Topographic Partition of Watersheds with Digital Elevation Models

Abstract

Digital elevation models are used to automatically map the stream channel and divide networks of a watershed. These topographic skeletons are used to partition the watershed into a set of fundamental, runoff producing subregions, each of which drains into one stream link. Construction of a code describing the network topology, along with parallel files containing attribute information of each drainage area and associated stream link may form the basis for an efficient watershed information system. Registration of remotely sensed imagery and maps of important soils information to the digital elevation model allows an effective organization of this data as input to hydrologic simulation models. The methodology described here is designed to aid in the efficient parameterization of a distributed components approach to watershed simulation.