Intorduction
This research project will focus on the
development of a drainage flow model for a mine site. Calculating hydrologic
characteristics at a mine site are important when considering environmental
health and mine management. Improper management of stock piles may lead to erosion
of aggregate piles due to storm runoff. The main objective is to observe is ArcGIS
will be able to calculate a detailed drainage model using UAS imagery. Hydrology
tools in ArcMap will be used to model the flow of water across the surface.
Three tools that will be used are Fill, Flow direction, and Watershed. Results
of this project will add to the conversation of high resolution hydrology flow
models extracted from UAS imagery.
Study Area
The Litchfield Mine site will be used for this
project. The Mine site contains multiple stock piles and a holding pool located
next to the Chippewa River (Figure 1). The Litchfield Mine is located near Eau
Claire in West Central Wisconsin. Flight
data was collected Sunday, March 13th flown at 200ft with a Sony
A6000. Conditions were overcast with light rain earlier that morning.
Methods:
Step 1. Process imagery in Pix4D to extract a DEM
for spatial analysis in ArcGIS.
Step 2. Run
the Fill tool. Because the study area contains a holding pond and possibly
other depressions that trap water, this tool will be used to fill in any “sinks”.
This will help produce a more accurate hydrologic model.
Step 3. Run the Flow Direction Tool. The Flow
Direction tool calculates the direction of water flow on a surface. Cells that
are a sink will be undefined.
Step 4. Run the Watershed Tool. This tool will be
able to delineate natural boundaries of common drainage within the study area
if there are any.
Step 5: Development of maps illustrating water
flow.
Discussion
Possible avenues of discussion may be a critique on
ArcGIS ability to apply hydrology tools meant for larger scale project to one
of a small scale one.
Did this project yield any notable water flow
patterns on the Litchfield Mine site?
