An Automated GIS Procedure for Delineating River and Lake Boundaries

Digitization of river and lake boundaries is an essential task in several hydrologic studies, which, in most cases, is performed manually by using aerial photographs. This paper presents an automatic geographic information system (GIS) procedure for delineating river and lake boundaries using aerial photographs. The GIS procedure is based on supervised classification of aerial photographs by using the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) for creating training areas. Four study areas – Lake Palestine in Texas, Brazos River in Texas, Neuse River in North Carolina, and Snake River in Idaho – are used to demonstrate the approach. The results from the automatic boundary delineation process are evaluated by comparing them to manually digitized boundaries. The boundaries delineated by the automatic procedure matched the manually digitized boundaries with an overall difference of less than five percent in terms of area measurement. Besides saving about 85 percent of manual labor, the GIS procedure provides a consistent way of delineating water bodies, and provides estimation of river channel widths, which, in conjunction with existing NHD data, can be used to estimate average flow depths. Supplementing the regional scale NHD data with local scale attributes such as channel width and depth may lead to increased use of NHD in local scale studies.     

Novel fusion approach on automatic object extraction from spatial data: case study Worldview-2 and TOPO5000

The automatic extraction of information content from remotely sensed data is always challenging. We suggest a novel fusion approach to improve the extraction of this information from mono-satellite images. A Worldview-2 (WV-2) pan-sharpened image and a 1/5000-scaled topographic vector map (TOPO5000) were used as the sample data. Firstly, the buildings and roads were manually extracted from WV-2 to point out the maximum extractable information content. Subsequently, object-based automatic extractions were performed. After achieving two-dimensional results, a normalized digital surface model (nDSM) was generated from the underlying digital aerial photos of TOPO5000, and the automatic extraction was repeated by fusion with the nDSM to include individual object heights as an additional band for classification. The contribution was tested by precision, completeness and overall quality. Novel fusion technique increased the success of automatic extraction by 7% for the number of buildings and by 23% for the length of roads.     

A vector-based method for the extraction of catchment from grid DEMs

The methodology of catchment extraction especially from regular grid digital elevation models (DEMs) is briefly reviewed. Then an efficient algorithm, which combines vector process and traditional neighbourhood raster process, is designed for extracting the catchments and subcatchments from depressionless DEMs. The catchment area of each river in the grid DEM data is identified and delineated, then is divided into subcatchments as required. Compared to traditional processes, this method for identifying catchments focuses on the boundaries instead of the area inside the catchments and avoids the boundary intersection phenomena. Last, the algorithm is tested with a set of DEMs of different sizes, and the result proves that the computation efficiency and accuracy are better than existent methods.     

A vector-based method for the extraction of catchment from grid DEMs

The methodology of catchment extraction especially from regular grid digital elevation models (DEMs) is briefly reviewed. Then an efficient algorithm, which combines vector process and traditional neighbourhood raster process, is designed for extracting the catchments and subcatchments from depressionless DEMs. The catchment area of each river in the grid DEM data is identified and delineated, then is divided into subcatchments as required. Compared to traditional processes, this method for identifying catchments focuses on the boundaries instead of the area inside the catchments and avoids the boundary intersection phenomena. Last, the algorithm is tested with a set of DEMs of different sizes, and the result proves that the computation efficiency and accuracy are better than existent methods.     

地图水系综合中等高线簇与河网协同的汇水区域提取方法

在地图水系自动综合中河流选取需要建立对不同河流重要性程度的有效判别。由于河流汇水区域直接反映河流的作用空间,因而其面积大小成为关键性的量化指标。目前基于河流的汇水区域自动提取方法主要从河流单一要素出发,按“空间均衡竞争”思想平分河流之间的区域,由于未考虑地形因素使得提取的汇水区域往往存在偏差,而传统基于DEM的汇水区域提取虽然考虑了地形,但没有与河流目标建立显性的对应关系。河流是一种天然的沟谷地性线,与山脊线具有对生互补的空间耦合关系,本文提出了一种等高线簇与河网双要素协同的河流汇水区域提取方法,该方法对河流与等高线的目标集合构建约束Delaunay三角网(CD-TIN)并将三角形分类,对不同类型的三角形分别采用骨架线提取规则与梯度向量引导的分水线搜索规则提取分水线段,连接形成网络结构并依此计算各河段的汇水区域。实验结果表明,本算法能更准确地提取河流汇水区域,从而为河流综合选取提供有效支持。     

