Limitation of 90 m SRTM DEM in drainage network delineation using D8 method—a case study in flat terrain of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the deltaic flood plain located in the lower ridge of the Ganges Brahmaputra and Meghna basins. The country is very flat having 40% of its landmass up to 10 m above the mean sea level. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 90 m, i.e., 3-arc second digital elevation model (DEM) is being widely used to delineate river network and to extract catchment information using hydrology tool of ArcGIS. The hydrology tool uses the D8 method for extraction of drainage pattern. The study was carried out to find the limitation and suitability of 90 m SRTM DEM data in flat terrains especially in Bangladesh using ArcGIS. Twelve catchments of varying geomorphology were chosen from five hydrological zones of Bangladesh. Basin characteristics such as bifurcation ratio, drainage density, and channel slope of the catchments were estimated and analyzed to evaluate the suitability of 90 m SRTM DEM. The delineated catchments of slope 1:3,600 or more flat shows large deviation in river network alignment when compared with the digital river network developed by Bangladesh Water Development Board and with Google Earth’s images. The catchments having slope 1:2,850 and more steep were delineated correctly. The conclusion could not be established between slopes 1:2,850 and 1:3,600. The study also revealed that the catchment characteristics other than the slope have no effect on river network delineation.