A triangular form-based multiple flow algorithm to estimate overland flow distribution and accumulation on a digital elevation model
Pilesjö, Petter LU and Hasan, Abdulghani LU
(2014)
In Transactions in GIS
18(1).
p.108-124
- Abstract
- In this study, we present a newly developed method for the estimation of surface flow paths on a digital
elevation model (DEM). The objective is to use a form-based algorithm, analyzing flow over single cells
by dividing them into eight triangular facets and to estimate the surface flow paths on a raster DEM. For
each cell on a gridded DEM, the triangular form-based multiple flow algorithm (TFM) was used to distribute flow to one or more of the eight neighbor cells, which determined the flow paths over the DEM.
Because each of the eight facets covering a cell has a constant slope and aspect, the estimations of – for
example – flow direction and divergence/convergence are more intuitive and less... (More) - In this study, we present a newly developed method for the estimation of surface flow paths on a digital
elevation model (DEM). The objective is to use a form-based algorithm, analyzing flow over single cells
by dividing them into eight triangular facets and to estimate the surface flow paths on a raster DEM. For
each cell on a gridded DEM, the triangular form-based multiple flow algorithm (TFM) was used to distribute flow to one or more of the eight neighbor cells, which determined the flow paths over the DEM.
Because each of the eight facets covering a cell has a constant slope and aspect, the estimations of – for
example – flow direction and divergence/convergence are more intuitive and less complicated than many
traditional raster-based solutions. Experiments were undertaken by estimating the specific catchment area
(SCA) over a number of mathematical surfaces, as well as on a real-world DEM. Comparisons were made
between the derived SCA by the TFM algorithm with eight other algorithms reported in the literature.
The results show that the TFM algorithm produced the closest outcomes to the theoretical values of the
SCA compared with other algorithms, derived more consistent outcomes, and was less influenced by
surface shapes. The real-world DEM test shows that the TFM was capable of modeling flow distribution
without noticeable ‘artefacts’, and its ability to track flow paths makes it an appropriate platform for
dynamic surface flow simulation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4022712
- author
- Pilesjö, Petter
LU
and Hasan, Abdulghani
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2014
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Transactions in GIS
- volume
- 18
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 108 - 124
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000329499900006
- scopus:84891952677
- ISSN
- 1467-9671
- DOI
- 10.1111/tgis.12015
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2468c746-7559-40e6-bb29-e356a993dd3a (old id 4022712)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 09:52:40
- date last changed
- 2023-08-30 12:04:54
@article{2468c746-7559-40e6-bb29-e356a993dd3a,
abstract = {{In this study, we present a newly developed method for the estimation of surface flow paths on a digital<br/><br>
elevation model (DEM). The objective is to use a form-based algorithm, analyzing flow over single cells<br/><br>
by dividing them into eight triangular facets and to estimate the surface flow paths on a raster DEM. For<br/><br>
each cell on a gridded DEM, the triangular form-based multiple flow algorithm (TFM) was used to distribute flow to one or more of the eight neighbor cells, which determined the flow paths over the DEM.<br/><br>
Because each of the eight facets covering a cell has a constant slope and aspect, the estimations of – for<br/><br>
example – flow direction and divergence/convergence are more intuitive and less complicated than many<br/><br>
traditional raster-based solutions. Experiments were undertaken by estimating the specific catchment area<br/><br>
(SCA) over a number of mathematical surfaces, as well as on a real-world DEM. Comparisons were made<br/><br>
between the derived SCA by the TFM algorithm with eight other algorithms reported in the literature.<br/><br>
The results show that the TFM algorithm produced the closest outcomes to the theoretical values of the<br/><br>
SCA compared with other algorithms, derived more consistent outcomes, and was less influenced by<br/><br>
surface shapes. The real-world DEM test shows that the TFM was capable of modeling flow distribution<br/><br>
without noticeable ‘artefacts’, and its ability to track flow paths makes it an appropriate platform for<br/><br>
dynamic surface flow simulation.}},
author = {{Pilesjö, Petter and Hasan, Abdulghani}},
issn = {{1467-9671}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{108--124}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Transactions in GIS}},
title = {{A triangular form-based multiple flow algorithm to estimate overland flow distribution and accumulation on a digital elevation model}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tgis.12015}},
doi = {{10.1111/tgis.12015}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2014}},
}