SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

EXERCISE 2

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing:

Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces
In this exercise we will explore Digital Elevation Models (DEM) in order to characterize hydrological
networks and surfaces through the use of various GIS tools. While we do this, we will continue our
familiarization with data in raster format, learn about the processes and utility in converting between raster
and vector and vice versa, and employ good data management practices.
Explore basic tools
Data required:
DEM (Digital elevation model)
1)

Create a new project in ArcMap.

Save it as:
C:\Taller_SERVIR\3_DEM\DEM_flujo.mxd

2)

In Tools / Extensions, verify that the Spatial Analyst extension is turned on. If not, check
the box to the left.

3)

Add the elevation layer, dem_gtopo from the directory: C:\Taller_SERVIR\3_DEM\

Explore the properties of the DEM. Double click on the name of the layer in the Table of
Contents to open the properties.
i. What is the range of values?
ii. What is the resolution?
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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

Click

to return to the Data View.

Zoom.

i. What is in the window?

We can change the color scheme (Color Ramp) in order to distinguish between different
altitudes better. In the Table of Contents, double click on the name of the layer to open the
properties, and select the Symbology tab.

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

Click

4)

to return to the Data View.

Now zoom out to see the entire layer,

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

Or the full extent of the data (

Extent)
5)

Full

Save the project (File / Save) or (Ctrl + S).

6)

Open ArcToolbox if it is not already open. Open the

Spatial Analyst Toolbox and then the Hydrology tools.

7)

In the ArcToolbox Window double click on

Flow
Direction to determine the flow direction of all the cells in the
DEM. Fill in the fields according to the following parameters:
the input is the DEM, the output will remain in the same folder
as the input DEM, and the well name the output fdir1

Click

to run the Flow Direction tool. The output fdir1 should automatically

appear in the Table of Contents in the Data View. If not,

8)

add it.

Review the range of values (right click on the name fdir1 in the Table of Contents), and
select Open Attribute Table.
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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

If the tool ran successfully, there should only be 8 values, because the water can only flow
in 8 directions according to this methodology.
N

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Este
Sureste
Sur
Suroeste
Oeste
Noroeste
Norte
Noreste

1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128

9)

It is very probable that fdir1 has more than only 8 values, due to sinks in the DEM. Spatial
Analyst cannot determine the flow direction if the DEM does not have a continuous surface
on which the water can flow.
The tool
Sink in the Hydrology toolset was designed specifically to identify sinks in the
DEM that could interfere with the currents that flow towards the sea (or inland lakes):

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

Note the range of values that results in sink1these reflect the individual sinks that must be
filled. You will probably need to turn off (

) the other layers in order to see the sinks.

sinks

10)

It will be necessary to fill these sinks in the DEM. Run

11)

Depending on the resolution of the grid, this step could take some time to process. It should
eventually produce a new filled DEM (dem_fill).
For the second time, run
and name the output fdir2.

Fill to fill the original DEM:

Flow Direction, but this time use the filled DEM, dem_fill,

Note that the Flow Direction output has only eight values, representing the possible flow
directions mentioned above:
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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

12)

Run

13)

Sink again to ensure that the sinks have been filled..

Review the values in the output sink2. There should be no sinks.

Now run
Flow Accumulation with the flow direction grid (fdir2) to see that the rivers
and streams can be derived from the DEM:

Observe the properties of these derived streams. What does the maximum value represent?

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

14)

11,506 is the maximum value in the facc layer. The values in this flow accumulation layer
represent the quantity of upstream or uphill cells that flow into the cell in question. In other
words, theres one cell in this output that receives water from 11,506 other cells.
Save the project (File / Save) o (Ctrl + S).

Convert data type through river identification

15)

Using our Flow Accumulation layer (facc) well now identify Rivers and streams.

Spatial Analyst Tools / Conditional /

Set Null
o This tool defines values that do not interest us as NoData and saves a grid of the
pixels that we want to keep.
o In this case, save all of the cells that have a flow accumulation higher than 500. The
expression is value < 500

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

16)

Result of Set Null: flow accumulation cells higher than 500

Almost certainly, well have to play with the limits of this expression. Repeat the Set Null
process twice, just like before, but change the expression to value < 100 and value < 10.
What were looking for is a good representation of connected river networks that at the same
time doesnt over-identify cells where rivers dont exist.
The representative value of rivers and streams depends on the resolution and
number of cells in the DEM.

