A Catchment Conflation Tool for Comparing DEM Derived River Networks

This paper describes a tool for identifying topologically matched locations in vector stream networks extracted from different DEMs of the same catchment. The tool has applications in providing quantitative comparisons of stream network position and topological differences as well as providing a scalable and robust method for conflating stream networks to enable transfer of attribute information between networks. The tool is demonstrated using a case study in the upper Murrumbidgee River in Australia showing how matching stream links are identified and topological differences identified.