How does InfoDrainage compare to HydroCAD, TR-20 & TR-55?

In stormwater management and drainage design, selecting the right software is not just about features. It’s about how well a tool fits the way engineers actually work.

Tools like HydroCAD, TR-20, and TR-55 have long been used for runoff calculations based on established hydrology methods. At the same time, newer tools like InfoDrainage are expanding what’s possible by combining hydrology, hydraulic modelling, and design workflows in a single environment.

So how do these approaches compare in practice?

How engineers actually choose stormwater modelling software

In practice, engineers don’t choose stormwater tools based on feature lists alone. They choose based on:

• Regulatory requirements (TR-55, TR-20, local standards)
• Project scale and complexity
• Whether the focus is calculation or design
• How results need to be communicated

Some tools are designed to perform specific hydrology calculations quickly. Others are built to support broader workflows, including layout, visualization, and collaboration. Understanding this distinction is key to interpreting any comparison.

We’re providing a detailed comparison of these four tools to highlight the key differences and advantages of each. By reviewing a comprehensive feature-by-feature chart, you can gain a clearer understanding of how InfoDrainage, HydroCAD, TR-20, and TR-55 stack up against each other and make an informed decision for your next project.

To explore this in more detail, we reviewed HydroCAD’s published comparison of TR-20 and TR-55 and expanded it to include InfoDrainage, highlighting where approaches align—and where they differ.

As makers of InfoDrainage, we’re obviously biased towards our own software, but we wanted to approach this as fairly as possible, so we began by asking our technical team to review HydroCAD’s published HydroCAD, TR-20, TR-55 Comparison, and expanded it to include InfoDrainage, highlighting where approaches align – and where they differ. We’ve added a column for InfoDrainage to help us detail the similarities and differences between all four applications.

(Did we get any details wrong? Let us know.)

Comparison of HydroCAD, TR-20, TR-55, and InfoDrainage

Hydrology methods: TR-55, TR-20 and beyond

HydroCAD is widely used for workflows based on TR-20, TR-55, and SCS-based hydrology methods. These approaches remain common, particularly in the United States, and are well suited to:

• SWMM-based modelling
• Runoff estimation
• Detention sizing
• Regulatory submissions

However, these methods are based on specific assumptions about rainfall distribution, catchment behavior, and regional conditions. For example, TR-55 uses standardized rainfall distributions and curve number methods developed for US watersheds, which may not fully reflect conditions in other regions.

Working across regions and standards

In practice, stormwater modelling often needs to reflect local conditions. Different regions use different approaches, including:

• FEH and FSR methods (UK)
• ARR (Australian Rainfall and Runoff)
• Region-specific rainfall datasets and guidelines

These standards account for variations in:

• Climate
• Soil conditions
• Catchment characteristics

📚 Learn how these methods are applied in practice:

• Rainfall and runoff calculation methods in InfoDrainage
• Implementing ARR guidelines for climate change
• Using ARR2019 in InfoDrainage
• FSR vs FEH rainfall methods
• Regional and customizable rainfall settings in Canada

Why this matters

Stormwater modelling is not just about applying a method. It’s about applying the right method for the location and project.

Tools that support multiple regional standards allow engineers to:

• Work across different jurisdictions
• Adapt to local rainfall behavior
• Respond to changing climate conditions

This flexibility is increasingly important as modelling moves beyond standardized assumptions toward site-specific and climate-aware design.

Where the approaches diverge

The biggest differences between these tools are not in individual features, but in how they support engineering workflows.

From calculation to design

Traditional tools represent drainage systems as nodes and links. InfoDrainage allows engineers to move beyond this, supporting layout-based design that can be visualized and integrated directly into site plans.

In other words, we think that your H&H modeling shouldn’t be representing your network with nodes and lines any longer – visuals are more important than ever, particularly when collaborating with other contractors and consultants on a project site. Since InfoDrainage offers Civil 3D integration for visualizing ponds, profiles, channels, grade lines, etc, your modeling work can be easily displayed in the final deliverable.

Supporting multiple methods in one workflow

Many engineers need to work across different hydrology methods depending on project requirements. Rather than switching between tools or spreadsheets, InfoDrainage allows these methods to be applied within a single environment.

We know that it can be frustrating for civil engineers to need to learn multiple (sometimes antiquated) H&H programs or spreadsheets to please different regulatory agencies. InfoDrainage eases this frustration by providing the most diverse and wide-ranging set of rainfall, runoff, hydrograph, and other H&H methods on the market. InfoDrainage also provides over 40 different design calculators to right-size stormwater infrastructure such as ponds, rain gardens, pipes, and even green roofs. This allows engineers to work across multiple standards and regions without switching tools.

Incorporate land use and soil type to minimize SCS rework

While technically this might be considered just another one of InfoDrainage’s 40+ calculators, the ability to add polygons which can help automatically generate SCS Curve Numbers, Percentage Impervious, Volumetric Runoff Coefficient, and more has proven invaluable to our customers. Hours, if not days, of rework can be spent in antiquated programs when projects change and Curve Numbers must be recalculated. InfoDrainage saves civil engineers all that time and energy.

Understanding exceedance and system behavior

Many engineers need to work across different hydrology methods depending on project requirements. Rather than switching between tools or spreadsheets, InfoDrainage allows these methods to be applied within a single environment.

We often design systems for the 10 or 25-year storms, but as climate change impacts our “normal” storms with more volume and intensity, regulatory agencies are increasingly asking, “What happens when we have one of these more extreme events?”

InfoDrainage allows you to answer that question with its 1D-2D analysis. When the analysis is run, as water fills and begins to surcharge, you can see where water will go, based on realistic surfaces and understand at what point flooding will impact nearby structures.

These types of analyses are also essential when designing systems such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), where managing runoff and exceedance flow pathways is critical to reducing flood risk.

Choosing the right approach

HydroCAD, TR-20, and TR-55 represent proven approaches to stormwater modelling. InfoDrainage reflects a broader shift – toward integrated modelling workflows that combine hydrology, hydraulic modelling, and design.

The right choice depends on:

• Project requirements
• Regulatory context
• How results need to be used

Because in practice, stormwater modelling is not just about calculations. It’s about understanding how systems behave – and communicating that clearly.

Try it before you buy it

Before you purchase any H&H software, you should try it out:

• HydroCAD offers HydroCAD Sampler, which supports up to 5 nodes and has advice for comparing results to other programs. Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial of InfoDrainage with no credit card required, with all features available in the trial.
• If you want to review every feature of InfoDrainage, you can follow along with our tutorial and training. If you’d rather speak to someone on our team who can walk you through InfoDrainage’s latest features, you can send us your contact details and we’ll set you up with a custom walkthrough.
• Are you student or educator? Autodesk Water Infrastructure product licenses are available for free.
• Want to take this chart with you? We created a large poster PDF you can download if you wish. 👇