Assessing the Performance of HEC-HMS and SWMM Models for Rainfall–Runoff Simulation for Urban Watershed

Understanding the hydrological response of a watershed to rainfall involves comprehending how it translates rainfall into runoff, considering infiltration, surface flow, and groundwater contributions. Simulations of runoff–rainfall are crucial in managing water resources, environmental protection, and infrastructure developments. Several hydrologic models exist from which simulations of runoff–rainfall may be made, but there is a need for an appropriate model that best fits the catchment in question. This research will focus on simulations of the urban watershed’s runoff using two hydrologic models: HEC-HMS and SWMM. The study area selected is Briar Creek Watershed in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hydrological and meteorological data obtained from the USGS are preprocessed using ArcGIS to provide input for these hydrological models. The performances of HEC-HMS and SWMM models against observed streamflow data are compared in both calibration and testing phases. The reliability of the concerned models is assessed through three performance metrics: NSE, PBIAS, and RSR.