ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Design principles for the data model

Data model components
Time series
Arc Hydro tools

CRWR

GIS in Water Resources

Consortium

GIS

Water
Resources

Bringing together these two communities by using a

common geospatial data model
http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/giswr

Trends During 1990s

Standardized GIS data sets were produced for
hydrology
Internet became a major conduit for data
distribution
Most US hydrologic models had GIS interfaces
constructed for them
Microsoft COM protocol became a standard (Word,
Powerpoint, Excel, Visual Basic for Applications)
ESRI adopted COM for ArcGIS

Trends during 2000s

Relational databases (Access, Oracle,)
will be the standard for data storage
Geospatial and temporal data for hydrology
will be more formally synthesized
Use of component technologies will blur the
line between applications (hydrologyhydraulics-water quality)
Increasing use of real-time applications
More use of terrain surfaces e.g. LIDAR

ArcGIS Data Models

Facilitate a process with the user community
Capture the essential, common data model for each
discipline
Build a database design template that works well with
ArcGIS
Build on experience, not a standards exercise
Share the model on ArcOnline
http://arconline.esri.com/arconline/datamodels.cfm

Essential Data Model

Organization B

Organization A

Something
in common

Organization D

Organization C
The data model for a business organization
tends not to change greatly over time unless
the business organization changes the
fundamental way that it does business

Model Definition
Develop a data model to support Hydrology
and Hydrography
Link the vector and raster worlds
Understand producer and consumer needs
Exercise with real data to validate the model
Use a geometric network for faster tracing
and data quality validation

Evolution of the Model

Hands-on experience was key to evolution
We have somehow struggled through the process
and found new ways of managing Hydro Data

Consistent structure
Varying detail
Multi-purpose
Common tools and techniques (Patterns)

You will hear interest and excitement about this in

the presentations today

Acknowledgements
Many people and organizations have
contributed to the development of Arc
Hydro. We thank you!!

CRWR ESRI team

BYU, CDM, DHI, Dodson, EPA, HEC,
LCRA, NHD, TNRCC, TWDB, USGS
Many individuals in academia, government
and industry

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Hydrography

Hydrology

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Drainage

Network

Flow

HydroFeatures
Time

Time Series

Hydrography

Channel

Data Model Based on Inventory

NHD Points
NHD Lines
NHD Areas
Gages
Dams
Bridges

Make an
inventory of
all features of
a given type in
the region
What is it?
Where is it?

Data Model Based on Behavior

Follow a drop of water from where it falls on the

land, to the stream, and all the way to the ocean.

Integrating Data Inventory

using a Behavioral Model
Relationships between
objects linked by tracing path
of water movement

ArcGI S Hydro Data Model

GI S in Water Resources
Consortium

CRWR

http://arconline.esri.com/arconline/datamodels/water.cfm
http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/giswr
HydroFeature

DrainageFeature

HydroJ unction

DrainID

DrainageArea

DrainagePoint

HydroEdge

HydroID
HydroCode
NextDownID
LengthDown
DrainArea
FType
Enabled
AncillaryRole

DrainageLine

HydroI D
HydroCode
ReachCode
Name
LengthKm
LengthDown
FlowDir
FType
EdgeType
Enabled

