This document summarizes a student project analyzing watersheds in the Mahanadi River Basin in India using GIS. The objectives are to delineate watersheds and streams using DEM data in QGIS and calculate morphometric parameters to prioritize the watersheds. Methodology includes preprocessing DEM data in QGIS, extracting stream networks and channel networks, and delineating watersheds for five stations. Results show watershed delineation for specific stations. The conclusion discusses using QGIS tools for watershed delineation and how morphometric parameters can inform water and land use planning.

1. Morphometric Analysis and Prioritization of
Watersheds of Mahanadi River Basin using GIS
Project
Under the supervision of
Dr.Meenu Ramadas
Submitted by-
Rinku Meena
(15CE01029)
School of Infrastructure
IIT Bhubaneswar

2. Content
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Literature review
 Study area
 Methodology
 Results and Discussion
 Conclusion
 References

3. Introduction
It is a significant tool for prioritization of sub-watersheds. It gives a
quantitative description of drainage basin which is very much
useful in studies such as hydrologic modelling, watershed
prioritization, natural resources conservation and management.
 Morphometric Analysis
 Watersheds
A watershed is a hydrological unit which generates runoff by itself
as a result of precipitation. However, the runoff water depends
upon morphology of the watershed.

4. Objectives
The goal of the study is to perform morphometric analysis and
prioritization of watersheds in the Mahanadi River Basin using Q-
GIS.Following are the specific objectives:
 To identify and properly execute the geo-processing tools to
delineate streams network, and watersheds using DEM data in
the Q-GIS software.
 To determine the characteristics of the watersheds such as
drainage and morphometric parameters
 To utilize the results of morphometric analysis to prioritize the
watersheds.

5. Literature review
Author year Topic of paper Remarks
Biswas et al. 1999
Prioritisation of subwatersheds based on
morphometric analysis of drainage basin: A
remote sensing and GIS approach
Sridhar et al. 2012
Prioritisation of miniwatersheds based on
Morphometric analysis using GIS
Guru and
Meher
2016
Delineation of Mahanadi River Basin by
Using GIS and ArcSWAT.
Chandniha et
al.
2017
Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds Based on
Morphometric Analysis using Geospatial
Technique in PiperiyaWatershed

6. Study Area
Station District (State) Latitude (˚N) Longitude (˚E) Tributary
1. Kesinga Kalahandi (Odisha) 20.6016 84.7758 Tel
2.Sundargarh
Sundargarh
(Odisha)
22.1136 84.0083 Ib
3. Sukma
Sambalpur
(Odisha)
20.7822 83.3697 Mahanadi
4. Salebhata Bolangir (Odisha) 20.978 83.551 Ong
5. Tikarapara Anugul (Odisha) 20.2040 83.2220 Mahanadi

7. Methodology
Quantum-GIS functions as geographic information system (GIS)
software, allowing users to analyze and edit spatial information.
QGIS supports both raster and vector layers.
Advantages of using QGIS
The advantage of using Q-GIS is that it is freely available software
that supports the use of advanced GIS functionalities and spatial
analysis tools for community-driven projects and watershed
planning.
 QGIS for spatial Analysis of Watersheds

8.  Morphometric Parameters
a) Stream Order
b) Stream number
c) Total stream length
d) Watershed perimeter
e) Maximum length of the watershed
f) Stream length ratio
g) Bifuraction ratio
h) Form factor
i) Elongation ratio
j) Circulatory ratio
k) Drainage density
l) Drainage frequency
m) Texture ratio
n) Maximuum watershed relief
o) Compactness coefficient

9. Stream Order
Figure 1. Stream ordering by Strahler and Shreve Method

10. Results and Discussion
 Watershed Delineation using Q-GIS
The inputs for this analysis are elevation and location of the
watershed outlet points . Starting with a DEM, the first step is to
identify the channel network, then delineate watersheds using
outlet points and calculate the different parameters described
previously.

11.  Preprocessing of DEM
DEM obtained from SRTM for the study region for the study region preprocessed in
QGIS for watershed delineation.

12. Filled DEM obtained from QGIS Flow direction map obtained from QGIS
After using the Fill Sinks (Wang & Liu) tool from the QGIS toolbox, filled
DEM layer and Flow diretion map are obtained.

13.  Extraction of Stream Network
The stream network of the region is extracted by first determining the order of
streams . The Strahler order tool gave the resulting raster that displays the
stream order. The largest stream order of the region is obtained as 10.

14.  Extraction of Channel network
The channel network is extracted by the Raster calculator tool using in QGIS is
used to extract those streams having order greater than 4.

15.  Delineation of Watersheds
The watersheds in Mahanadi River Basin are delineated for five gaging stations:
Tikarapara, Sundargarh, Sukma, Salebhata, and Kesinga.Using the Upslope Area
tool in Q-GIS , it is possible to define a new outlet for watershed delineation. In
this way, watersheds are obtained for the different outlets.
Kesinga gaging station
(20.6016°N ,84.7758°E)

16. Conclusion
 In this study, the use of various hydrological tools offered in the free and
open source software of QGIS is demonstrated for watershed delineation.
Using SRTM 30-m resolution DEM as input, the watersheds corresponding to
gaging stations Kesinga, Sundargarh, Sukma,Salebhata and Tikarparaof Odisha
are obtained for further analysis. In the present study, Q-GIS has been utilized
for generating contours, slope, drainage pattern, stream order, catchment
delineation and other inventories for the study area. Geomorphology
parameters as discussed in this study can play an important role in water and
land use planning in a watershed.

17. References
Band, L. E. (1986). Topographic partition of watersheds with digital elevation
models. Water resources research, 22(1), 15-24.
Biswas, S., Sudhakar, S., & Desai, V. R. (1999). Prioritisation of subwatersheds
based on morphometric analysis of drainage basin: A remote sensing and GIS
approach. Journal of the Indian society of remote sensing, 27(3), 155.
Chandniha, S. K., &Kansal, M. L. (2017). Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds
Based on Morphometric Analysis using Geospatial Technique in
PiperiyaWatershed, India. Applied Water Science, 7, 329-338.
Dietrich, W. E., Wilson, C. J., Montgomery, D. R., & McKean, J. (1993).
Analysis of erosion thresholds, channel networks, and landscape morphology
using a digital terrain model. The Journal of Geology, 101(2), 259-278

18.  Guru, B. G., &Meher, J. Delineation of Mahanadi River Basin by Using GIS
and ArcSWAT. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention 5(8). 44-
48.
 Sridhar, P., Bose, C. A., Giridhar, M. V. S. S., &Viswanadh, G. K. (2012).
Prioritisation of miniwatersheds based on Morphometric analysis using GIS.
International journal of geomatics and geosciences, 3(2), 314.
 Zhang, W., & Montgomery, D. R. (1994). Digital elevation model grid size,
landscape representation, and hydrologic simulations. Water resources
research, 30(4), 1019-1028.