Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Automated Delineation of Stream Centerlines for
the USGS National Hydrography Dataset
C. Anderson-Tarver
1
, B.P. Buttenfield
1
, L.V. Stanislawski
2
,
and J.M. Koontz
3
1
Dept. of Geography, University of Colorado-Boulder
Guggenheim 110, 260
UCB Boulder, Colorado 80309-0260, USA -
anderscn@colorado.edu, babscolorado.edu
2
ATA Services, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)
United States Geological Survey (USGS), Rolla, Missouri USA
lstan@usgs.gov
3
Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS),
United States Geological Survey (USGS), Rolla, Missouri USA
jkoontz@usgs.gov
Abstract
An algorithm is presented for creating a continuous centerline utilized in
base mapping with the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). This re-
search is part of ongoing efforts to fully automate generalization process-
ing for use on the NHD as part of planned updates to
The National Map
maintained by the USGS. For cartographic purposes, it is necessary to de-
lineate a hydrographic centerline feature which is appropriately continuous
and represents the visual main channel of any basin. The algorithm is
placed within the context of a generalization routine for a NHD high-
resolution subbasin. The solution described here presents a more closely
geometric approach to centerline delineation since the NHD does not store
centerline attribution explicitly in its database. For validation, the algo-
rithm is tested on several NHD subbasins and evaluated for completeness
by creating a flowline network of the delineated centerline. Final results
indicate successful centerline extraction with further testing planned on
larger datasets.
