you use it.

I would say that if you can take a basic surveying class and/or work a few tutorials on LinkedIn you probably should be good on the fundamentals (specifically if you want to focus on water resource work).

(For reference, I haven't even had AutoCAD on my work computer in close to 10-years. The last AutoCAD assignment I worked on was doing 3D drawings for CFD modeling.)

[u/walkingrivers → u/OttoJohs]

100% agree. 16 year in water resources engineer and have never produced a cad drawings. GIS regularly. Others I work with use Cad but anything beyond the basics is done by a trained Drafting Technician.

[u/ProfessorGarbanzo]

If you are thinking about going into consulting, then yes, AutoCAD ( specifically Civil3D) can be very useful. For public or academic I think it would be less likely.

I’d still prioritize GIS, but knowing both is definitely helpful and can open doors.

[u/esperantisto256]

GIS is more used than AutoCAD although knowing it isn’t bad.

I’d say civil3d for site work is probably the more likely scenario if you’re a civil engineer, but that’s something you’ll learn on the job anyways.

[u/msamib]

Are you referring to civil3d and storm and sanitary aspect? If it's that, then some consultants like using it. If I remember right, it's based on SWMM (someone can correct me). I personally like many others, advocate in the use of free/ easier to access software with wider usergroups like this one.

If you got the time, I don't see why not play around with it, but would I spend plenty time on it, personally, I'd give more effort into others.

[u/Jaynett]

GIS is critical but CAD is just a good life skill.

[u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

Eh, only in an adjacent fashion. Our stormwater engineers use it for basin design and stormwater facilities of the sort, but it's not relative to any modeling unless you're doing design work.

[u/Omiok]

I use QGIS more often. Focus on free softwares, you dont know if the company you'll work will pau the license. Ex HEC-RAS instead of Riverfloe2D, openfoam X flow3d, qgis X argis... I dont know any open license CAD software, but QGIS is enough most of the times. Most companies have CAD specialists also (drafter)