What different types of stream networks can CatchmentSIM generate?
CatchmentSIM can generate two different types of stream networks. The first of these is a raster stream network where each pixel in the DEM is simply defined as either a stream pixel or a non-stream pixel on the basis of whether theupslope contributing area for the pixel (flow accumulation value) is greater than the Stream Area Threshold (SAT). The second of these methods is a vector stream network where the SAT value is used to identify potential channel heads and then these points are mapped downslope as vector quantities and their intersections are recorded and analysed to develop a connect polyline network of calculated streams. In the vector stream network approach Strahler / Horton stream ordering is also undertaken and each stream segment is assigned a corresponding stream order. This allows calculation of important hydrologic and geomorphologic parameters such as the bifurcation ratio.
