Abstract
New developments in geographic information systems are providing a stronger framework for synthesizing geospatial and temporal water resources data into a single information system. Arc Hydro is a data model and toolset for water resources application, built within the ArcGIS software system. Arc Hydro includes a network of rivers and streams, a means for defining drainage areas and linking them to the network, connections to time series recorded at gaging sites, and a three-dimensional model for channel shape. Application of Arc Hydro is facilitated in the United States by the existence of national datasets for digital elevation, watershed boundaries, hydrographic networks, and stream gauging sites. An example application of Arc Hydro to water availability modelling in Texas is presented in which it is shown how raster delineation of drainage areas in subbasins is combined with a river network representation of the whole basin to allow water supply reliability to be evaluated throughout large river basins. Some perspectives on the possible future evolution of this technology are provided.
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