Ranking hydrographic networks by vector models using geospatial technologies

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-420-430

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Daria A. Ignatenko

Saint Petersburg State University, Institute of Earth Sciences, Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics,
33, 10th line of Vasilyevsky island, St. Petersburg, 199178, Russia,
E-mail: darya.ignatenko@spbu.ru

Alisa V. Kochetova

Saint Petersburg State University, Institute of Earth Sciences, Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics,
33, 10th line of Vasilyevsky island, St. Petersburg, 199178, Russia,
E-mail: st110592@student.spbu.ru

Abstract

Stream orders can be used for mapping, as well as for resolving hydrological and geomorphological issues. The existing methods of calculating flow direction and accumulation matrices with subsequent ranking require a large amount of computational resources and allow the use of mainly “top-down” ordering systems. Moreover, hydrography is often presented in vector format, while methods and tools for determining stream orders based on such data are practically absent. In this regard, the aim of the study was to develop a method for automated vector stream ordering with the use of “bottom-up” system. An important feature of vector hydrography is the possibility of multiple intersections of objects at the parts where the river divides into branches and then they merge downstream. Considering these circumstances, the study was conducted for the northern rivers in the European part of Russia within the rolling plains and lowlands in order to ensure more effective testing due to the more frequent occurrence of this phenomenon in that area. The algorithm proposed in this paper allows to process braided streams in various ways: assigning the order of the main branch to all of the branches; selecting the main branch and assigning the rest of them secondary orders; selecting the main branch and removing the secondary ones. The choice depends on the purpose of the hydrographic network modeling: when analyzing the hierarchical structure, it may be useful to assign the same orders, and when mapping, each of these options can be used depending on the scale and the expected detail of the map. The ordering of vector hydrography models of varying detail done by the developed algorithm was compared with ordering by runoff accumulation matrices, by the graph method and with a specialized tool of the GRASS GIS, which made it possible to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method.

Keywords

vector hydrography, stream ordering, hydrography modeling in GIS, lines ranking

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For citation: Ignatenko D.A., Kochetova A.V. Ranking hydrographic networks by vector models using geospatial technologies. InterCarto. InterGIS. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2025. V. 31. Part 1. P. 420–430. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-420-430 (in Russian)