A Hybrid Flow Direction Algorithm for Water Routing on DEMs

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2018.20170614

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrological information extracted from digital elevation models (DEMs) is the basis of distributed hydrological models. Algorithms determining water flow direction over terrain surface are basis for extracting hydrological information from the DEM. Flow direction and accumulation distributions have a direct effect on catchment area. Single flow direction algorithm is widely used because of its easiness to implement and to track upstream catchment areas. However, the single flow direction (SFD) algorithms tend to produce unnatural parallel flow paths in gentle slope areas. Therefore, multiple flow direction (MFD) algorithms have been proposed to calculate water flow directions. However, MFD algorithms create overlap upstream boundaries of watersheds. Considering applicability of SFD and MFD algorithms, a hybrid approach is proposed to calculate a more reasonable distribution of water under different terrain conditions. First, a template-based terrain classification algorithm is applied to the given DEM which is categorized into five classes:valleys, ridges, passes, gentle slope area and steep slope area with a slope threshold value. A single flow direction algorithm is applied to steep slope, valley and ridge area. A multiple flow direction algorithm is used to determine water flow directions in the gentle slope and passes area. In this paper, two small watersheds in the Linfen Basin of the Loess Plateau and the Sichuan Basin in the Yangtze River Basin were selected as study areas. SRTM DEMs of 30 m and 90 m are used in experiments. The results of hybrid flow direction algorithm are compared with the results of typical SFD and MFD algorithms. The divergent effect is apparently suppressed compared to multi-flow direction algorithms. The occurrence of unnatural parallel drainage lines is decreased compared to the results of single flow direction algorithms. And improvements of hybrid flow direction on DEMs of 30 m is better than 90 m datasets.

Key words: DEM, water flow direction algorithm, total catchment area, hybrid flow direction algorithm, geographic Information System

CLC Number:

P208

XIA Yuling, LI Xiaojuan, WANG Tao. A Hybrid Flow Direction Algorithm for Water Routing on DEMs[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2018, 47(5): 683-691.

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