QGIS for Hydrological Applications Training Course

Participants can inspect, organise and prepare vector and raster datasets for analysis.

• Vector geometry, raster cells, bands, nodata values, and attribute tables
• Layer symbology and filtering for rapid inspection of hydrological inputs
• GeoPackage joins and field calculations for station and survey records
• Processing Toolbox history used to document repeatable geoprocessing steps
• Select appropriate vector and raster formats for analysis and exchange
• Identify topology and attribute defects before analytical processing begins

Participants can select and manage coordinate reference systems for reliable hydrological measurements.

• Coordinate reference systems selected for area, distance, and drainage analysis
• EPSG codes, datums, and projected coordinate systems distinguished correctly
• Reproject layers using appropriate transformation operations and output resolutions
• Diagnose shifted layers caused by missing or incorrectly assigned CRS
• Calculate catchment areas and channel lengths in suitable projected units
• Document CRS decisions in project metadata and map layouts

Participants can prepare elevation data suitable for terrain and drainage analysis.

• DEM sources compared by resolution, vertical datum, coverage, and licensing
• Inspect elevation rasters for voids, artefacts, striping, and edge effects
• Fill DEM sinks using Wang and Liu depression-breaching methods before routing
• Burn surveyed streams into DEMs where drainage lines are reliable
• Clip and mosaic elevation tiles without changing cell alignment
• Record conditioning assumptions that affect derived flow paths and basins

Participants can derive and interpret terrain variables for hydrological screening.

• Derive slope, aspect, curvature, hillshade, and topographic wetness index rasters
• Classify slopes for erosion screening, access planning, and infrastructure siting
• Generate contour lines with intervals appropriate to DEM vertical accuracy
• Compare terrain derivatives against imagery, contours, and field observations
• Use raster calculator expressions to combine elevation and terrain thresholds
• Export terrain surfaces with documented units, methods, and cell size

Participants can derive drainage networks and watershed boundaries from conditioned DEMs.

• Calculate D8 flow direction and flow accumulation from conditioned DEMs
• Set accumulation thresholds using mapped channels and local terrain evidence
• Snap pour points to high-accumulation cells before watershed delineation
• Delineate catchments and subcatchments for abstractions, intakes, and settlements
• Review watershed boundaries against ridgelines, hydrography, and local knowledge
• Quantify basin area, elevation range, slope, and drainage density

Participants can prepare land-cover and soil inputs for runoff and watershed assessments.

• Prepare land-cover rasters from classified imagery and national mapping products
• Reclassify soil maps into hydrologic soil groups A through D
• Overlay land cover, soils, and slopes for runoff parameterisation
• Calculate weighted catchment characteristics using zonal statistics and intersections
• Assess map-date and classification uncertainty before assigning model parameters
• Build parameter lookup tables with sources, classes, and rationale

Participants can prepare rainfall datasets and estimate areal rainfall across catchments.

• Import rain-gauge observations from CSV files with validated timestamps
• Join station records to point layers using unique station identifiers
• Create Thiessen polygons for areal rainfall estimation across catchments
• Apply inverse distance weighting and ordinary kriging with stated assumptions
• Compare interpolated rainfall surfaces using holdout stations and residuals
• Summarise event, monthly, and seasonal rainfall by watershed polygons

Participants can estimate and map runoff using the SCS Curve Number method.

• Assign SCS Curve Numbers from land cover and hydrologic soil groups
• Calculate design-storm runoff depths using the SCS-CN method
• Derive time of concentration from flow length, slope, and catchment geometry
• Map runoff-prone zones using curve number, slope, and imperviousness
• Compare parameter scenarios for reforestation, urban growth, and drainage upgrades
• State assumptions and limitations when screening runoff without calibrated models

Participants can characterise stream networks and identify riparian planning constraints.

• Extract stream networks from accumulation rasters using tested threshold values
• Order channels with Strahler stream ordering for network comparison
• Compute drainage density, bifurcation ratio, and stream frequency by basin
• Locate road crossings and settlements exposed near mapped drainage paths
• Map riparian buffers using locally applicable setback distances and constraints
• Validate extracted channels against imagery, surveyed GPS tracks, and hydrography

Participants can produce flood screening maps and identify exposed assets.