Dleineation and characterization of geomorphological features in a part of lower maharahstra metamorphic plateau using IRS-ID LISS-III Data

In the present study, an attempt has been made to delineate and characterize the different geomorphic units of Tundiya river catchment in a part of Lower Maharahstra Metamorphic Plateau, north-eastern part of Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The drainage, contour and delineated geological units have been overlaid on IRS-ID LISS III satellite imagery (bands 2,3 and 4) in EASI/PACE analysis system to delineate and characterize different geomorphological units and analysis of their processes based on the field observations. The study area is basically of metamorphic in origin with different geological formations and is influenced by the various fluvio-morphological processes. Based on the satellite data analysis, the distinct geomorphological units viz., table top summits, structural hills, subdued plateau, linear ridges, shallow, moderate and deeply buried foot slopes, shallow valley fills and deep valley fills have been delineated and characterized. The information generated from satellite data in the form of vector layers has been used in GIS to generate geological and geomorphological maps of the study area. The present study demonstrates that IRS-ID LISS-III data in conjunction with geology, drainage and contour parameters to enable detailed evaluation of different geomorphological units and analysis of their processes based on the field observations. The delineated geomorphological units can be utilized for evaluation and management of natural resources and geo-environment on sustainable basis at river catchment level.     

Effects of jpeg 2000 compression on automated dsm extraction: evidence from aerial photographs

This paper evaluates the effects of JPEG 2000 compression on automated digital surface model (DSM) extraction, using the area-based matching technique. Two stereopairs of aerial photographs, which have different photo scale, pixel size, and topographic type, are used as the images for the experiments. In the experiments, the DSM generated from the uncompressed image is set as the reference, and the elevation accuracy is computed for a range of compression ratios (2:1 to 100:1). The results show that the employed indices of image quality based on the JPEG 2000 compression are clearly superior to the commonly used JPEG compression technique—especially for high compression ratios. However, the elevation accuracy varies with the compression ratios. Also, JPEG 2000 compression does not have a significant influence on the percentage of the successful matching rate. In addition, a near linear fall-off is observed in extracted DSM accuracy with increasing compression ratios.     

Automated Extraction of Natural Drainage Density Patterns for the Conterminous United States through High-Performance Computing

Hydrographic networks form an important data foundation for cartographic base mapping and for hydrologic analysis. Drainage density patterns for these networks can be derived to characterize local landscape, bedrock and climate conditions, and further inform hydrological and geomorphological analysis by indicating areas where too few headwater channels are represented. Natural drainage density patterns are not consistently available in existing hydrographical data bases for the United States because compilation and capture criteria historically varied, along with climate, during the period of data collection over the various terrain types throughout the country. This paper demonstrates an automated workflow that is being tested in a high-performance computing environment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to map natural drainage density patterns at the 1:24,000-scale (24K) for the conterminous United States. Hydrographic network drainage patterns may be extracted from elevation data to guide corrections for existing hydrographic network data. The paper describes three stages in this workflow including data pre-processing, natural channel extraction, and generation of drainage density patterns from extracted channels. The workflow is implemented in parallel fashion by simultaneously executing procedures on multiple subbasin watersheds within the U.S. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Pre-processing defines parameters needed for the extraction process. Extraction proceeds in standard fashion: filling sinks, developing flow direction and weighted flow accumulation rasters. Drainage channels with assigned Strahler stream order are extracted within a subbasin and simplified. Drainage density patterns are then estimated with 100-m resolution and subsequently smoothed with a low-pass filter. The extraction process is found to be of better quality in higher slope terrains. Concurrent processing through the high-performance computing environment is shown to facilitate and refine the choice of drainage density extraction parameters and more readily improve extraction procedures than conventional processing.     

Morphometric analysis of a drainage basin using aerial photographs: A case study of Khairkuli basin,district Dehradun,U.P.

