Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
DEM Hydro-processing in ILWIS
1- Introducing ILWIS
ILWIS is a remote sensing and GIS software which integrates image, vector and
thematic data in one unique and powerful package on the desktop. ILWIS delivers a
wide range of features including import/export, digitizing, editing, analysis and
display of data, as well as production of quality maps. ILWIS software is renowned for
its functionality, user-friendliness and low cost, and has established a wide user
community over the years of its development. Even after its last commercial release
in 2005, its user community has remained active, both within and outside ITC.
2- Introducing the Case Study
2-1- Localization
The Tatra Mountains:
The Tatra Mountains, constitute a mountain range which forms a natural border between
Slovakia and Poland. They occupy an area of 750 km², the major part (600km²) of which lies in
Slovakia. The highest mountain is Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 m, located in Slovakia. The north-
western peak of Rysy (2,499 m) is the highest Polish mountain.
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 1
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
2-2- The data
DEM raster in TIF format containing the Tatra Mountains (south of Poland and north of
Slovakia) taken from the KEO (Carpathians Environmental Outlook) datasets in UNEP/GRID-
Warszawa and modified expressly for carrying out the demonstrations.
2-3- The analysis
DEM hydro-processing in ILWIS:
Operation-Tree > DEM hydro-processing
Importing raster .TIF map to ILWIS
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 2
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Import raster maps of a number of different formats (indicated by the name of the option) to the ILWIS
raster format. For each map, an .MPR and an .MP# file are created. Furthermore, a domain, a
representation, a georeference, a coordinate system and an attribute table may be created.
Operation-Tree > Import/Export > Import Map
”00_DEM”
Visualizing DEM
The DEM Visualization script creates a color composite for you a DEM. First, three shadow maps are
created by the script, using three different shadow filters. The combination of them in a color composite
gives a very good impression of the relief in your area.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > DEM Visualization
“00_DEM_vis”
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 3
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Filling local depressions in the DEM
Before using the Flow Direction operation, you may wish to clean up your Digital Elevation Model (DEM),
so that local depressions (sinks) are removed from your DEM.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Flow Determination > Fill Sinks
“01_FillSinks”
Comparing initial DEM with sinks-filled DEM
Open “00_DEM” and “01_FillSinks” and choose “CLRSTP12” representation
Calculating Flow Direction
In a (sink-free) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the Flow direction operation determines into which
neighbouring pixel any water in a central pixel will flow naturally.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Flow Determination > Flow Direction
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 4
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
“02_FlowDirection”
Calculating Flow Accumulation
The Flow accumulation operation performs a cumulative count of the number of pixels that naturally
drain into outlets. The operation can be used to find the drainage pattern of a terrain.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Flow Determination > Flow Accumulation
“03_FlowAccumulation”
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 5
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Calculating the Drainage Network
The Drainage Network Extraction operation extracts a basic drainage network (boolean raster map).
The output raster map will show the basic drainage as pixels with value True, while other pixels have
value False.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Network and Catchment Extraction > Drainage
Network Extraction
”04_DNE1000”
Ordering the Drainage Network
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 6
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
The Drainage network ordering operation examines all drainage lines in the drainage network map,
finds the nodes where two or more streams meet, and assigns a unique ID to each stream in between
these nodes, as well as to the streams that only have a single node.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Network and Catchment Extraction > Drainage
Network Ordering
”05_DNO500”
Composition:
DEM+DrainageNet+Lake(Blue)+Peaks+PriorityAreas(Red)+ProtectedAreas(Green)+Cities
Calculating the Catchment Areas
The Catchment extraction operation constructs catchments; a catchment will be calculated for each
stream found in the output map of the Drainage network ordering operation. The operation uses a Flow
direction map to determine the flow path of each stream.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Network and Catchment Extraction > Catchment
Extraction
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 7
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
“06_CatchmentExtr”
Compositions:
DEM+DrainageNetwork+CatchmentAreas
DEM+DrainageNetwork+Lake(Blue)+CatchmentAreas+Peaks+Cities
Calculating the Catchment Merges
The Catchment merge operation is able to merge adjacent catchments, as found by the Catchment
extraction operation. In fact, new catchments will be created on the basis of the Drainage network
ordering map and its attribute table.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Network and Catchment Extraction > Catchment
Merge
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 8
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
“07_CatchmentMerge”
Composition:
DEM+DrainageNet+Lake+CatchMerge+FlowPath+Peaks+PriorityAreas+ProtectedAreas+Cities
Calculating the Overland Flow Length
The Overland Flow Length operation calculates for each pixel the overland distance towards the
'nearest' drainage according to the flow paths available in the Flow Direction map.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Compound Parameter Extraction > Overland Flow
Length
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 9
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
“09_OvFlowLength”
Composition: OvFlowLength+CatchmentAreas+DrainageNetwork
Flow Length to Outlet
The Overland Flow Length operation calculates the discance between every pixel and the outlet of the
catchemt area. This operation, just like Overland Flow Length, requires a Drainage Network Ordering
and a Flow Direction Map.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Network and Catchment Extraction > Flow Length
to Outlet
“10_FlowLength2Outl”
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 10
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Composition: FowLenthtoOutlet+CatchmentAreas+DrainageNetwork
Compound Index Calculation
In Compound Index Calculation, a number of scripts (routines) are given here to calculate a number of
maps that are relevant with respect to watershed management, soil erosion and conservation type of
studies.
Operation-Tree > DEM Hydro-processing > Compound Parameter Extraction > Compound
Index Calculation
“11_wetness_index”
“12_power_index” “13_sediment_index”
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 11
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Wetness index
The wetness index sets catchment area in relation to the slope gradient. This is
basically the famous: w = ln(As/tan(ß)) (Beven and Kirkby, 1993).
An idea of the spatial distribution and zones of saturation or variable sources for
runoff generation is obtained.
Power index (values over 10% in black)
The stream power index is the product of catchment area and slope and could be
used to identify suitable locations for soil conservation measures to reduce the effect
of concentrated surface runoff.
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 12
under the Sixth Framework Programme
Evaluating Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial (FOSS4G) for Environmental Applications
Sediment index (values oper 10% In black)
The sediment transport index accounts for the effect of topography on erosion. The
two-dimensional catchment area is used instead of the one-dimensional slope
length factor as in the Universal Soil Loss Equation.
The Cascadoss Project is financed by the European Commission 13
under the Sixth Framework Programme
