Significant developments have been made to the industry-standard flood estimation software, culminating in the release of WINFAP-FEH 3 on 9 September 2009. WINFAP-FEH 3 incorporates recent scientific advances (Kjeldsen et al, 2008) to the Flood Estimation Handbook statistical methods, and offers improved functionality and ease of use.

New science

The new science incorporated within the software includes:

• Enhanced single site analysis
  The new FEH statistical procedures have two different methods for weighting each member of the pooling group. If the target site has a gauged record, a higher weighting is given to this; if the site is urban or ungauged, the weightings are determined solely by similarity index.
• Improved estimation of QMED from catchment descriptors
  The equation used to estimate QMED from catchment descriptors has been improved through detailed analysis, including a measure of floodplain extent utilising a new catchment descriptor as detailed below.
• Updated QMED adjustment from donor gauges
  The equation used to adjust QMED at the ungauged site using data from a gauged record has been improved. This functionality is now incorporated into WINFAP-FEH 3.
  
  Donor QMED adjustment

• New catchment descriptors (FPEXT, CENTROID)
  Several new catchment descriptors have been developed for use in the new methods, and all are to be available on the forthcoming FEH CD-ROM 3. Two new catchment descriptors are used in WINFAP-FEH 3: floodplain extent (FPEXT) is used in the equation for estimating QMED from catchment descriptors, and suitability for donor adjustment of QMED is determined by proximity as measured using the catchment centroid (CENTROID).
• Enhanced pooling procedures
  A new procedure has been implemented for development of the pooling group. The more detailed procedure no longer relies on pooling group ranking, but calculates separate weighting equations for 2nd and 3rd order L-Moments, based on record length and similarity to the target catchment.
  
  Pooling group development

• Recommended pooled record length
  Updated recommendations for the record length advise that a standard 500 years is used regardless of the target return period. WINFAP-FEH 3 implements this protocol as standard practice, but with the flexibility to change the record length if required by the user.
• New urban adjustment method
  Further work undertaken by Kjeldsen (2009) has updated the urban adjustment methods. These are available in WINFAP-FEH 3 together with the existing methods.
  
  Urban adjustment options

Improvements

WINFAP-FEH 3 has been re-engineered to produce a significantly more user-friendly interface and logical menu structure, including:

• Licensing via USB 'dongle'
  WINFAP-FEH 3 will be licensed using a USB 'dongle', allowing greater flexibility to the user and a more simple installation.
• Intuitive and user-friendly menus
  WINFAP-FEH 3 has been overhauled to provide a user-friendly interface and more logical menu structures. The software is much easier to use as a result.
  
  Welcome screen

• Improved pooling group development and flood frequency curve wizard
  The pooling group wizard has been developed to provide simple options to implement the new pooling group methodology. Pooling group forms provide enhanced comparison of catchment descriptors and flood data.
• Full integration with forthcoming FEH CD-ROM 3
  The standard catchment descriptor file for transferring information from the FEH CD-ROM has been updated to include the new catchment descriptors, taking the form of a CD3 file.
• Calculator tool for estimating flood characteristics
  A calculator allows easy determination of return period for a specific peak flow, and vice versa.
• Safe editing of catchment descriptors and flood data
  Safe editing modes now protect the accidental overwriting of catchment descriptors and flood data.
• Integration with the Hi-Flows website
  The WINFAP-FEH 3 software links to the Hi-Flows website to allow quick assessment gauging station quality and relevance when used in pooling or donor QMED adjustment. Copy and paste functionality WINFAP-FEH 3 provides the ability to copy from integrated tables and paste directly into reports for accurate audit trails of design flood estimation.
  
  Safe editing of flood data

Pricing

The prices for both new licences and licence upgrades for WINFAP-FEH 3 and FEH CD-ROM 3 are presented below. When upgrading to WINFAP-FEH 3, holders of FEH CD-ROM 2 licences will receive a free upgrade to FEH CD-ROM 3 retaining the original licence expiry date (subject to the return of the FEH CD-ROM 2).

Training

WINFAP-FEH 3 software training courses will be available from September 2009 to help customers get the most out of this new software.