Flow accumulation cells higher than 100

SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

Flow accumulation cells higher than 10

As you can see, the last output has too many cells, but the one before it probably does not
have enough. Therefore, well run
Set Null one last time with Value < 50 and
cheerfully continue to identify those rivers.

o
o
17)

Flow accumulation cells higher than 50

What would be the relationship between DEM resolution and the threshold value that best
defines river cells?
Connect the rivers in order to create a drainage network, not just a visual representation of
the Rivers.

Spatial Analyst / Hydrology /

You should note that the output stream_link has a color gradient from black to white. In
order to better visualize the significance of stream_link, open the Symbology (double click
on the name of the layer, or right click and open the properties, and select the Symbology
tab).
o Show Unique Values, and select a variable Color Scheme.
o

Stream Link

Then,
zoom in to see the actual representation of the rivers. Note that there is one
value and color per segment of each river generated.

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

18)

To give an order to each river segment, use Spatial Analyst / Hydrology /

Order

Stream

For more information about Strahler y Shreve methods, see the documentation provided by
ESRI (support.esri.com)
Verify that the resulting orders agree with the locations and connections of each river
segment:

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

19)

In order to characterize and edit the properties of these rivers, convert this raster layer into a
vector layer, using
Stream to Feature, a tool specifically designed for the conversion
of rivers from raster to vector. If you convert this layer using the normal Conversion tools
(Raster to Polyline), the resulting layer will not include characteristics that describe the
stream connectivity. Open

Ensure that

Stream to Feature.

Simplify polylines IS NOT SELECTED.

To demonstrate the difference between

Simplify polylines the Graphics
below shows the two options. The not simplified options results in lines that
overlay exactly with the central points of each grid cell. The other option
simplified smoothes many of the lines, often diverting from the original cell
centers.

Keeping in mind that theres a possibility that we might need to convert from one
data type to another, simplifying options in Conversion Tools will almost always
result in a loss of spatial precision.

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

20)

Now we should be ready to delineate watersheds based on the flow direction. Run
Hydrology /

21)

Basin

Like before, change the Symbology to show Unique Values.

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

22)

For later use, convert this Basin (watershed) GRID to

polygons: Conversion Tools /
Raster to Polygon
o Save the output as basin_poly.shp

23)
o
o
o

Examine the new watershed delineation layer basin_poly. How does it compare with your
prior knowledge of watersheds in your area?
Put the rivers on top of this layer to see how they run in relation to the watersheds.
We could also add an official watershed layer to see how it compares with the one we just
generated.
Can you distinguish familiar rivers and watersheds using the information you just generated?

24)

Save the project (File / Save) o (Ctrl + S).

Surface analysis
25)

Turn offbut do not deleteall of the layers except for the DEM.

26)

Convert the DEM to Slope: Arc Toolbox / Spatial Analyst / Surface /

27)

Revise the statistics in Properties / Symbology / Source.

Slope.

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

o
o

28)
o

Were looking for an average value near 3 and a maximum value near 30. If the resulting
layer only has very high values (near 90), there is probably a problem with the spatial
reference or projection.
How would a higher resolution DEM affect the output?

Run
Hillshade to create a layer we can use for lighting and shadow effects (under
Surface tools).
One can customize the tool by modifying the azimuth and altitude, but for our purposes,
leave these fields blank.
o Regardless, click on each of the fields to see a short explanation of each term.

Make the output more transparent by opening the layer properties and choosing the Display
tab. Try 80% transparent.

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

29)

Turn on another layer underneath, for example the watersheds or slope to see how they look
with shaded relief.

30)

Alternatively, one can change the transparency

by using the Effects Menu. Right click
on a blank space in the tool bar, and select Effects:

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SERVIR Workshop: Disaster Management and Response to Extreme Events

Basic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Processing: Characterizing Hydrological Networks and Surfaces

31)

Save the project.

Other ways to perform hydrological analysis:

The Hydrology Toolbar, available through the EDN (ESRI Developer Network) includes interactive
Watershed and Raindrop tools.

http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/8.3/Samples/Spatial%20Analyst/Hydrology%20Modeling/Hydrolo
gyModeling.htm

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