Project Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025
Department or Program
Geography
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Faculty Mentor #1
Jackie Gallagher
Abstract
This study explores the application of watershed analysis tools—including the Flow Accumulation, Flow Direction, and Fill tools—on small-scale areas within the rapidly developing City of Fredericksburg. By applying these GIS tools to high-resolution LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), the study examines water flow patterns before and after urban development. Results from two primary study sites demonstrate that, when properly utilized, these tools can effectively delineate small-scale hydrological changes from urban development. However, analysis of a third site reveals challenges associated with DEM cleaning. Particularly, the limitations of the Fill tool, highlighting the need for manual editing and further refinement for small-area studies. Manual editing mitigated the issues present in the third site and allowed for the creation of an updated watershed map. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential of adapting traditional watershed toolkits for local-scale hydrological studies and urban planning, while explaining an error prone step along with an appropriate solution.