GIS Modules and Distributed Models of the Watershed Report

Prepared by the Task Committee on GIS Modules and Distributed Models of the Watershed of ASCE. This report guides professionals in selecting the most advantageous applications of geographic information system (GIS) modules and distributed models for watershed runoff. Recent advances in technology offer hydrologic engineers, watershed managers, and data collection agencies unprecedented capabilities for storing and manipulating data. With the advent of Digital Elevation Models (DEM), Triangulated Irregular Networks (TIN), Digital Line Graphs (DLG), and GIS software, the use of watershed modeling among industry professionals has increased at an incredible rate. With this growth, it is increasingly difficult for practitioners to choose the most effective use of the technology. This report identifies state-of-the-art GIS hydrology analysis software and techniques, as well as GIS types and map projections. It covers data commonly required for hydrologic analysis, limitations of available data, and the integration of watershed hydrological analysis software and GIS techniques. The appendix highlights nine examples of watershed modeling systems, including the Watershed Modeling System (WMS), the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the Hydrologic Model CASC2D.