(version 2005.1.3 as of
18 Oct 2007)
 |
The Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Agricultural
Research Service, and Kansas State University used government funds
to develop the Water Resources Site Analysis Program (SITES)
computer program. It may be downloaded for use and copying at no
additional expense or license requirements. |
History
The SITES software is a descendent of the DAMS2 program. DAMS2 was
a full-featured rainfall-runoff routing program developed for watershed
dam design and analysis. In developing the SITES software, DAMS2 was
recoded and the auxiliary (emergency) spillway analysis portion of the
program was rewritten and expanded to include new technology for spillway
performance evaluation. This technology was developed through the joint
efforts of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the NRCS. The
Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the SITES software was
developed cooperatively by NRCS, ARS, and Kansas State University. The
SITES computer program can be used for both watershed and CO-01 dam
design.
New Technology
The auxiliary spillway performance model incorporated into Sites utilizes
an iterative application of a three-phase approach to the spillway erosion
process. The first phase of the erosion or failure process is the failure of
the vegetal cover and the development of concentrated flow. The second phase
is the downward erosion in the area of concentrated flow, resulting in the
formation of a headcut. The third phase is the downward and upstream movement
of the headcut, with the potential of breaching the spillway. Each of these
phases is described in the model by a set of threshold-rate relationships
based on the mechanics of the process. A headcut erodibility index (Kh)
describes the resistance of the exposed geologic materials to erosive attack
during phase 3 of the process. Aids for estimating this index are included in
the input data help for the Integrated Development Environment and in the
supporting materials as discussed below.
When applied in design, the earth spillway erosion model incorporated into
SITES is normally used to evaluate the potential for spillway breach under a
freeboard hydrograph having at least 24 hours rainfall duration. In its present
form, the program is not able to evaluate the rate of breach when a breach is
predicted. Evaluation of the potential for extending the model to use for
predicting breach rate is presently underway.
New Features
As well as containing new erosion technology for evaluating spillway
integrity, the Sites software has great flexibility in developing the auxiliary
spillway rating and evaluating exit channel stability. Sites can accept vegetal
retardance potential for flow resistance input as well as Manning's n, and flow
resistance can vary from reach to reach in the spillway. Sites can also develop
a spillway rating when the exit channel flow is subcritical through part or all
of the hydrograph. For both supercritical and subcritical flows, Sites allows exit
channel stability for the Stability Design Hydrograph to be evaluated using the
allowable tractive stress approach as well as the older permissible velocity
approach.
The Integrated Development Environment in which the Sites program operates guides
the user through input and assists in interpreting output. Output is enhanced by
allowing interactive development of a customized summary table and graphical output
covering hydrologic, structural, and hydraulic parameters. Sites supports complex
watersheds having upstream structures, sub-watersheds, and channel reaches through
the IDE. Input for these complex watersheds is managed through a graphical user
interface in which a schematic of the system is sketched using a standard toolbar.
Program and supporting materials available
In addition to the SITES program, supporting materials available are: 1) SITES
Water Resource Site Analysis Computer program User’s Guide (210-728.5) which includes
a description of the computational software and the Integrated Development Environment
along with a quick start guide (Appendix A), 2) Chapters 50, 51, and 52 of NRCS NEH-628,
3) NRCS TR-60 and NHCP-378, and 4) example data sets that may be used to check program
operation. These items are described briefly in the following paragraphs. Users are
encouraged to download and become familiar with all of these supporting materials. All
downloadable files have been zipped to minimize download time and must be expanded into
the desired directory on your hard drive prior to use. The SITES package requires the
SITES_INST.EXE file to be executed after extraction. This package should therefore be
expanded into, and installed from, a temporary directory. The supporting documentation
is generally provided in PDF format.
SITES Integrated Development Environment
SITES (11.5 Mb) includes the
computational software in a user-friendly Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to
assist a SITES user in inputting the required data and in interpreting SITES output.
The IDE interface focuses on design and/or analysis that requires a user to evaluate
the sensitivity of input variables on the output and/or compare various design
alternatives. It includes screens for data entry and display for both text and
graphical output. On-line help is available for both input and output screens. The
interface handles sites in series through a graphical user interface, but focus is
on the design or analysis of the most downstream structure. The interface operates
under the Windows 98SE/2000/ NT/XP/Vista operating systems (version 2000 or later
recommended). A minimum of 32 Mb RAM is required for program operation with these
systems, and more is recommended. Actual memory required will vary with the type of
data set being evaluated.
SITES User's Guide
The SITES Users Guidance
(34.8 Mb) package contains SITES Water Resource Site Analysis Computer Program
User’s Guide (210-728.5) documenting the capabilities and I/O requirements.
Appendix A of this User’s Guide is a Quick Start guide to assist the beginning
user with use of the Integrated Development Environment. The User's Guide
describes use of the software through the integrated development environment
as well as providing information to allow advanced users to access extended
capabilities of the computational routine. The Quick Start guide in
combination with the IDE help screens included as a part of the program package
will provide adequate information for most users.
Design Guidance
The design guidance package (3.7 Mb)
contains Chapters 50, 51, and 52 of NRCS NEH 628, TR-60, and NHCP-378. Chapters 50,
51, and 52 of NRCS NEH-628 contain auxiliary spillway layout and design guidance,
details of the auxiliary spillway performance model, and procedures for estimating
the headcut erodibility index, respectively. TR-60 and NHCP-378 describe NRCS design
criteria and are essential references for development of input data for application
of Sites. A spreadsheet is available to assist in calculating the Headcut Erodibility
Index, khcalc.xls,
(also in the design guidance package). Instructions for its use are contained within
the spreadsheet itself and on pages 31-33 of NEH-628 Chapter 52 of the design guidance
package.
Data
The data package (15 Kb)
includes example data sets that may be used in testing and becoming familiar with the
SITES software. Data sets in this package that have the extension D2C and may be imported
into the IDE. Data sets that have the extension DAT are examples that illustrate extended
capabilities of the computational routine for advanced users. These sample data sets are
discussed in Appendix C of the SITES Water Resource Site Analysis Computer Program User’s
Guide. The data sets were developed to illustrate program features only, and do not
represent any real sites or conditions.
Training Aids
The training and tutorial aids (20.9 Mb)
package contains Power Point® presentations and notes that may be used for training or as
a self-study tutorial. These presentations were originally developed to train NRCS engineers
and geologists in the use of the Sites software. A background in hydraulics and erosion
mechanics is assumed. This package was developed for earlier versions of SITES and
discussions may not reflect all capabilities of SITES 2005. Updated materials will be
posted when available.
More information
The spillway erosion process is complex and some of the concepts utilized in the Sites
software may be new to some users. The user is cautioned that he/she is responsible for
understanding the processes, their relation to the input variables required by the model,
and the applicability of the model to his/her conditions. The key background information is
included in the supporting documents. Other related publications documenting the underlying
technology are available by request through the
USDA_ARS Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit.
You may also contact Morris N. Lobrecht ( 817-509-3775 or
Morris.Lobrecht@ftw.usda.gov)
or Helen Fox Moody (301-504-3948 or
helen.moody@wdc.usda.gov)
with questions or to obtain further information.
Download List
SITES 2005 (version 2005.1.3) (11.5 Mb)
Sites 2005 Users Manual
Dam and Spillway Design Guidance Package (3.7 Mb)
Example Data Package (15 Kb)
Training/Tutorial Aids Package (20.9 Mb)
The use of trade names does not constitute endorsement by the
developers or by the USDA. |
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