Annotated Bibliography for GEO 565

Professor: Dawn Wright, Geosciences

 

GIS and Applications with Water and Transboundary Issues

 

Prepared by: Patrick MacQuarrie

Contact E-mail

 

March 14, 2007

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

 

GIS is an increasing powerful tool in water resource management, hydrological analysis, agricultural efficiency modeling and transboundary water resource conflict and cooperation potential. Given the wide variety of water applications available for GIS use, general resource tools have been slow to develop over the past ten years forcing the practitioner to seek specific applications for the desired application or analysis technique. Regardless, GIS had proved to provide a powerful linkage of spatal, attribute and continuous engineering and resource planning data, giving users the flexibility and knowledge to better plan, predict, and understand the impact of water use and supply on society and the physical environment.

 

 

 

Yoffe, Shira B., Greg Fiske, Mark Giordano, Meredith Giordano, Kelli Larson, Kerstin Stahl and Aaron T. Wolf. 2004. “Geography of international water conflict and cooperation: Data sets and applications.” Water Resources Research, 40 (5): 1-12.

 

This paper uses the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database to establish a framework for quantitative analysis of the relationships between freshwater resources and international cooperation and conflict potential. The analysis was based on three dimensions: socioeconomic, biophysical, and political. GIS was used to link the datasets together forming a mesh of data sets that are based on river basins as the fundamental unit. Three data sets were used: event data, GIS data, and spatial data that ultimately were linked to the GIS data set. The methodologies in this paper using the dataset created provide a valuable resource to understand the relationships between freshwater cooperation and conflict across a range of variables. The research also shed light on the relationship between institutional capacity of a basin and the rate of change in that basin as it relates to cooperation potential.

 

 

Wolf, Aaron T., Shira B. Yoffe and Mark Giordano. 2003. “International waters: identifying basins at risk.” Water Policy, 5 (1):29-60.

 

This paper sets out to dispel beliefs that interactions between Transboundary river riparians are characterized predominately by conflictive relations. The research conducted is am empirical approach using data collected by the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database project at Oregon State University. The research collected 50 years of data characterizing all reported cooperation or conflictive event data among riparian nations of international and transboundary water basins. The project combined biophysical, socio-economic and geopolitical data into a GIS system allowing the user to relate previously single-variant data into a multi-variant system of information on transboundary relationships. While collecting these data, the project also created a conflict and cooperation scale to order the results of the study. The results of the study were used to create indicators of basins at risk (BAR) for the coming decade. Results of the study indicated that while most geophysical parameters have an effect on transboundary water relations, they are only weak indicators of conflict. However, institutional capacity within a basin, are as or more important than the physical system. In particular, internationalized basins, large unilateral development projects without cooperative regimes and hostile and institution-less basins were basins at risk in the five to ten year period ahead of the study’s publication, where were: the Gange-Brahmputra, Han, Incomati, Kunene, Kura-Araks, Lake Chad, La Plata, Lempa, Limpopo, Mekong, Ob (Ertiss), Okavango, Orange, Salween, Senegal, Tumen and Zambezi.

 

 

Leipnik, Mark R., Karen K. Kemp and Hugo A. Loaiciga. 1993. “Implementation of GIS for Water Resources Planning and Management.” Journal of Water Resource Planning and Management, 119 (2):184-205.

 

The geographic information systems (GIS) implementation process starts with the initial decision to use a GIS; proceeds through system selection, installation, and training; and up to data-base development and product generation. This paper discusses considerations related to each phase and focuses on other facets of GIS pertinent to water-resources planning and management. Many of these considerations involve critical choices that can pose significant challenges and impose substantial costs. An understanding of these challenges can expedite the GIS implementation process. Specific water planning and management resource GIS applications are pointed to conference proceedings and the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geologic Survey, and other agencies. The authors also discuss specific water resource management issues such as handling conversions between raster and vector data formats and spatial analysis functions, such as area, length and perimeter calculations; these functions most likely to be of interest of water resource managers. This paper also gives a listing of GIS software applications suitable for water resource applications.

 

 

Kliskey, Andrew D. 1995. “The Role and Functionality of GIS as a Planning Tool in Natural-Resource Management.” Computer, Environment and Urban Systems, 19 (1): 15-22.

 

This paper discusses the functionality that geographic information systems deliver to natural-resource management through a spatial network. Different spatial information systems are reviewed and their ability to provide functionality for planning is highlighted. The relationships between GIS functionality and specific applications selected by the authors are considered. Emphasis is laid on the ability of GIS to uniquely overlay and integrate differing forms of geographical entities such as graphic and topographic overlays, address geocoding, polygonization and relational matching. The ability of GIS to related attribute data to spatial data provides the ability for supporting a sophisticated decision-support system, useful in planning and resource management. GIS offers high capabilities in communication, inventory, monitoring and modeling and analysis in planning functionality. The author concludes that GIS provides the functional capability of supporting useful, dynamic and flexible problem-solving capability with considerable potential for natural-resource management applications in the future.

