Success Stories

PCSWMM selected for modelling Halifax sanitary sewer system

After reviewing several available models, the Halifax Regional Municipality selected PCSWMM for sewer evaluation. They recently contracted with CHI to develop a method for continuous evaluation of sewer rehabilitation. The method uses detailed PCSWMM models of the complex sanitary sewer system, field data collection, continuous sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, and automatic calibration to examine and optimize potential and on-going sewer rehabilitation. CHI offers regular local workshops to HRM's consultants on the methodology.

Durban modeling its drainage systems with PCSWMM

eThekwini Municipality now encourages all new developments to present stormwater plans in SWMM/PCSWMM format, and are pushing ahead with plans to cover a great deal of Ethekwini with stormwater models.

PCSWMM adopted by the City of Redmond, WA

The City of Redmond is developing a stormwater master plan that includes developing hydrologic and hydraulic models of each of its 68 watersheds. These urban watersheds average about 200 acres in area and feature piped systems and streams that drain to the Sammamish River or Lake Sammamish. The purpose of the computer models is to support the City's Stormwater Capital Improvement Program by identifying potential problem areas, and to identify the best opportunities for regional stormwater facilities. In support of the City's stormwater master planning efforts, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants recently performed a review of available computer models for stormwater hydrology and hydraulics. Based on the results of this review the City selected three products for use in modeling these urban watersheds. For hydrology, the City is using HSPF or WWHM. For hydraulics of the City's piped systems and most of its streams, the City is using PCSWMM from Computational Hydraulics Inc. For hydraulics of some streams immediately adjacent to the Sammamish River, the City is using HEC-RAS. This protocol has been used for modeling the first two watersheds and will be the methodology used as the City proceeds with modeling across the remainder of the City.

Testimonials

Included below are some of the many positive comments we have recently received regarding our products and services (including software and training). Most comments were submitted anonymously as part of workshop surveys.

Very powerful software.

- J.W., Pittsburgh, PA, USA

I would be completely remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank you, Evelyn, and Rob for the excellent stormwater management modeling training and conference you recently sponsored. I've recommended that someone from our staff attend this conference on an annual basis.

- R.G., Dover, DE, USA

Bill was very knowledgeable with inner aspects of the course. He answers questions very well.

- R.M., Coraopolis, PA, USA

I always enjoy this conference. Good people and relaxed atmosphere allows for frank and unguarded discussions of issues.

- P.B., Detroit, MI, USA

Excellent course!

- F.L., Toronto, ON, Canada

I have used several urban stormwater models and have found PCSWMM to have the best interface of them all. Support has been excellent.

- C.J., Knoxville, TN, USA

Bill was very knowledgeable and conducted the course so that I could easily understand how to use PCSWMM.

- D.S., Coquitlam, BC, Canada

I did not realize how powerful this software is until attending this course. It is an excellent program and very user-friendly.

- V.M., Durban, , SA

Good introduction to SWMM.

- B.M., Seattle, WA, USA

Thanks Rob for your excellent support.

- H.G., Columbus, OH, USA

Thank you for a great effort at bringing the SWMM community together to keep us all in the loop. Given our increasing use of SWMM, we will likely make this an annual event for one or more staff from the water management group.

- M.H., Toronto, ON, Canada

PCSWMM makes the setting up, running and validating of hydrological and hydraulic models much faster and easier than the other software packages I've tried.

- C.M., Durban, , SA

Instructor adapted very well to the needs of those taking the course as a group and on an individual basis.

- Workshop evaluation, , PA, USA

PCSWMM is much easier to learn than other software systems.

- R.L., Westville, , SA

Personal interaction was good combined with an excellent workbook.

- Workshop evaluation, , , USA

I especially like the import capabilities that are broad, fast and so easy and the way you can copy/paste all types of data. Simply amazing!

- T.F., Frigourge, , SA

The workshop provides a good knowledge base for new engineers.

- Workshop evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada

Thanks for getting back so promptly ... the tools are so efficient compared to plain SWMM5. I don't know how I ever worked without it.

- B.L., Malvern, PA, USA

I liked the personal assistance with using the program. I found the workshop very helpful. The workshop gives insight that learning on your own would not .

