QGIS
The free, open-source GIS that has become the default spatial platform for water engineers worldwide.
QGIS plugin for exploring mesh model results — animate TUFLOW, Telemac and HEC-RAS 2D outputs in the GIS.
by Lutra Consulting
Install
QGIS → Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins → "Crayfish"Crayfish, from Lutra Consulting, made QGIS a serious post-processor for flood models: it loads mesh results (TUFLOW, Telemac, ANUGA, HEC-RAS 2D, Basement and more via MDAL), animates depth and velocity, plots time series at points, and exports contours and rasters — the daily post-processing loop, licence-free.
Much of its engine work was upstreamed into QGIS core as the native mesh layer (Lutra also drove MDAL), so modern QGIS handles many formats directly; the plugin still adds the animation and plotting conveniences modellers actually use.
Other geospatial & hydro-gis tools covering similar workflow stages.
The free, open-source GIS that has become the default spatial platform for water engineers worldwide.

500+ fast geospatial analysis tools with the best DEM hydrology toolkit in open source.
JAXA's 30m global DSM from PRISM stereo imagery — a strong third opinion alongside SRTM and Copernicus DEM.
A 30m global DEM reaching to 83° latitude — the go-to where SRTM/NASADEM have no coverage at all.
Esri's free hydrology framework for ArcGIS Pro — terrain preprocessing and the data model behind many agency workflows.
ESA's TanDEM-X-derived global DEM — the most accurate free global surface model available today.