Take sessions at any time with unlimited access for 90 days on registration.
In this 8‑part course, participants will learn how to delineate streams and (sub)catchments from digital elevation models with confidence and precision. Guided step by step by expert presenters, participants will explore the tools and workflows that transform raw terrain data into meaningful hydrological insights. Working directly with DEMs, participants will build practical skills in identifying flow paths and defining catchment boundaries that form the foundation of water modelling and analysis.
The course goes beyond delineation to introduce key catchment properties, including hypsometric curves, concentration time, longitudinal profiles, bifurcation ratios, drainage density, and unit hydrographs. These metrics deepen understanding of catchment behaviour and hydrological processes, equipping participants with techniques widely applied in both research and professional practice.
Throughout the Masterclass, participants will also learn to produce clear and informative catchment maps, visualise flow directions with arrows in 2D and 3D, and represent catchment dimensions effectively. By the end of the course, participants will be able to combine technical rigour with cartographic clarity to communicate hydrological patterns with confidence.
On completion, you will be awarded an internationally recognised QGIS Certificate.
Hans van der Kwast has more than 20 years of experience with GIS and Remote Sensing in education and projects, offering consultancy, training and coaching in open source GIS. He is an active member in... Read more
Yonas is a geospatial and environmental risk modeling specialist with over 8 years of professional experience in environmental risk modeling, GIS, and consultancy. He studied at IHE Delft Institute fo... Read more
Educated at the University of California at Berkeley, Krey is a civil engineer and project manager with international experience in water resources. He is engaged in computational modelling, engineeri... Read more
Course Overview
This practical QGIS training course provides participants with the skills to transform digital elevation models into meaningful hydrological insights. Through guided, hands‑on workflows, participants will derive key hydrological properties including hypsometric curves, drainage density, and unit hydrographs, and produce clear 2D and 3D visualisations, building practical capabilities essential for water modelling, spatial analysis, and hydrological interpretation.
Structured as a nested training course, Part 1 to 3 focuses on QGIS Essentials for Water Modelling, establishing core capability in hydrological preprocessing, guiding participants through flow‑direction modelling, stream network extraction, catchment delineation, and the creation of clear, publication‑ready maps. These foundational modules ensure participants gain confidence in the essential tools, plugins, and spatial reasoning required for hydrological GIS work.
Parts 4 to 8 extend into advanced spatial analysis and hydrological interpretation, including catchment geometry, time‑of‑concentration estimation, morphometric analysis, and unit hydrograph derivation. Participants will also explore automation, graphical models, and specialised plugins to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance modelling efficiency.
Watch the intro video for a sneak peek into the course!
Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will be able to:
Apply QGIS workflows to delineate streams and (sub)catchments from digital elevation models.
Derive and interpret hydrological properties such as hypsometric curves, concentration time, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, and unit hydrographs.
Create and style catchment maps that effectively communicate flow directions, boundaries, and dimensions in both 2D and 3D.
Generate longitudinal profiles and visualisations to analyse catchment behaviour and support water modelling studies.
Integrate cartographic clarity with technical analysis to present hydrological data in accessible, professional formats.
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