- Workshop evaluation, , BC, Canada

Excellent background information regarding SWMM and PCSWMM. Extremely friendly and informative workshop. Highly recommended!

- A.H., Oakville, ON, Canada

PCSWMM is a powerful tool.

- M.V.E., Port Elizabeth, , SA

Praiseworthy services by CHI.

- Workshop evaluation, , , Canada

Thank you for the excellent webinar on PCSWMM yesterday. It was very informative, and if you have a workshop which covers the more advanced features and functions you showed us yesterday, I want to know more about it! I can hardly wait to explore the software to see if I can take advantage of the features you demonstrated!

- G.Z., Kelowna, BC, Canada

I finally got my version of PCSWMM 2009. Very cool - the time series presentation alone is worth the price of admission.

- B.L., Malvern, PA, USA

Excellent explanation on practical exercises (Rob). Complements very well to Bill's theoretical discussions.

- A.H., Oakville, ON, Canada

I'm slower moving through tutorial exercises so I appreciate that each one is independent from the next. I also appreciate that each one provides key skills that make the next exercise easier to perform and understand.

- Workshop evaluation, , PA, USA

Very powerful software!

- C.M., Gauteng, , SA

I liked the detailed presentations and the hands-on training of the software.

- Workshop evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada

I must let you know that I'm very impressed with the progress that your development team has made and how quickly your software application is expanding.

- P.W., Durban, , SA

Instructor excellent and knowledgeable.

- Workshop evaluation, , , Canada

I must say that your level of support and assistance is very high and I admire this.

- G.C., , , SA

Excellent course, really enjoyable and educational.

- S.L., Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Excellent training session. Highly recommended!

- Workshop evaluation, , ON, Canada

Among the best technical workshops I've attended - Rob did a great job.

- Workshop evaluation, , , USA

An extremely valuable tool!

- G.T., Durban, , SA

As always, I greatly appreciate your continued support and advancement of a very fine software tool.

- J.P., Newport News, VA, USA

I am glad to see that you are taking the time to make the software easy to use. So far, I think it is great.

- J.R., Regina, SK, Canada

The instructors were very helpful in assisting us with our questions regarding the hands-on exercises. Very good source of information.

- J.A., Regina, SK, Canada

Good instructor, especially valuable for those with no experience.

- Workshop evaluation, , PA, USA

Excellent, laid-back course. Great learning environment. Well worth it. Will definitely recommend to employees / work colleagues.

- P.P., CapeTown, , SA

The training course was very comprehensive.

- Workshop evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada

Monograph 17 is a good collection of knowledge from many experts in urban water systems!

- S.C., Edmonton, AB, Canada

Great instructor. Really appreciated his solid overall scientific and software background knowledge.

- S.L., Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Every grad student interested in hydrologic modeling needs this type of training.

- Workshop evaluation, Washington, DC, USA

Though I missed the first day, Rob kept me abreast of what previously was done without (I hope) slowing down the course. He had an excellent knowledge of the program and its typical applications. It is unusual to find someone who knows BOTH the code of the package and typical applications so thoroughly.

- Workshop evaluation, , , USA

An excellent instructor. A great experience for me.

- Workshop evaluation, CapeTown, , SA

Thank you for organizing and running an excellent conference. I have probably said it in the past, but it is well worth repeating, practitioners and academics alike truly appreciate your combined efforts - even though we do not always come out and say it!

- R.S., Burlington, ON, Canada

Technical support thru CHI has been great! I truly appreciate the responsiveness of Computational Hydraulics.

- S.R., Baltimore, MD, USA

Very informative!

- J.K., Waterloo, ON, Canada

Good opportunity to become more comfortable with the software. It gave me a broad but good understanding of the program.

- Workshop evaluation, , PA, USA

Very useful software!

- E.C., Durbanville, Western Cape, SA

Very well done. Great job delivering background info and theory. Wish I had Bill for a prof in school!

- Workshop evaluation, , BC, Canada

I will take away from this seminar more than I expected to. Well done! Your patience was appreciated.

