Potential of river network modeling based on GIS technologies and digital elevation model

Abstract

The development of GIS technologies and the availability of a wide range of geodatasets provide great potential for modeling physiographic objects, in particular, river systems. The adequate automatic method of river network digitizing was developed and tested using the digital elevation model based on applying the Complex Energy Index (CEI); the results are presented. The index form includes the independent parameterization of main geomorphologic and climatic factors of the first-order stream generation. The method testing proved that it is efficient and the results of its use can be reliably interpreted. The software was developed on the basis of ArcGIS tools. It implements the full algorithm of the automatic digitizing of river network using the digital elevation model. It also allows advancing studies on this issue, and could be used for solving applied problems.