 

 

Garbrecht, J., F.L. Ogden, P.A. DeBarry and D.R. Maidment. 2001. “GIS and Distributed Watershed Models. I: Data Coverages and Sources.” Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 6 (6): 506-514.

 

The objective of this paper is to provide background information on GIS modeling and the selection and application of GIS in watershed modeling. The paper is intended for practicing engineers who are expanding their expertise into the spatial arena of distributed watershed modeling. The paper discusses differences between raster and vector data structures, map projections, digital elevation models (DEM), and several sources of data important to watershed modeling. Specific attention is given to spatial data in the form of digital elevation data, stream and drainage data, soil data, digital orthophoto data, remote sensing, and radar precipitation data. The authors maintain that the recent explosion of data and computational power provide new opportunities for visualization and modeling though there are caveats of collecting data from various sources such as search time and projection issues. This paper provides a good reference for sources of different hydrologic data and a good overview of GIS for the non-expert. This is the first of a two part paper.

 

 

Fortin, Jean-Pierre, Richard Turcotte, Serge Massicotte, Roger Moussa, Josée Fitzback and Jean-Pierre Villeneuve. 2001. “Distributed Watershed Model Compatible with Remote Sensing and GIS Data. I: Description of Model.” Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 6 (2): 91-99.

 

In this paper a distributed hydrological model compatible with remote sensing and GIS was developed over a ten year period. Run on microcomputers with a user-friendly interface, the HYDROTEL model was applied to a wide range of watersheds with due account for available data, and a choice of options was offered for the simulation of the various processes. Algorithms used were derived from the most part from physical processes, including in the analysis more conceptual or empirical algorithms. Also in the paper’s analyses, natural units were chosen for the simulations: small subwatersheds for the vertical water budget, and flow toward the outlet of the unit that river reached for channel flow. In this paper, the preparation of the watershed database from remotely sensed and geographic information system (GIS) data was discussed first, followed by a description of the various components of the model.

 

 

Ogden, Fred L., Jurgen Garbrecht, Paul A. DeBarry and Lynn E. Johnson. 2001. “GIS and Distributed Watershed Models. II: Modules, Interfaces, and Models.” Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 6 (6): 515-523.

 

This paper presents representative applications and models that can take advantage of spatially distributed data in a geographic information system (GIS) format for watershed analysis and hydrologic modeling purposes. The intention is to inform hydrologic engineers about the current capabilities of GIS, hydrologic analysis modules, and distributed hydrologic models, and to provide an initial guide on implementing GIS for hydrologic modeling. This paper also discusses key implementation issues for individuals and organizations that are considering making the transition to the use of GIS in hydrology. Widespread use of GIS modules and distributed watershed models is inevitable. The controlling factors are data availability, GIS-module development, fundamental research on the applicability of distributed hydrologic models, and finally, regulatory acceptance of the new tools and methodologies. GIS modules and distributed hydrologic models will enable the progression of hydrology from a field dominated by techniques that require spatial averaging and empiricism to a more spatially descriptive science.

 

 

Alemaw, B. F. and T. R. Chaoka. 2003. “A continental scale water balance model: a GIS-approach for Southern Africa.” Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 28 (20-27): 957-966.

 

This paper develops a distributed GIS-based hydrological model using GIS and computational hydrology techniques based on water balance consideration of the surface and subsurface processes. The surface water processes included in the model are precipitation infiltration, overland runoff, evapo-transpiration and canopy surface interception losses. The subsurface processes included are monthly soil moisture. The model outputs were estimates of runoff from specific geo-referenced grids representing Southern Africa. All of the water balances used in the creation of the model used standard GIS formats for storage, spatial display and interpretation of results. The model presented in the paper estimates the mean SM of the region to be about 148 mm/year, demonstrating a wide range of spatial data in the distribution of SM over the region. The authors contend this was due to the fact that the absolute soil moisture was dependent on the water retention properties of the soils considered across the region. The model prediction of the mean annual AET in the region reached a maximum of 1500 mm, with a mean of 420 mm. The mean annual generated runoff from the land catchments in the region was 151 mm/year. The variation of mean annual runoff among the SADC countries was shown to be a function of the variation in the vegetation cover, soil and climate variation. Results from the model supported the authors’ conclusions that lower runoff regimes are dominant in arid areas in Botswana, Namibia and south-western part of the Republic of South Africa and higher runoff regimes were located in Northern and Western Tanzania, along the east coastal portions of Mozambique, central Mozambique, western Zambia and Malawi.

 

 

Al-Abed, N., F. Abdulla and A. Abu Khyarah. 2005. “GIS-hydrological models for managing water resources in the Zarqa River basin.” Environmental Geology, 47 (3):405-411.