- W.N., Beamsville, ON, Canada

Software is extremely user friendly!

- S.L., Abbotsford, BC, Canada

I liked the step by step instructions. I liked the breadth of coverage regarding features of PCSWMM.

- Workshop evaluation, , ON, Canada

You each, as instructors, provide a neat dynamic. The course is a good mix of program mechanics (Rob) and theory/real-life applications (Bill). Pretty well-balanced in that respect.

- Workshop evaluation, , , Canada

I am very impressed with CHI's responsiveness and the value provided by PCSWMM in comparison with competing SWMM-based products.

- D.H., Seattle, WA, USA

As always CHI provides top notch support.

- M.P., Detroit, MI, USA

Thank you again for your continued support! It has really been fantastic for a new user of the software.

- S.R, Raleigh, NC, USA

I have already let others know about the very impressive job you did on PCSWMM, both on the calibration radio tuning process and on the 3D flood representation with Google Earth.

- N.P., Montpellier, , France

Keep up the great work ! The more I use PCSWMM, the more I think it is a great product.

- G.R., Laval, QC, Canada

Informative training and resourceful materials.

- J.W., Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The conference is always attractive to good professionals and students. The conference is well organized and well presented.

- G.C., Lewis Center, OH, USA

I liked the range of topics covered and that there was a lot of hands on training. The example models reinforced the concepts being taught.

- Workshop evaluation, , PA, USA

It is obvious that the developers of the software are modellers themselves.

- M.P., Detroit, MI, USA

Instructor personalized training to our interests.

- Workshop evaluation, , , USA

Good mix of lecture and exercises. I would enjoy taking future courses.

- Workshop evaluation, , BC, Canada

The Timeseries Manager in PCSWMM is so great I use it in most of my projects, even if I'm not doing any modeling at all. I think it would make a great standalone tool!

- M.H., Vancouver, BC, Canada

The conference was very informative. I enjoyed the experience.

- E.K., Whitby, ON, Canada

The book [Current Practices in Modeling the Management of Stormwater Impacts] was very impressive and it was well worth the wait.

- J.N., Columbus, OH, USA

I first wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the modeling workshop. I've been to numerous technical workshops through years and this was far and away the most useful and well-run. I came away with exactly what I'd hoped to come away with - a combination of an appreciation for the theory and hands-on time with the program. Thank you. I told my boss it was an excellent use of County funds to send me.

- D.L., Fairfax, VA, USA

I have tested most of the features of PCSWMM 2009 professional and I am totally convinced by this software.

- T.H., Fribourg, Lausanne, Switzerland

Again, I must thank you for your extremely rapid feedback. It's always a pleasant surprise, and rare, when support, especially email support, is as efficient as yours. So thanks.

- J.P., Houghton, , SA

Great instructor! Thanks for coming to Pittsburgh to teach us!

- J.W., Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Thanks for organizing the wonderful conference. I am really enjoying it.

- Z.Z., Guelph, ON, Canada

Excellent. (Bill) Please continue the great work! Very good. (Rob) Excellent!

- K.H., Toronto, ON, Canada

Rob was very friendly and had great background knowledge of the course and software. I learned a lot from his expertise on the subject.

- D.H., Cincinnati, OH, USA

Excellent materials. Exercises were very applicable and easy to follow.

- Workshop evaluation, , BC, Canada

The entire Brown and Caldwell modeling team would like to thank you for the exemplary client service provided by the CHI software development team. Your quick turn around in providing several key enhancements to PCSWMM allowed us to easily meet our tight consent decree-driven deadline. It's reassuring to have reliable software support and even more amazing to have software customization requests fulfilled in 48 hours!

- H.G., Columbus, OH, USA

Rob did an excellent job and was very helpful with adding information not specifically covered in the course.

- Workshop evaluation, , , USA

Congratulations on another excellent conference. This year's papers were really good.

- U.S., Moon Township, PA, USA

Excellent presentation and organization; learned lots.

- Workshop evaluation, , , Canada

Rob was very approachable and answered questions thoroughly and concisely.

- J.K., Cincinnati, OH, USA

The workshop was very concise and informative, and the software is excellent.

- M.T., Durban, , SA