GIS Applications in Hydrology

Baxter E. Vieux, Ph.D., P.E.School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science

University of Oklahoma202 West Boyd Street, Room CEC334

Norman, OK 73019 bvieux@ou.edu

Web Pages

Faculty profilehttp://www.coe.ou.edu/research/profiles/cees/vieux/content.html

Environmental Modeling and GIS LaboratoryUnder construction, but…

http://www.coe.ou.edu/emgis/contact.htm

Independent Study Course in Hydrologyhttp://www.occe.ou.edu/isd/ce5843/

On campus course in Hydrologyhttp://www.ecn.ou.edu/vieux/www/ce5843/index.htm

Geographic Information Systems

Geographic information systems (GIS) are a useful tool for analysis of spatially distributed features on and under the earth surface. Considering the inherently spatial character of components of the hydrologic cycle, GIS is increasingly used by hydrologists to analyze, simulate, and understand hydrologic processes.

Representation of the essential physical characteristics of a hydrologic process in terms of parameter maps raises issues not generally considered by hydrologists before the advent of the technology and spatial data.

Spatial resolution, scale, attribute uncertainty, surface interpolation, error propagation, and aspects related to the linkage or integration of spatially distributed data within a GIS and a hydrologic model.

Web links: http://www.ecn.ou.edu/vieux/www/ce5843/resources/index.htm

GIS Data

Characteristics of GIS Data—

Map scale, spatial detail, and extent

Coordinate systems Datums Map projections

Points, contours, rasters, TINs

Data types

Watershed boundaries delineation

Soil and landuse/cover classification

Digital elevation data

Meteorological parameters

Radar

Satellite

Digital Elevation Model

We are here

I was there

Projections

Georeferenced coordinate systems

Review of geographic coordinates

Ellipsoidal versus spherical

Stereographic Projection

A

A''

60

90

6371.2 km

Map Planes

A'

Parameters—

•Spheroid=sphere•Central Meridian=105W•Reference Latitude=60N

HRAP Projection

Meridians of longitude•0 Greenwich England•0-180 Western

Parallels of latitude•0 equator•+90 North pole

GIS Application to Flood Prediction

Mapping rainfall into a basin

Rainfall intensities in space and time

Rainfall extent versus basin size

Case study: Tulsa, May 5-6, 2000

Basin Hydrology Using GIS

Objective—

1. Use a GIS to estimate rainfall accumulations over a small watershed

2. Become familiar with GIS concepts involved with

Watershed delineation Rainfall maps Fast response basin hydrology

Tulsa, Oklahoma May 5-6, 2000

Storm Total Tulsa, Oklahoma May 5-6, 2000

Exercise

Items you will need--1. Laboratory handout—

tulsa_ex.doc

TulsaWorld.htm

2. Exercise data—tulsa_ex.apr

Open the Arcview Project

Follow the exercise