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Water Resources Center (WRC)

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Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis Support

The Water Resources Center provides tools and resources to assist USACE teams with economic analysis, and demonstrate the value to that USACE-managed assets provide to the nation.

The Container Model Suite of Tools (CMST) is a set of desktop programs and associated databases developed by IWR and designed to assist Corps planners and analysts working on port studies. The CMST is used to measures the economic effects of modifications to deep draft harbors as overall reductions in transit times and associated changes in total vessel operating costs. The CMST was developed under the “glass-box” software design philosophy, which is to have an independently peer reviewed computational kernel that through the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) allows stakeholders to “see” the data, simulation and results. The CMST allows users, stakeholders, reviewers and other interested parties to examine the data used in the analysis. The independently reviewed computational kernel assures each study follows the planning guidance in a consistent manner. The Container Model Suite of Tools has been nationally certified.

The suite consists of the following tools:

  1. HarborSym is a planning-level tool used to facilitate economic analyses of proposed navigation improvement projects in coastal harbors.
  2. The IWR Tide Tool provides simple access to information on astronomical tides at tidal stations around the world using a Google Earth (TM) interface.
  3. The A-DAPP (Automated Information System Data Analyzer and Pre-Processor) provides analysis of trade routes and vessel statistics at a port for container vessels, based on detailed vessel movement data for container vessels.
  4. The W-DAPP (Waterborne Data Analyzer and Pre-Processor) provides planners with direct access to Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (WCSC) data for a particular port and processes it for use by the HarborSym model.
  5. The Loading Tools, integrated into the HarborSym model, support the generation of consistent vessel call lists for use by HarborSym for the analysis of future conditions, for both bulk and container traffic.

HEC Software

The Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC)  develops computer software for hydrologic engineering and planning analysis procedures and makes its software available to the public whenever appropriate. 

For USACE employees, please be aware that there is often a lag in versions on the USACE Software App Portal being available. Please go to https://iwrlibrary.sec.usace.army.mil/searchResults?series=IWR%20Planning%20Suite for training materials and instructions on how to install for internal USACE users.**
 
The IWR Planning Suite is a water resources investment decision support tool originally built for the formulation and evaluation of ecosystem restoration alternative plans; however, it is now more widely used by all USACE business lines for evaluation of actions involving monetary and non-monetary cost and benefits. 
 
IWR Planning Suite II (Version 2.0.9) was certified for national use by the USACE Headquarters on May 31, 2018. Subsequent versions have been released to maintain the software. These versions updates have not changed the fundamental components of the software and therefore the latest version (2.0.9.35) is certified for national use. This version now has added functionality in the MCDA module to output normalized values to a CSV file. (Planning teams should consult with the Ecosystem Restoration Planning Center of Expertise for further questions.)
 

The Planning Suite has the following features:

  • Plan Generator
  • Cost-Effectiveness and Incremental Cost Analysis  (CE/ICA)
  • Auto reports, graphs, and tables
  • Calculation of annual average non-monetary benefits (v.2.0.6 and higher)
  • Calculation of average annual equivalent costs and benefits (v.2.0.6 and higher)
  • Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA, v.2.0.9)
  • Uncertainty Module (v.2.0.9)
  • Watershed Analysis (v.2.0.9)

Training materials that highlight IWR Planning Suite’s capabilities, improvements and case study applications are available online in the IWR Project Assistance Library, and customized or study specific training is also available upon request. The training resources below are available in the library and offer a good starting point to familiarize yourself with the software.

  • IWR Planning Suite II: User’s Guide
  • IWR Planning Suite II (v.2.0.9) – Technical Document
  • Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and IWR Planning Suite; PCoP Webinar Slides
  • Final Planning Model Quality Assurance Review Report for the IWR Planning Suite Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) Module
  • IWR Planning Suite MCDA Training Materials

Questions or training requests can be directed to the software development team at DLL-CEIWR_IWR-PLAN@usace.army.mil.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regional Economic System (RECONS) is a USACE-certified regional economic modeling tool. It is designed to provide accurate and defensible estimates of regional economic impacts and contributions associated with Corps projects, programs, and infrastructure across all Civil Works business lines. Regional economic impacts and contributions are measured as economic output, jobs, income, and value added. Estimates are provided simultaneously for three geographic impact areas: local, state, and national.

The model comprises two sets of modules: (1) Civil Works Spending Modules; and (2) USACE Programs & Infrastructure Modules.

The Civil Works Spending Modules are used to estimate the regional economic impacts and contributions of project expenditures within the eight USACE Civil Works business lines. Project expenditures include studies, construction, and operations and maintenance activities. These activities and expenditures support economic output, jobs, earnings, and value added in the region. The Civil Works Spending Modules allow the user to specify the project location and work activity to estimate the economic output, jobs, income, and value added for three levels of geography: local, state, and national impact areas.

The USACE Programs & Infrastructure Modules are used to estimate the long-term regional economic impacts and contributions of activities that are induced by USACE programs and infrastructure. These modules are used to estimate impacts and contributions associated with remediated Formally Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites (allowing for economic activities, such as agriculture, waste disposal, or warehousing); navigation infrastructure (transportation and related activities), and recreation projects (visitor spending). These activities and expenditures support economic output, jobs, earnings, and value added. Results are shown for three levels of geography: local, state, and national impact areas.

For contractors requiring access to RECONS, please download and complete the Request for Temporary Access form. Submission instructions are included in the form.

Economics