Algorithm for Delineating and Extracting Hillslopes and Hillslope Width Functions from Gridded Elevation Data
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 2
Abstract
The subdivision of catchments into appropriate topography-based hydrologic units is an essential step in rainfall-runoff modeling, with the hillslope serving as a common fundamental unit for this purpose. Hillslope-based modeling approaches can utilize, for instance, the hillslope width function as a one-dimensional representation of three-dimensional landscapes by introducing profile curvatures and plan shapes. In this work, an algorithm was developed to delineate and extract hillslopes and hillslope width functions based on a new approach to calculate average profile curvatures and plan shapes from digital terrain data. The proposed method uses fuzzy logic rules and provides a quick and reliable assessment of hillslope characteristics, classifying hillslopes according to nine elementary landscapes (the so-called Dikau shapes). The algorithm was first tested on two contrasting (flat and steep) catchments in Quebec, Canada. The hillslope width functions obtained with the proposed method were able to preserve the modeled hillslope surface areas within approximately 1% while preserving monotonicity. The algorithm was then applied to the Plynlimon catchments in the United Kingdom for comparison with a previously published scheme. Despite fundamental differences in slope metrics calculations, the proposed method produced qualitatively similar large-scale features.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Alain Royer and Ludovic Paul for their contribution to this work. The digital elevation model data of the Plynlimon catchments were kindly supplied by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Wallingford, United Kingdom) and the British Natural Environment Research Council. Financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is also gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 2 • February 2014
Pages: 366 - 374
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 5, 2012
Accepted: Jan 7, 2013
Published online: Jan 9, 2013
Discussion open until: Jun 9, 2013
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
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