HydroFeature

AreaSqKm
J unctionID
NextDownID

J unctionID

ComplexEdgeFeature

SimpleJ unctionFeature

HydroID
HydroCode

HydroI D
HydroCode

Object

HydroEvent
ReachCode

EdgeType
Flowline

Catchment

Watershed

Drainage

Basin

SchematicLink
FromNode
ToNode

HydroPointEvent
Measure

Network

Feature

SchematicNode
FeatureID

Shoreline

HydroFeature

HydroFeature

Object

HydroID
HydroCode

HydroI D
HydroCode

ChannelFeature
Hydrography

HydroResponseUnit

HydroLine

HydroArea

Structure

WaterWithdrawal

UserPoint

CrossSection

FType
ProfOrigin

J unctionID

Dam

FeatureID
TSType
TSDateTime
TSValue

ProfileLine
HydroPoint

TimeSeries

ReachCode
RiverCode

FType
Name

AreaSqKm

HydroLineEvent
FMeasure
TMeasure
Offset

Waterbody

Flow

CSCode
J unctionID
CSOrigin
ProfileM

Object

Time

AreaSqKm
J unctionID

Bridge

MonitoringPoint

WaterDischarge

CrossSectionPoint

1..*

Channel

Hydrography
How to read
this diagram

ESRI ArcObject Class

Object Class

Abstract Class
Attributes

Attributes

Inheritance

Feature Class
Attributes

Feature Class
1

Attributes
Association

Subtype

1..*

Multiplicity

CSCode
CrossM
Elevation

Time Series

Types of Classes

Types of Classes

Types of Relationships

Components

Attributes of Hydro Features

ESRI ArcObject classes (colored grey) are generic

object classes provided with the ArcGIS software.
All ArcGIS Hydro classes inherit from one of these
classes (Object, Feature, Network Feature).

A Feature class (colored blue) is an object class

that has spatial coordinates (Point, Line Area).

Inheritance (indicated by a triangle) means that the

classes below inherit the properties and methods of
the classes above them in the class hierarchy.

All features in the model are Hydro Features.

HydroID is an integer identifier for hydro features

which is unique within the geodatabase

Association (indicated by a blue line) links objects in

two classes using common values of key attribute
fields stored in both classes.

Drainage features define the drainage areas of the

landscape.

An Abstract class (Class Name in italics) is a class

which stores common attributes shared by the
classes inheriting from it. It does not have objects of
its own.
An Object class (colored white) is a class
represented as a Table in which each object has an
ObjectID and Attributes.

A Network Feature class (colored blue) is a

feature class that has connectivity between
Junctions (points) and Edges (lines).
A Coded Value Domain is an attribute combining
a numerical code with a text label. It is used for
Type attributes.
A Class Subtype (blue and white pattern ) is a
separate class defined by a Coded Value Domain
type attribute.

Multiplicity specifies how many objects can be

associated with another object in an Association.
1 One and only one.
1..* From one to any positive integer.

Hydrography features are the blue lines on maps,

and point features from tabular data inventories

Network features describe the connectivity of water

flow through the landscape
Channel features provide a 3-dimensional view of
channel shape.
Time Series store time varying data about the water
properties of any feature

HydroCode is a string identifier for hydro features

which is their permanent public identifier
JunctionID is the HydroID of an associated
HydroJunction. This junction is the outlet location for
Drainage Areas and Waterbodies
FeatureID is the HydroID of an associated hydro
feature.
NextDownID is the HydroID of the next downstream
feature in this class

Arc Hydro Implementation

Workspace
Geodatabase
Feature Dataset
Feature Class
Geometric
Network
Relationship
Object Class

Arc Hydro Design Principles

Classification
Partitioning, typing, and naming of classes

Attribution
Feature description, including time series

Association
Relating features using key attributes

Navigation
Following water movement from feature to feature

Classification
Partitioning
Like features are grouped into components
(Network, Drainage, )

Typing
Object, Feature, Network feature

Naming
Common names if possible, defined by a
glossary

Classification Hierarchy
Light

Heavy

1. Text descriptor e.g.

FType
2. Coded Value Domain
e.g. FDir
3. Subtypes separate
classes with same
attributes e.g.
HydroEdge
4. Subclasses - separate
classes with different
attributes e.g.
HydroPoint

FType = Stream/River
1 = WithDigitized,
2 =AgainstDigitized,..
EdgeType = 1 for
Flowline, = 2 for
Shoreline
Dam, Bridge, Monitoring
Point,

Two-Way Classification:
FTypes of Subtypes
EdgeType = 1
FlowLine
FType =

Stream/River
Canal/Ditch
Pipeline
Connector
Waterbody FlowLine

EdgeType = 2
Shoreline
FType =
Bankline
Shoreline
Coastline

Attribution
Minimal attribution in the model
Assume user will add more

Attribute Names are all 10 characters or less

so they are not truncated when exported to
Shapefiles
Standard conventions
ID is a long integer
Code is a string

