WMS:Read Stage File

Water levels are used in WMS as scattered datasets and can be imported as scattered dataset (x, y, z). Files can be in a simple delimited format as shown here within a text file or spreadsheet and imported through the File Import Wizard.

"id"	"x"	"y"	"stg1"	"stg2"
1	110	0	45	47
2	110	20	48	49
3	110	40	51	53

Data can also be formatted in a scatter point file, or in the same stage file format used in earlier versions of WMS (version 6.0 and earlier).

Since water levels are imported as a scatter dataset and stored completely separate from the TIN, it is not necessary to match water level locations with TIN vertices (but it is okay if they are). This also removes the necessity of creating stream in the TIN. This flexibility provides the opportunity to incorporate water levels along rivers as well as over the floodplains that are either observed or simulated from a river hydraulic model.

One of the problems, though, with this new format is that there is no longer a way to "interpolate" stage values between known fixed stages as could be done in previous versions. If wanting to bring forward the data from earlier versions of WMS then read the stage file into the older version, interpolate the stage between fixed stage points, and save the stage file (including both the fixed and interpolated stages). Version 7.0 of WMS will then read this stage file and create scattered data points for each of the locations in the old format stage file.

Related Topics

• Overview of Floodplain Delineation
• Delineate Floodplain
• File Import Wizard