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.