Determination of drainage network in digital elevation models, utilities and limitations

The starting point for the examination of different catchments is the determination of drainage network. This network forms the basis of many further examinations, such as the determination of subcatchments, river networks, and morphometric examinations. If there is a greater catchment area, there is a demand for a more detailed presentation and examination of the network than the automatically derived digital elevation model of the area or the hydrograph of topographic maps. The importance of the task is shown by the fact that methods supported by the computer technology appeared as early as the beginning of relief analysis. Dozens of different algorithms have become well-known during the last fifteen years. This presentation outlines the most important methods of the automated mapping of flow routing, highlighting their utilities and limitations. Then a complex procedure, which combines the favourable characteristics of different methods, will be presented. The results will be demonstrated on the example of a particular catchment.

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