Impacts of Accuracy and Resolution of Conventional and LiDAR Based DEMs on Parameters Used in Hydrologic Modeling

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Digital elevation model (DEM) is often used for hydrologic modeling, land use planning, engineering design and environmental protection. Research is required to assess the need of updating existing conventional DEM using higher resolution and more accurate DEMs, including light detection and ranging (LiDAR) DEM. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of DEM accuracy and resolution on hydrologic parameters and modeling in an agriculture-dominated watershed. DEMs compared included 1 m and 10 m LiDAR based DEMs, and a conventional 10 m DEM obtained with aerial photogrammetry method. Hydrologic parameters assessed included elevation, sub-basin area and boundaries, drainage networks, slope and slope length. DEM derived hydrological parameters were used to estimate soil loss in Black Brook Watershed, New Brunswick using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Results indicated that DEM resolution had substantial influence on the sub-basins boundaries, sub-basin area, and distribution of water flow lines. Field investigation confirmed that most of the water flow lines derived from 1 m LiDAR based DEM were accurate and a number of flow diversion terraces (FDT) failures had been identified with help of LiDAR 1 m DEM. Both conventional and LiDAR based 10 m DEM could not identify the impacts of soil conservation structures such as diversion terraces. The RUSLE predicted soil loss using 1 m LiDAR based DEM was considered to be better because both conventional and LiDAR based 10 m DEMs could not reflect the impact of FDTs on reducing soil loss.