Sara4r: an R graphical user interface (GUI) to estimate watershed surface runoff applying the NRCS – curve number method

Abstract This paper introduces a graphical user interface (GUI) for the R software that allows the rainfall-runoff relationship to be calculated, using the curve number method. This GUI is a raster-tool whose outputs are runoff estimates calculated using land use/land cover and hydrologic soil group...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hydroinformatics 2021-01, Vol.23 (1), p.76-87
Main Authors: Hernández-Guzmán, Rafael, Ruiz-Luna, Arturo, Mendoza, Eduardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antecedent moisture
Freeware
Geographical information systems
Graphical user interface
Handbooks
Hydrology
Land cover
Land use
Mathematical analysis
Modular design
Moisture effects
Parameter modification
Rainfall-runoff relationships
Runoff
Software
Spatial analysis
Surface runoff
User interface
Watershed management
Watersheds
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract This paper introduces a graphical user interface (GUI) for the R software that allows the rainfall-runoff relationship to be calculated, using the curve number method. This GUI is a raster-tool whose outputs are runoff estimates calculated using land use/land cover and hydrologic soil group maps. The package allows the user to select among three different antecedent moisture conditions and includes modifications about the initial abstraction parameter. We tested this GUI with data derived from two watersheds in Mexico and the outputs were compared with those produced using a well-established GIS tool in a vector environment. The results produced by these two approaches were practically the same. The main advantages of our package are: (1) ‘Sara4r’ is faster than previous vector based tools; (2) it is easy to use, even for people with no previous experience using R; (3) the modular design allows the integration of new routines; and (4) it is free and open source.
ISSN:1464-7141
1465-1734
DOI:10.2166/hydro.2020.087