The effect of DEM resolution on topographic wetness index calculation and visualization: An insight to the hidden danger unraveled in Bozkurt in August, 2021

Abstract

Topographic Wetness Index, also known as the compound topographic index, (TWI) is a topographic indicator that calculates the potential of where water is likely to accumulate during excessive precipitation cycles resulting from abrupt atmospheric anomalies. High index values represent serious potential of water accumulation due to low slope, and the opposite for high slope. As expected from the term, slope, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets play an important role in the calculation of TWI. DEMs are produced utilizing tachometry, GPS benchmarking, UAV, aerial or satellite image capture and LIDAR capabilities. However, no matter how it is generated, a DEM is as good as the actual ground sampling algorithm, on which the final resolution is based. Using six different DEM resolutions coming from three global and one national source presented in three different setting coverages, upper feeder basin of Bozkurt sub-province, Kastamonu, was analyzed emphasizing the urbanized part of the sub-province, which was devastated during the August 11th, 2021 flood. Coarser resolution missed the overall precision while the finer resolution captured it nicely. On the flip side, finer resolution excessively fragmented the questioned area while the coarser resolution formed a unity coinciding with the destructed area recorded during the event.