Hydrology application using GIS

Sathaporn Monprapussorn, Ph.D.

Geography department
Srinakharinwirot University

Areawide watersheds
Delineated by using flow direction raster
and the stream link raster as the inputs
Denser stream networks (smaller
threshold value) will have more, but
smaller watershed
However, it will not cover the entire area
of original DEM
Missing area is the areas that do not
have flow accumulation values higher
than the specific threshold value.

Point-based watersheds
If we need to delineate specific
watershed based on points of interest.
Stream gauge stations, dams, water
monitoring stations
We call pour points or outlets
Use point raster or shapefile and it must
be located over a cell that is part of the
stream link.
If pour points is not located directly over
a stream linkthan.incomplete
watershed

Point-based watersheds
If pour point is not snapped to a cell
with a high flow accumulation value, it
usually has a small number of cells
identified as its watershed.

Factor influence watershed

analysis
DEM resolution
30 meter resolution DEM and 10 meter
resolution DEM
Flow direction method
D8 is simple and can produce good
results. Multiple flow direction methods
include D are avalibale

Factor influence watershed

analysis
Flow Accumulation Threshold
Higher threshold value will result in a less
dense stream network and fewer internal
watersheds than a lower threshold value
Task 1 Delineate Areawide watershed
Task 2 Derive upstreamcontributing areas at
pour points

GIS Spatial Interpolation

Sathaporn Monprapussorn

Areawide watersheds
Elements of Spatial interpolation
Global Methods
Local Methods
Comparison

 Another type of surface.cannot be

physically present but can be visualized
in the same way as land surface
Statistical surface!!!
Precipitation, snow accumulation water
table and population density
Input is limited to point data
Process of filling in data between the
sample points is therefore required

 Spatial interpolation what is it?

A process of using points with known
values to estimate values at other points
Display at 3D or isoline map and use for
further analysis or modeling
Do require 2 basic inputs: known points
and an interpolation method
Control points: points with known values
Known points, sample points, or
observation

 Global interpolation uses every known

point available to estimate an unknown
value ---> capture the general trend of
surface
Local interpolation uses sample of
known points to estimate an unknown
value -----> short range variation

 Exact interpolation (EI) predicts the

value at the point location that is the
same as its known value
Inexact interpolation (II) predicts the
value at the point location that differ
that differs from its known value.

 Number and distribution of control

points are greatly influence the accuracy
of spatial interpolation.
Value to be estimated at a point is more
influenced by nearby known points than
those father away.
Control points should be well distributed

Global Interpolation
point
1
2
3
4
5
0

x
69
59
75
86
88
69

y
76
64
52
73
53
67

value
20.82
10.910
10.380
14.600
10.560
Zx,y

Zx,y = b0 (-10.094) + b1(0.020) x +b2(0.347)y

Global Interpolation
Deterministic Interpolation provide no
assessment of error
Stochastic Interpolation considers the
presence of some randomness in its
variable and offers assessment of error
with estimated variance

Global method
Higher order trend surface model are
required to approximate more complex
surface

Local method
Use a sample of known points
Need to know how to select a sample
Thiessen Polygon

IDW
IDW determines values by weighting
sample points
Estimated value of the points is influenced
more by nearby known points than by
those father away

IDW
Z0 is the estimated value at point 0
Zi is the Z value at known point I
Di is the distance between point i and point 0
S is the number of known points used in
estimation
K is specified power
K= 1 means a constant rate of change in
value between points
K =2 or higher suggests that the rate of
change is higher near known point

Let calculate IDW by hand!!!!