DEM2STREAM ArcGIS Desktop tool

[yousef2233]

Hi everyone

This straightforward tool generates a stream order network from elevation data (DEM). The only input required is a DEM. As an open-source tool, it is accessible and easy to use.

If you encounter any issues, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. 

Tested with ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.1😊

Let me know if you'd like further refinements

Download Link

 

To create a stream network and determine its order in ArcGIS starting with a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), follow these general steps:
Step 1: Prepare the DEM

• Load your DEM into ArcGIS.
• Ensure the DEM is hydrologically correct, without any errors like sinks or pits. Use the Fill tool from the Spatial Analyst toolbox to fill these voids

Step 2: Flow Direction

• Use the Flow Direction tool to compute the direction of water flow across the DEM surface. This creates a raster that assigns a flow direction to each cell

Step 3: Flow Accumulation

• Apply the Flow Accumulation tool to calculate the amount of flow accumulated for each cell based on the flow direction raster

Step 4: Stream Threshold

• Set a threshold value for the Flow Accumulation raster to define streams. The Con (conditional) tool can be used to extract cells that meet this threshold. This step essentially defines what qualifies as a stream

Step 5: Stream Link

• Use the Stream Link tool to assign unique identifiers to connected stream segments.

Step 6: Stream Order

• Apply the Stream Order tool to calculate the hierarchical order of streams (e.g., Strahler or Shreve order).

Step 7: Vectorization (Optional)

• Convert the raster stream network to a vector format using the Stream to Feature tool. This makes the streams easier to visualize and analyze.

With these steps, you'll have a stream network derived from your DEM with ordered streams that can be used for further hydrological analysis.

Edited Tuesday at 01:14 PM by yousef2233