Remote sensing techniques using satellite images and aerial photographs are convenient tools in morphometric analysis of a drainage basin. In the present study morphometric parameters of Khairkuli drainage basin, district Dehradun, are worked out using aerial photographs. The parameters worked out include bifurcation ratio, stream length, form factor, circulatory ratio, elongation ratio, drainage density, constant of channel maintenance and stream frequency. Hypsometric relations of drainage basin are also presented. Relation between cumulative stream length and the stream order establishes that the ratio between cumulative stream length Σ ₁ ^u Σ ₁ ^nu Lu and the stream order u is constant throughout the. successive orders of a drainage basin suggesting that geometrical similarity is preserved in the basins of increasing order. The morphometric parameters computed suggest that the area is covered by resistant permeable rocks (with fracture and karstic porosities) and vegetative cover, the drainage network is affected by tectonic disturbances. The peak flows generated from the basin are likely to be moderately high and of short duration.     

滇池SRTM DEM数据的流域特征自动提取

以滇池流域为试验对象,在NASA发布的3弧秒SRTM DEM数据的基础上,运用Arc Hydro Tools进行流域特征的提取,结果表明,以3弧秒的SRTM数据为基础提取的流域河网与水利部门提供的数字河网基本相符,而提取的流域面积与实际流域面积十分接近,显示了SRTM DEM数据在中小型湖泊流域地表水文模拟方面的优势.     

Determination of run-off factor of the Tons Catchment using aerial photographs

Run-off is an important element of the hydrologic studies of any given basin. As such the estimation of the run-off factor of a catchment becomes imperative for determination of the total quantity of its surface run-off. The traditional ground survey methods of hydrologic studies of river basins are gradually getting replaced by more economical and reasonably accurate methods mostly based on aerial photographs. This paper deals with an experiment carried out on the Tons Catchment for determination of its run-off factor with the help of aerial photographs using the photo-interpretation and analysis techniques. The resultant values of the surface runoff have compared very well with the observed flow at Kisau gauging station. This indicates that a suitable methodology can be developed to estimate the discharge of the catchment of Indian rivers, where the run-off data is not available, with reasonable accuracy using the aerial photographs.     

Automatic 3D Coordinate Extraction from High Resolution Digital Aerial Images

Image matching has been widely used in various fields such as digital photogrammetry, remote sensing, image processing and computer vision. In this study, the speeded up robust feature extraction algorithm for automatic point extraction was applied to a pair of high resolution digital aerial stereo images. In contrast to other studies, the universal transverse mercator coordinates of randomly selected test points were computed automatically with the proposed approach and compared with the same points that were manually measured. As a result, the mean square differences for the UTM coordinates’ in the X, Y and Z axes were calculated as ±0.043, 0.030 and 0.153 m, respectively. It is proved that the proposed algorithm is successful in matching remotely sensed high-resolution images acquired with digital cameras. Moreover, the automatization of the basic tasks in image matching and the 3D coordinate acquisition were also achieved by the algorithm.     

利用早期小比例尺航片制作大比例尺数字产品的精度控制

针对利用早期小比例尺航片制作大比例尺数字产品的技术难题,以1∶60 000航片编绘1∶10 000地形图为例探讨精度控制的技术方法。本文对数字产品进行了平面、高程和相邻地物点间距中误差检验,证明了利用早期小比例尺航片制作大比例尺数字产品制图精度满足规范要求。     

Drainage skeletonization from flow-accumulated area without the use of threshold

This study presents a method of automatic drainage skeletonization from flow-accumulated area without the use of threshold which conserves drainage geometry at chosen digital elevation model (DEM) scale. To get all possible drainage at the chosen scale, stream order raster is generated by incorporating flow accumulation and flow direction raster derived from corresponding DEM. This allows generation of drainage network without the use of threshold. Resultant stream order raster, termed as raw stream order raster (RSOR), is tested against threshold defined stream order raster to evaluate its efficiency. Use of RSOR allows extraction of stream heads to greater stream head extent. Again, DEM downscaling takes care of overestimation in number of streams. So, the proposed technique is effective in controlling two basic aspects of drainage characteristics – stream number and extent. In our case, drainage estimated from re-sampled medium-scale DEM has the closest matching with that of the reference topographical map.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区沟谷网络自动制图技术研究