Hydro Features
Every Arc Hydro feature is a Hydro Feature
with a HydroID and HydroCode
HydroID = Class Number + ObjectID e.g.
12000013 is object 13 in class 12 (unique
within a geodatabase)
HydroCode = HydroID + Geodatabase name
e.g. Mybasin12000013 (unique within a set
of geodatabases)

Association
An association is established using key
fields in two separate tables
Can build relationship if necessary

Hydro Assocation HydroID of one class is

an attribute of another class
JunctionID (Drainage Outlets)
FeatureID (Time Series)
NextDownID (Downstream feature)

Navigation
Navigation means tracing the movement
of water downstream or upstream
Dendritic Navigation using NextDownID
within a single feature class
Network Navigation using Network
Analyst tracing tools on Hydro Network
Schematic Navigation using
SchematicLink and SchematicNodes to
connect features in several classes

National Hydro Data Programs

http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/giswr/nhdconf/nationalhydro.html

National Elevation Dataset

(NED)

National Hydrography Dataset

(NHD)

Elevation Derivatives for

National Applications (EDNA) Watershed Boundary Dataset

How do we combine these data?

Digital Elevation
Models

Watersheds

Streams

Waterbodies

An integrated
raster-vector
database

Where Does the Raindrop Go?

Dale Honeycutts concept, May 2000

Water Flows from an Area to a Line

Problems with this:

Areas and lines are not always consistent with one another.
Sometimes many lines within one area.

How to Connect Areas

to the Hydro Network?
Regardless of where the drop falls in the area,
its runoff is on the network at the outlet point

Areas connect
to lines at points
A

Outlet Points

Area to Stream Outlet

Connectivity

ArcHydro and ArcFM Water

ArcFM Water
Water
Infrastructure
Water distribution
Wastewater
collection
Storm sewers

Arc Hydro
Natural water
system
Catchments drain to
storm sewer inlets
Storm sewers
discharge to
streams

Area to Sewer Inlet

Connectivity

Schema
A schema is the structure or
design of a database.
A schema specifies the feature
and object classes -- including
their attributes and relationships
-- of the geodatabase.

Repository
A repository is database that contains
the schema information needed to
create a geodatabase from a UML
model created using a CASE tool.

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Design principles for the data model

Data model components
Time series
Arc Hydro tools

ArcGI S Hydro Data Model

GI S in Water Resources
Consortium

CRWR

http://arconline.esri.com/arconline/datamodels/water.cfm
http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/giswr
HydroFeature

DrainageFeature

HydroJ unction

DrainID

DrainageArea

DrainagePoint

HydroEdge

HydroID
HydroCode
NextDownID
LengthDown
DrainArea
FType
Enabled
AncillaryRole

DrainageLine

HydroI D
HydroCode
ReachCode
Name
LengthKm
LengthDown
FlowDir
FType
EdgeType
Enabled

