MAJOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM (SURFACE) ANALYSIS

[V_StuartFoote]

Andrea,

The ArcHydro Tools extension for ArcGIS 9.3.1 was developed and maintained by Esri Water Resources team and is still available for download from Esri's secure ftp site. It uses AGREE methods to characterize drainage.

See this ArcHydro forum thread for login and download instructions: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/82087-New-password-for-Arc-Hydro-ftp-site

Make it easy on yourself and use a secure transfer program, I prefer FileZilla but there are others.

Once installed, there are tutorials and exercise data and you can ask for help in either the ArcHydro or Hydro forums.

Stuart

p.s. If you really wan't to dig into the raster analysis methods, have a read of D. Nagel, J. Buffington & C. Luce on IDDEA (US Forest Serivce) vs AGREE (Esri - Hellweger/Maidment) methods in this talk -- http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/scientists/profiles/Nagel/Nagel_NWGIS2011_DrainageEnforcement_Com...

[PopAndrea]

Thank you Stuart. I install Arc Hydro Tools and I hope to solve problem.
Andrea

[V_StuartFoote]

Andrea,

Do you have ArcGIS Desktop 9.3, or 9.3.1? The ArcHydroTools9.msi installer (build 1.4.0.258, Jan 9 2013) on the secure download site will install and run for either release of ArcGIS.

Once you install, the ArcHydro Tools Help article will take you through the map algebra processes ArcHydro Tools perform for conditioning the DEM (filling sinks), and identifying flow direction, flow accumulation, stream network and/or basin,  and finally raster to feature conversion.

Also, the ArcGIS 9.3/9.3.1 Spatial Analyst help, has some guidance. But is a bit disjointed and out of sequence compared to the Help presentation in ArcHydro Tools, and be sure to review the "Learn more about..." Help panels as well. It will work, but the data handling is a bit more demanding when using Spatial Analyst extension compared to ArcHydro Tools.

Post back if still stuck.

Stuart