黄土丘陵沟壑区沟谷网络自动制图技术的核心是沟谷网络的自动提取技术。本文基于沟谷网络和汇流网络的差别,提出了形态学方法和水文学方法相结合自动提取沟谷网络的新技术,设计了完整的基于栅格数字高程数据的提取算法,并给出了典型黄土沟壑丘陵区山西离石王家沟小流域的运行结果。提取得到的沟谷网络与实际情况相符。     

基于DEM的平缓地区水系提取和流域分割的流向算法分析

本文以地势较为平坦的秦淮河流域为实验样区,以高精度DEM(5m分辨率)和地形图水系为基础数据,对比分析了单流向算法(D8算法)、多流向算法(Dinf法)以及添加数字化河道信息后的单流向算法(AgreeD8算法)3种算法下水系提取和流域分割的结果。实验结果表明,提取得到的水系更逼近于实际河网,该算法既有效提高了水系提取和流域分割的精度,又保留了D8算法模型简单、稳定性强、运行效率高等优点。     

Spatial Technologies in Deriving the Morphotectonic Characteristics of Tectonically Active Western Tripura Region,Northeast India

Employing integrated remote sensing and GIS technology the western most part of Tripura region (Northeast India) and adjoining Bangladesh region has been investigated in the light of its geomorphological characteristics. Nature of fold ridges, several streams and the respective drainage basins are well depicted in satellite images and digital elevation model providing meaningful information. Quantitative parameters such as stream sinuosity, drainage basin asymmetry, basin elongation ratio have been computed. Main rivers of the study area, namely the Gomti and Khowai follows extremely meandering path and crosses through the transversely faulted anticlinal ridges. Fluvial anomalies viz. shift in stream channel and the abandoned meandering loops have been inferred and mapped. The Haora river in the study area exhibits northward shift in some part. Development of drainage system towards north and south from the drainage divide along the latitude 23°45^′N indicated up arching of the region which is also corroborated by the extracted topographic profiles. It has been observed that several tributary streams have gone dry and agricultural fields are developed along the dried up stream. These derived parameters remained useful to understand the nature of topographical modification attributed to the possible tectonic activity.     

Extraction of morphotectonic features from DEMs: Development and applications for study areas in Hungary and NW Greece

A procedure for the consistent application of digital terrain analysis methods to identify tectonic phenomena from geomorphology is developed and presented through two case studies. Based on the study of landforms related to faults, geomorphological characteristics are translated into mathematical and numerical algorithms. Topographic features represented by digital elevation models of the test areas were extracted, described and interpreted in terms of structural geology and geomorphology. Digital terrain modelling was carried out by means of the combined use of: (1) numerical differential geometry methods, (2) digital drainage network analysis, (3) digital geomorphometry, (4) digital image processing, (5) lineament extraction and analysis, (6) spatial and statistical analysis and (7) digital elevation model-specific digital methods, such as shaded relief models, digital cross-sections and 3D surface modelling. A sequential modelling scheme was developed and implemented to analyse two selected study sites, in Hungary and NW Greece on local and regional scales. Structural information from other sources, such as geological and geophysical maps, remotely sensed images and field observations were analysed with geographic information system techniques. Digital terrain analysis methods applied in the proposed way in this study could extract morphotectonic features from DEMs along known faults and they contributed to the tectonic interpretation of the study areas.     

A GIS numerical framework to study the process basis of scaling statistics in river networks

A new geographic information system (GIS) numerical framework (NF), called CUENCAS, for flows in river networks is presented. The networks are extracted from digital elevation models (DEMs). The program automatically partitions a basin into hillslopes and channel links that are required to correspond to these features in an actual terrain. To investigate the appropriate DEM resolution for this correspondence, we take a high-resolution DEM at 10-m pixel size, and create DEMs at eight different resolutions in increments of 10 m by averaging. The extracted networks from 10-30 m remain about the same, even though there is a tenfold reduction in the number of pixels. By contrast, the extracted networks show increasing distortions of the original network from 40-90 m DEMs. We show the presence of statistical self-similarity (scaling) in the probability distributions of drainage areas in a Horton-Strahler framework using CUENCAS. The NF for flows takes advantage of the hillslope-link decomposition of an actual terrain and specifies mass and momentum balance equations and physical parameterizations at this scale. These equations are numerically solved. An application of NF is given to test different physical assumptions that produce statistical self-similarity in spatial peak flow statistics in a Horton-Strahler framework.