HydroFeature

AreaSqKm
J unctionID
NextDownID

J unctionID

ComplexEdgeFeature

SimpleJ unctionFeature

HydroID
HydroCode

HydroI D
HydroCode

Object

HydroEvent
ReachCode

EdgeType
Flowline

Catchment

Watershed

Drainage

Basin

SchematicLink
FromNode
ToNode

HydroPointEvent
Measure

Network

Feature

SchematicNode
FeatureID

Shoreline

HydroFeature

HydroFeature

Object

HydroID
HydroCode

HydroI D
HydroCode

ChannelFeature
Hydrography

HydroResponseUnit

HydroLine

HydroArea

Structure

WaterWithdrawal

UserPoint

CrossSection

FType
ProfOrigin

J unctionID

Dam

FeatureID
TSType
TSDateTime
TSValue

ProfileLine
HydroPoint

TimeSeries

ReachCode
RiverCode

FType
Name

AreaSqKm

HydroLineEvent
FMeasure
TMeasure
Offset

Waterbody

Flow

CSCode
J unctionID
CSOrigin
ProfileM

Object

Time

AreaSqKm
J unctionID

Bridge

MonitoringPoint

WaterDischarge

CrossSectionPoint

1..*

Channel

Hydrography
How to read
this diagram

ESRI ArcObject Class

Object Class

Abstract Class
Attributes

Attributes

Inheritance

Feature Class
Attributes

Feature Class
1

Attributes
Association

Subtype

1..*

Multiplicity

CSCode
CrossM
Elevation

Time Series

Types of Classes

Types of Classes

Types of Relationships

Components

Attributes of Hydro Features

ESRI ArcObject classes (colored grey) are generic

object classes provided with the ArcGIS software.
All ArcGIS Hydro classes inherit from one of these
classes (Object, Feature, Network Feature).

A Feature class (colored blue) is an object class

that has spatial coordinates (Point, Line Area).

Inheritance (indicated by a triangle) means that the

classes below inherit the properties and methods of
the classes above them in the class hierarchy.

All features in the model are Hydro Features.

HydroID is an integer identifier for hydro features

which is unique within the geodatabase

Association (indicated by a blue line) links objects in

two classes using common values of key attribute
fields stored in both classes.

Drainage features define the drainage areas of the

landscape.

An Abstract class (Class Name in italics) is a class

which stores common attributes shared by the
classes inheriting from it. It does not have objects of
its own.
An Object class (colored white) is a class
represented as a Table in which each object has an
ObjectID and Attributes.

A Network Feature class (colored blue) is a

feature class that has connectivity between
Junctions (points) and Edges (lines).
A Coded Value Domain is an attribute combining
a numerical code with a text label. It is used for
Type attributes.
A Class Subtype (blue and white pattern ) is a
separate class defined by a Coded Value Domain
type attribute.

Multiplicity specifies how many objects can be

associated with another object in an Association.
1 One and only one.
1..* From one to any positive integer.

Hydrography features are the blue lines on maps,

and point features from tabular data inventories

Network features describe the connectivity of water

flow through the landscape
Channel features provide a 3-dimensional view of
channel shape.
Time Series store time varying data about the water
properties of any feature

HydroCode is a string identifier for hydro features

which is their permanent public identifier
JunctionID is the HydroID of an associated
HydroJunction. This junction is the outlet location for
Drainage Areas and Waterbodies
FeatureID is the HydroID of an associated hydro
feature.
NextDownID is the HydroID of the next downstream
feature in this class

Arc Hydro Implementation

Workspace
Geodatabase
Feature Dataset
Feature Class
Geometric
Network
Relationship
Object Class

CRWR

GIS in Water Resources Consortium

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Network
SimpleJ unctionFeature

ComplexEdgeFeature

HydroJ unction

HydroEdge

HydroID
HydroCode
NextDownID
LengthDown
DrainArea
FType
Enabled
AncillaryRole

HydroFeature
HydroID
HydroCode

HydroID
HydroCode
ReachCode
Name
LengthKm
LengthDown
FlowDir
FType
EdgeType
Enabled

Object

HydroEvent
ReachCode

EdgeType
Flowline

SchematicNode

SchematicLink

FeatureID

FromNode
ToNode

Shoreline

HydroPointEvent
Measure

HydroLineEvent
FMeasure
TMeasure
Offset

Example - Holland

GIS in Water Resources Consortium

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

CRWR

Hydrography
Feature

HydroFeature
HydroID
HydroCode

Hydrography

HydroResponseUnit

FType
Name

AreaSqKm

HydroPoint

HydroLine

HydroArea

J unctionID

Dam

Structure

WaterWithdrawal

UserPoint

Waterbody
AreaSqKm
J unctionID

Bridge

MonitoringPoint

WaterDischarge

River networks
for 8-digit HUC
watersheds

GIS in Water Resources Consortium

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

CRWR

Hydrography
Feature

HydroFeature
HydroID
HydroCode

Hydrography

HydroResponseUnit

FType
Name

AreaSqKm

HydroPoint

HydroLine

HydroArea

J unctionID

Dam

Structure

WaterWithdrawal

UserPoint

Waterbody
AreaSqKm
J unctionID

Bridge

MonitoringPoint

WaterDischarge

CRWR

GIS in Water Resources Consortium

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Drainage
HydroFeature
HydroID
HydroCode

