GNAT

Riverscapes Projects

GNAT tools are designed to enable the creation and organization of a Riverscapes project. The tools allow the user to organize project data and structure multiple versions of model outputs.

General GNAT Project Structure

The GNAT project consists of a project.rs.xml file that sits at the base of the folder.

Project MetaData

At a minimum, a GNAT Riverscapes project contains at least the following metadata elements:

  • Region
  • Watershed
  • User/Operator

Inputs

The primary input for a GNAT Riverscapes project is the original stream network dataset used for the project, though additional inputs such as valley bottom polygons, DEM raster datasets, or centerlines may be included depending on the geomorphic and attribute analyses that are generated.

Folder Structure /Inputs/StreamNetworks/StreamNetwork###/

Realization

A GNAT realization represents steps 1 and 2 in the current GNAT Analyze Network Attributes workflow.

  1. Initial network topology table is generated.
  2. Network features and errors are identified.
  3. Network topology errors are fixed manually in ArcGIS (or QGIS, gvSIG, etc.).
  4. Return to step 1 and repeat as needed.
  5. Once the network data is cleaned, it may be ‘committed’ to a realization, from which network analyses can be generated. If the network needs further editing or revising, a new committed network realization must be generated (networks that are committed to a realization should not be edited to maintain data workflow integrity).

Folder Structure /Outputs/RealizationName

Realization Metadata

  • Editing Notes: Manually entered text provided by the user.

Reazlation Outputs*

  • GNAT network polyline feature class
  • GNAT network topology table

Network Analyses

An Analysis represents a segmented or stream branch processed network. These can be input into other geomorphic attribute projects as inputs. Several Analyses can be associated with a Realization, but if the Realization changes or is updated, new analyses must be generated for that Realization.

Folder Structure /Outputs/RealizationName/Analyses/AnalysisName

Segmented Network

Network polyline feature class split by segments with original attributes retained. Segmentation is identified by a SegmentID attribute field.

Parameters

  • SegID Field
  • Pre-Segmentation dissolve options (None, Stream Branches)
  • Segmentation distance
  • Segmentation direction (“Move Upstream”, “Move Downstream”)
  • Segmentation remainder option (“End”,”Proportional”)

Outputs

  • Segmented GNAT network polyline feature class
  • GNAT network table

Stream Branch

Network polyline feature class with a stream branch ID field applied. Original attributes are retained.

  • GNAT network polyline feature class with stream branch identifiers
  • GNAT network table

Attribute Analyses

A further set of analyses can be generated from a Network Analysis, which represent geomorphic or network metrics calculated from the Network.

Folder Structure /Outputs/RealizationName/Analyses/AnalysisName (Attributes are added to the existing segmented network feature class, so no additional files are generated)

Sinuosity Analysis

Adds a sinuosity calculation in an attribute field named C_Sin to Network Analysis dataset.

Planform Analysis

Adds a planform calculation in an attribute field named V_Plan to Network Analysis dataset.

Gradient Analysis

Adds a gradient calculation in an attribute field named GRADIENT to Network Anaysis dataset.

Threadedness Analysis

Adds a threadedness calculation, consisting of multiple attribute fields to the Network Analysis dataset.

Project Workflow

The following is a proposed workflow for using GNAT in Riverscapes project mode. Note that the Network Prep step has some cyclical and manual processing, so a Realization does not appear until the user commits the updates.

  1. Project Management (Toolset level)
    1. New GNAT Project
      • Creates XML
      • Project metadata
    2. Load Raw Network to Project
      • Copies line network to inputs
  2. Main/Step 1 - Network Prep
    1. Generate Topology Table
      • Generates companion topology table
      • Does not output to Realization
    2. Generate Network Features/Errors
      • Uses table and network geometry to find attributes
      • Does not output to Realization
    3. (Manual) Repair network errors
      • Manual step
      • Repeat step 1 and 2 after this
    4. Commit Network
      • User Names Realization
      • Copies network and table to Realization level of project (Outputs/RealizationName/Network)
  3. Step 2 - Network Segments
    1. Segmentation Tool
      • Applies segmentation to network (as segID)
      • Keeps original attributes (need to retain some type of original ReachID)
      • Save at Analysis level (Outputs/RealizationName/Analyses/AnalysisName)
  4. Step 3 - Geomorphic Attributes
    • Calculate Gradient
    • Calculate Threadedness
    • Channel Sinuosity
    • Valley Planform

Example Project File

Example XML