A comprehensive study of the effect of GIS data on hydrology and non-point source pollution modeling

Z.Y. Shen, L. Chen, Q. Liao, R.M. Liu and Q. Huang

Agricultural Water Management, 2013, vol. 118, issue C, 93-102

Abstract: The Geographic Information System (GIS) has been extensively integrated into hydrology and non-point source (H/NPS) pollution modeling. However, few studies have been carried out on the effect of GIS inputs on NPS modeling and the prediction uncertainty related to the combination of different GIS inputs. In this paper, the effect of GIS data on H/NPS simulation was investigated by re-sampling the initial GIS data into new grid sizes and grouping the available GIS maps in all possible ways. The effect of GIS inputs was then quantified by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the Daning watershed, China. Based on the results, the GIS inputs had a limited impact on runoff and nitrogen (N) predictions, while sediment and phosphorus (P) simulations were sensitively biased by GIS data. This study further demonstrated that a level (threshold) of GIS resolution existed, within which more precise data would not be of benefit to SWAT prediction. To reduce prediction uncertainty, the digital elevation model (DEM) should be tackled to determine at which resolution the model would perform optimally.

Keywords: Digital elevation model (DEM); Land use map; Uncertainty; Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT); Three Gorges Reservoir Area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:118:y:2013:i:c:p:93-102

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2012.12.005

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