Watershed Delineation with Triangle‐Based Terrain Models

Keywords

algorithm, triangulated network, stream network, watershed, triangle-based terrain

Abstract

An algorithm is presented for tracing the path of steepest descent from a given starting point on a terrain model defined by a triangulated irregular network. This algorithm is then extended to solve several problems. The flow patterns for a site are generated by tracing flow paths from a large number of starting points. The approximate stream network or channel network is found by tracing the channels upstream from pits or exit points. Once the stream network is found, the source areas or contributing areas for each of the sections of the stream are delineated. The source areas are then used to delineate the watersheds of selected nodes in the channel network. The format of a possible data structure for the channel network is presented along with pseudocode examples for traversing the channel network and the source areas. Execution times on a desktop computer are presented along with suggestions for optimal use of the algorithms.

Original Publication Citation

Jones, Norman L., Stephen G. Wright, and David R. Maidment, "Watershed delineation with triangle-based terrain models,"ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, October, 1990, pp. 1232-1251.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1990-10

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7114

Publisher

Journal of Hydraulic Engineering

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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