• Combine water levels with DEMs to map bathtub inundation extents
• Identify exposure of buildings, roads, wells, and sanitation facilities
• Apply HAND terrain analysis for relative flood susceptibility screening
• Classify flood hazard zones using depth, proximity, and terrain indicators
• Distinguish screening maps from hydraulic model outputs and flood forecasts
• Prepare evacuation-route constraints from inundation polygons and transport networks

Participants can map groundwater indicators and assess monitoring data spatially.

• Map springs, boreholes, wells, recharge zones, and groundwater observations
• Use lineament density, lithology, slope, and drainage for groundwater prospect mapping
• Generate groundwater potential indices through weighted overlay and reclassification
• Estimate static water-level surfaces using interpolated monitoring-point records
• Flag borehole datasets with uncertain coordinates, dates, yields, or depths
• Interpret groundwater maps within hydrogeological uncertainty and seasonal variation

Participants can analyse water and sanitation service access, risks and priorities.

• Map water points, sanitation facilities, population, and service catchments
• Calculate travel-time access using road, path, slope, and barrier data
• Identify communities beyond service standards using population and facility capacity
• Assess flood exposure of latrines, boreholes, pipelines, and treatment sites
• Prioritise rehabilitation sites through condition, access, risk, and demand criteria
• Create field-ready maps supporting water-point inventory and maintenance planning

Participants can map water-quality results and identify potential contamination pathways.

• Geocode water-quality sampling locations and link laboratory result tables
• Map E. coli, turbidity, nitrate, and conductivity results by season
• Apply threshold symbology against national standards and WHO guideline values
• Interpolate screening surfaces while respecting sampling density and uncertainty
• Trace upstream land uses and facilities affecting sampled water sources
• Design repeat sampling locations using coverage gaps and contamination pathways

Participants can map climate-related hydrological indicators and communicate scenario uncertainty.

• Prepare baseline and projected rainfall rasters on consistent grids
• Calculate rainfall anomalies against a stated climatological reference period
• Map drought indicators using Standardized Precipitation Index classification thresholds
• Compare climate scenarios without treating projections as deterministic forecasts
• Identify catchments sensitive to rainfall shifts, heat, and land-cover change
• Document scenario sources, temporal periods, downscaling, and decision implications

Participants can develop transparent spatial suitability models for water-sector decisions.

• Frame site-selection criteria for water infrastructure and watershed interventions
• Standardise criterion rasters using benefit, cost, and constraint functions
• Assign weights through the Analytic Hierarchy Process pairwise comparison matrix
• Run weighted linear combination models with exclusion masks and sensitivity tests
• Test ranking stability under alternative weights and threshold assumptions
• Explain suitability outputs without presenting scores as field verification

Participants can communicate hydrological findings through clear maps and technical briefs.

• Design map layouts with scale bars, north arrows, legends, and sources
• Use colour schemes that distinguish hazard, exposure, and service status
• Create atlas maps for subcatchments, communities, or monitoring stations
• Publish web maps with controlled layers, pop-ups, and access settings
• Write map notes stating data dates, limitations, and analytical methods
• Prepare decision brief graphics for engineers, programme managers, and communities

Participants can automate repeated analysis tasks and apply quality controls to outputs.

• Build graphical models for repeated catchment delineation and zonal statistics
• Use batch processing for multiple DEM tiles, basins, and scenarios
• Create PyQGIS scripts for routine field and layer validation
• Apply QA checklists to geometry, attributes, CRS, and raster alignment
• Maintain processing logs, parameter records, and versioned project files
• Package reproducible outputs with inputs, methods, and named dependencies

Participants can plan a hydrological GIS assignment from decision question to reviewed output.

• Define analysis objectives, decisions, users, scales, and acceptance criteria
• Plan data acquisition, field verification, permissions, and quality controls
• Sequence hydrological analysis tasks from DEM preparation through decision mapping
• Specify assumptions, uncertainties, and validation evidence in technical notes
• Estimate staff time, computing needs, and update frequencies for GIS workflows
• Review ethical handling of community locations and sensitive water infrastructure

Participants can build, review and present a complete hydrological decision-support project for a defined catchment.

• Frame a water-management question, decision audience, spatial extent, and criteria
• Prepare source data, CRS, metadata, and quality-control records
• Derive terrain, drainage, watershed, and runoff evidence from project datasets
• Integrate hazard, exposure, service, or groundwater analyses into recommendations
• Produce reproducible maps, processing records, and a concise technical briefing
• Present methods, assumptions, uncertainty, findings, and implementation priorities to peers