DrainageFeature
DrainID

DrainagePoint
J unctionID

Catchment

DrainageArea

DrainageLine

AreaSqKm
J unctionID
NextDownID

Watershed

Basin

Watersheds of the US
2-digit water resource regions

8-digit HUC watersheds

Watershed Hierarchy
Digit #
2
4
6
8 HUC
10
12
EDNA
Available

In Progress

Watershed Boundary Dataset

National Program by
USGS and USDA
(NRCS)
Boundaries for 10- and
12- digit watersheds
First cut is by automated
delineation from NED
Hand checked and edited

10-digit watersheds

Elevation Derivatives for National Applications (EDNA

National program by
USGS and NWS
5000 cell threshold on a
30m DEM (~ 8 km2
average drainage area)
~ 1 million catchments for
US when completed
Includes grid derived
products e.g. topmodel
index

Area to Area Connectivity:

SchematicLinks built using
NextDownID

CRWR

GIS in Water Resources Consortium

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model
HydroFeature

Channel

HydroID
HydroCode

ChannelFeature
ReachCode
RiverCode

ProfileLine
FType
ProfOrigin

CrossSection
CSCode
J unctionID
CSOrigin
ProfileM

Object

CrossSectionPoint

1..*

CSCode
CrossM
Elevation

Network

Drainage
DrainageLine
&

&

Watershed

&&
&&&

&

&

DrainagePoint

&
& && &
&

&

&

#
*

#
*

#
*

HydroJunction

*
#
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*#
#
*
#
*
#
*#
*#
#
*
*
#
#
*#
* ** #
**##
**#
*#
#
*
**
*#
#
*#
*#
#
#
* #
*
*
#
*#
#
* #
#
*
#
*#
#
*#
**
*
#
*#
*

HydroEdge
SchematicLink

#
*

SchematicNode

*
#
*#
*
#
* #
**
#
#
* #

&
&
&

Pecan Bayou: Flood Hydrology and Hydraulics Study

by David Anderson (CRWR)
Hydrography

Channel

HydroLine

&
&

&
&&
&
&&&
&

&

<all other values>

MonitoringPoint

&

Structure

LeftBank

Waterbody

RightBank

FType

Thalweg
CrossSection
&

Pecan Bayou: Data Development Process

Hydrology
& Hydraulics

HEC-RAS

CRWRPrePro

Terrain
Model

Floodplain
Terrain Model
David Anderson, 2000

HECHMS
HECGeoRAS

3-D Polyline Z
Measure (m) and Elevation (z)
Values on Cross Sections

Channel Geometry using Arc Scene

Begin with Contours

Build a Triangulated
Irregular Network
(TIN)

Extract ProfileLines
and CrossSections

Demo

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Design principles for the data model

Data model components
Time series
Arc Hydro tools

Time Series Objectives

Store Metadata about each collection of
time series values
What is measured
What units are used

Display and store Time Series Views

Rainfall for Gage 1001010
All data between years 2000 and 2001

Time Series Classes

TimeSeries Attributes

FeatureID ID of spatial feature

TSTypeID Identifies TS properties
TSDateTime - Timestamp
TSValue - Value
TSDesc Property of particular record

TimeSeries Example
FeatureID TSTypeID
3000001
1
3000001
1
3000001
1
3000001
1
1000001
2
1000001
2
2000001
4
2000001
4
2000001
4
2000001
4
1000002
2
1000002
2
1000002
2
1000002
2

TSDateTime TSValue TSDesc

4/3/1976 13:00
697.3
4/3/1976 19:00
697.3
4/3/1976 23:48
697.4
4/4/1976 4:07
697.6
4/3/1976 13:00
32.3
4/3/1976 19:00
35.7
9/1/2001
0.5
9/2/2001
1
9/3/2001
1.1
9/4/2001
1.3
4/3/1976 13:00
108.9
4/3/1976 19:00
108.9
4/4/1976 1:00
115.7 IT
4/4/1976 7:00
125.2

