A quick algorithm of counting flow accumulation matrix for deriving drainage networks from a DEM

Abstract

Computerized auto-extraction of drainage networks from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) has been widely used in hydrological modeling and relevant studies. Several essential procedures need to be implemented in eight-directional(D8) watershed delineation method, among which a problem need to be resolved is the lack of a high efficiency algorithm for quick and accurate computation of flow accumulation matrix involved in river network delineations. For the problem of depression filling, the algorithm presented by Oliver Planchon has resolved it. This study was aimed to develop a simple and quick algorithm for flow accumulation matrix computations. For this purpose, a simple and high efficiency algorithm of the time complexity of O(n) compared to the commonly used code of the time complexity of O(n2) orO(nlogn) , has been developed. Performance tests on this newly developed algorithm were conducted for different size of DEMs, and the results suggested that the algorithm has a linear time complexity with increasing sizes of DEM. The computation efficiency of this newly developed algorithm is many times higher than the commonly used code, and for a DEM of size 1000*1000, flow accumulation matrix computation can be completed within only several seconds compared with about few minutes needed by common used algorithms.