 

Jordan is plagued with drought conditions for many years at a time, suggesting the vital importance of hydrological planning. With surface water at 693 MCM per year and 359 MCM per year, proper management is essential to ensure to prevent overexploitation of groundwater resources. Hydrological simulation models are interfaced with Geographical Information Systems in this study. The GIS tools were considered a major and viable tool in this study, capable of supplying the relationship between spatial and hydrological features of the watershed in the Zarqa River basin. The Spatial Water Budget Model (SWBM) and HEC-MMS/HEC-GeoHMS extension models were used in the analysis, and were calibrated based on King Talal Reservoir inflow for a eight year period. Calibration over 1979-1982 results were impressive giving R-squared values of 0.90 and 0.85. Validation R-squared values of the SWBM and HEC-HMS models over the years of 1993-1996 were 0.75 and 0.80, respectively, impressive figures again. The models were consequently shown to be good predictors to test scenarios related to climate change and land-use change at the watershed scale.

 

 

Choi, Jin-Yong, Bernard A. Engel and Richard L. Farnsworth. 2005. “Web-based GIS and spatial decision support system for watershed management.” Journal of Hydroinformatics, 7: 165-174.

 

This paper demonstrates that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been widely used for spatial data manipulation for hydrologic model operations and as a supporting tool to develop spatial decision support systems (SDSS). Information technologies, including GIS and the Internet, are shown to have overcome many of the limitations of computer-based models in terms of data preparation and visualization and provided the possibility to develop integrated SDSS. This paper examines the relationship between changes in GIS technology and watershed management SDSS. The authors use a conceptual web-based SDSS framework to describe the system components and data flow. In the paper, the SDSS uses web-GIS for watershed delineation, map interfaces and data preparation routines, a hydrologic model for hydrologic and water quality impact analysis, and web communication programs for Internet-based system operation. The paper basically supports the conclusion that the web-based SDSS can be helpful for watershed management decision-makers and interested stakeholders. The watershed management SDSS also gives the reader an insight into the role of GIS and information technologies in creating readily accessible and useable SDSS capabilities.

 

 

Seker, D.Z. S. Kabdasli and B. Rudvan. 2003. “Risk assessment of a dam-break using GIS technology.” Water Science & Technology, 48 (10): 89-95.

 

Given the massive amount of water development going on in Turkey and their pursuit of sustainable power production through hydropower development, this research provides a risk assessment of flood disasters that may cause massive loss of human lives and immense damage to the infrastructure and economic activities. Results produced are not only relevant for dams in Turkey but also for dams over the world. Governments consider several long-term and short-term precautions for flood control. A suggestion is made to create a framework of numerical simulations of dam-break problems around the world, accomplished using geographic GIS and innovation maps. Impacts of the spread of the flood wave after a dam breakup is shown to be predictable using the aforementioned enabling technologies. The author’s maintain that advanced modeling technology is becoming an inevitable tool for the decision-making process. Data produced by GIS tools are used as initial values for FLDWAV, with ArcView GIS being used to produce a Digital Elevation Model and visualization of dam-break effects and propagation of a possible flood wave. The paper concludes by studying the breach, overflow and hydrograph of an earth-filling dam. By using ArcView software, the paper shows that GIS are successful in determining risk maps, establishing warning systems, maintaining overflow calculations, creating overflow hydrographs and providing a cost-effective method of assessing the risk of breathes of earthen dams.

 

 

Sudheer, R.S. and J. M. Jacobs. 2004. “A GIS-based model to estimate the regionally distributed drought water demand.” Agricultural Water Management, 66: 1-13.

 

This study uses two Florida case studies to apply a GIS-based Water Resources and Agricultural Permitting and Planning System (GWRAPPS) by developing and integrating the Agricultural Field Scale Irrigation Requirements Simulation (AFSIRS) crop water model, a GIS and a database management system within the ArchGIS framework. The system quantifies irrigation water for regional planning and farm scale permitting using soils, land-use, and long-term climate data. GWRAPPS estimates daily water withdrawals that can be used in modeling surface/groundwater interactions. This study provides a good example of the integration of ArcGIS and water demand modeling. Results from the paper show that while inclusion of soil heterogeneity is important to capture water requirements at individual farms, regional water demands are adequately captured using farms’ predominant soil base.

 

 

Biswas, S., S. Sudhakar and V.R. Desai. 2002. “Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Based Approach for Watershed Conservation.” Journal of Surveying Engineering, 128 (3): 108-124.

 

This paper discusses the use of GIS in prioritizing watersheds for conservation. The study discussed focuses on a portion of the Midnapore district of West Bengal State in eastern India called the Murli subwatershed in the Subarnarekha Basin. The study area was divided into mine microwatersheds forming a major portion of the Nayagram block in West Bengal. Researchers used ArcInfo to analyze check dams and to prioritize the microwatersheds for conservation measures based on morphometric parameters. The authors conclude that remote sensing and GIS are useful for improving soil and water conservation, and that prioritization of microwatersheds is essential. This paper provides a good approach for using GIS to manage a watershed.