TSTypeInfo Attributes

TSTypeID Identifies a set of TS properties

Variable What is being measured or recorded
Units The units that the data values are in
IsRegular Values spaced at regular or irregular
time intervals
TSInterval Time interval between values (if
regular)
DataType The type of time series data
Origin Values recorded or generated

More on DateType

Inst-Value
Inst-Cumulative
Step-Cumulative
Step-Average
Step-Maximum
Step-Minimum

TSTypeInfo Example
TSTypeID
Variable
1 Stage
2 Streamflow
4 Rainfall

Units IsRegular TSInterval

DataType
Origin
ft - MSL FALSE
Inst-Value
Recorded
cfs
TRUE 6Hour
Inst-Value
Recorded
in
TRUE 6Hour
Inst-Cumulative Recorded

FeatureID TSTypeID TSDateTime TSValue Descriptor

3000001
1 4/3/1976 13:00
697.3
3000001
1 4/3/1976 19:00
697.3
3000001
1 4/3/1976 23:48
697.4
3000001
1 4/4/1976 4:07
697.6
1000001
2 4/3/1976 13:00
32.3
1000001
2 4/3/1976 19:00
35.7
2000001
4
9/1/2001
0.5
2000001
4
9/2/2001
1
2000001
4
9/3/2001
1.1
2000001
4
9/4/2001
1.3
1000002
2 4/3/1976 13:00
108.9
1000002
2 4/3/1976 19:00
108.9
1000002
2 4/4/1976 1:00
115.7 IT
1000002
2 4/4/1976 7:00
125.2

Time Series Views

Use Query Builder in ArcGIS
Save
Load

Provides Selective Views of Entire TS Table

Requires no extra functionality

Connecting to Time Series

Flow

DrainagePoint

HydroID

Junction

FeatureID
Time

TimeSeries
HydroPoint

CrossSection

FeatureID of time series

is HydroID of feature the
time series describes

National Water Information System (NWIS)

http://water.usgs.gov

Web access to USGS water resources data in real time

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Design principles for the data model

Data model components
Time series
Arc Hydro tools

Arc Hydro Tools

Code development being done jointly by
ESRI and CRWR
Uses a standardized application framework
for VB tools in ArcGIS
Fills in standard attributes in Arc Hydro
data model
Will be published on GISWR web page and
freely available

Application Framework
Tool for developers
Eases routine ArcGIS programming tasks
Provides standard look and feel to
applications

Anatomy of Code

Streamlining Routine Tasks

Vs.

User-Interface Capabilities
Handles Basic
Input/Output
Reduces development
time by up to 50%
Provides a standard
look and feel across
different applications

Tool Updates
Repaired NWIS tool (released)
Improved accuracy of NextDownstream
Tool (development)
Added Shortest Path to Sink algorithm to
LengthDownstream tool (development)
Exercise on ArcHydroLite being presented
in class next week.

Overview

Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Subtyping of Time series
Properties of Time series class
Applications

Arc Hydro NWIS Application

Custom Tool Retrieves NWIS Data
Time Series Table Built Automatically
Operates Within ArcMap GUI
Demo

ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Drainage

Network

Flow

HydroFeatures
Time

Time Series

Hydrography

Channel

Open Architecture
for Water Modeling
Interface 1
ArcGIS

Temporal Data
Geospatial data

Interface 4
Custom Designed

Interface 2
Excel
Process
Engines

Interface 3
Hydrologic Model

ArcGIS Interface to Model

LibHydro:
An HEC-1
subroutine
library
converted
to a .dll
Interface
written using
VBA for
ArcGIS

Excel Interface to Model

Interface
constructed
using VBA for
Excel

Hydrologic Model

Hydrologic model
constructed using
with a Visual Basic
interface calls
ArcObjects to
access Arc Hydro
data

Custom Interface e.g. Basins

Custom Interface
(for several hydrologic models)

TIWSS
Texas Integrated Water Simulation System
WRAP
Water Availability

SWAT
Water Quality
Arc Hydro

Geospatial and Temporal Data

HEC Models
Flooding & Water Management

Modflow
Groundwater