MapShed GIS-Based Watershed Modeling Tool

Dr. Barry Evans and his group at Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment (http://www.iee.psu.edu/pennstatesearch) worked to improve the ArcView Generalized Watershed Loading Function (AVGWLF), a GIS-based watershed modeling tool that uses hydrology, land cover, soils, topography, weather, pollutant discharges, and other critical environmental data to model sediment and nutrient transport within a watershed. AVGWLF has been used for federally-mandated total maximum daily load (TMDL) studies in Pennsylvania since 1999, and regionalized versions of this software have been developed for EPA Region 6 in the southwestern part of the U.S., in New York state, and for New England.  AVGWLF has been used by the Mexican Institute of Water Technology for various watershed studies since 2000, and it has been used by other governmental agencies and scientists located throughout the world. To extend the utility of this software, a major revision was undertaken to move the tool from a commercial GIS software package to a free one called MapWindow (https://www.mapwindow.org/). The new software was named MapShed, and it expanded the use of this type of modeling tool to a much larger number of users, many of whom do not have the means to purchase the commercial GIS software needed for AVGWLF. In addition to the GIS platform upgrade, numerous analytical tools were enhanced to provide additional modeling capabilities such as the simulation of pathogen loads, better simulation of pollutant transport processes in urban settings, and improved assessment of the effects of best management practice implementation on pollutant load reduction.

Like AVGWLF, MapShed is a customized GIS interface that is used to create input data for an enhanced version of the GWLF watershed model originally developed at Cornell University. In utilizing this interface, the user is prompted to identify required GIS files and to provide other information related to “non-spatial” model parameters. This information is subsequently used to derive values for required model input parameters which are then written to the input file needed for model execution. Also accessed through the interface is regional climate data stored in Excel-formatted files that is used to create the necessary “weather” input file for a given watershed simulation.

With MapShed, a user selects areas of interest, creates model input files, runs the simulations model, and views the output in a series of seamless steps.

The following screen shots demonstrate how to use MapShed. You can also view MapShed video tutorials in a later section in this document (https://wikiwatershed.org/help/model-help/mapshed/#video-tutorials).

*Note: Some download links point to files on Google Drive. If your firewall prevents access to Google Drive, please email webmaster@stroudcenter.org for assistance.

MapWindow Application

MapWindow is the primary software required in order to run MapShed. Note: since MapShed is a plugin designed to work within MapWindow, you must install MapWindow prior to installing MapShed. Only the version provided on this site will work with MapShed.

• Download MapWindow from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2oUlrZU
  Download size: 36.9 MB | Disk space required: 115 MB | Version number: 4.6.602 | Last modified: July 29, 2009
• Download Quick Guide to MapWindow from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2VSt4Mk
  Download size: 853 KB | Version number: 2 | Publish date: January 2007

MapShed Application

Contains the plugin files which provide the link between GWLF and MapWindow. Note: you must install MapWindow prior to installing MapShed.

• Download MapShed from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2J39sjI
  Download size: 45.3 MB | Disk space required: 14.8 MB | Version number: 1.5.1 | Date last modified: December 19, 2016
• Download MapShed Users Manual from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/31vc4wS
  Download size: 10 MB | Version number: 1.5 | Date last modified: November 2016
• Download MapShed Installation Guide at http://bit.ly/33Jeae2
  Instructions on how to install MapShed, the demo data, and the Pennsylvania data. Download size: 21.3 KB | Version number: 1.x | Date last modified: October 3, 2011
• Download MapShed ReadMe at http://bit.ly/31rj26d
  Contains file- and Windows-specific installation notes. Download size: 81.7 KB | Version number: 1.5.1 | Date last modified: December 19, 2016
• Video tutorials: MapShed video tutorials are available in a later section of this document and also on YouTube at http://bit.ly/2J56CKR

GWLF-E Application

This is the standalone GWLF-E application. Note: This application is included with the MapShed download. Only download this application if you are NOT using the MapShed software. This application is a simple executable that can be run immediately after downloading it. There is no installer.

• Download GWLF-E from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/33NcXmd
  Download size: 2.95 MB | Disk space required: 2.95 MB | Version number: 1.5.1 | Date last modified: December 19, 2016
• Download the original GWLF manual at http://bit.ly/2J55t61
  Download size: 2.32 MB | Version number: 2.0.0 | Date created: December 15, 1992

Important: If you are receiving Microsoft related errors while attempting to run this executable, you are missing required Microsoft components. These components are included with the MapShed installation package. If you wish to only run the standalone executable, you must install both MapWindow and MapShed and then uninstall MapShed and then MapWindow. The required Microsoft components will remain installed.

Maintenance Downloads

MSICleaner is a generic application that is applied to all applications created by the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment (PSIEE). Removes old, uninstalled PSIEE application installers.

Download MSICleaner from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/32uUSsD
Download size: 48 KB

*Note: data downloads are in the form of zip files on Google Drive. If your firewall prevents access to Google Drive, please email webmaster@stroudcenter.org for assistance. Disk space required numbers do not include image files created by MapWindow.

MapShed Demo Data

• Download MapShed demo data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2BliFzw. Contains sample data for learning and testing purposes. Download size: 1.65 MB | Disk space required: 3.85 MB | Version number: 1.2.1 | Date last modified: June 17, 2014

Pennsylvania Data

You must download the statewide data and the data for your region.

Pennsylvania Statewide Data

• Download Pennsylvania statewide data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2Mt1CSn
  Contains GIS layers and weather files for the entire state of Pennsylvania. Download size: 135 MB | Disk space required: 191 MB | Version number: 1.2.1 | Last modified: June 17, 2014

Pennsylvania Region-Specific Data

Contains streams and raster data sets for each region.

• Download Eastern Pennsylvania data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/35K07qw
  Download size: 29.7 MB | Disk space required: 168 MB | Version number: 1.3 | Last modified: December 6, 2014
• Download North Central Pennsylvania data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2nXHWfY
  Download size: 55.8 MB | Disk space required: 106 MB | Version number: 1.3 | Last modified: December 6, 2014
• Download Northwest Pennsylvania data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2oL2d98
  Download size: 37.7 MB | Disk space required: 74 MB | Version number: 1.3 | Last modified: December 6, 2014
• Download South Central Pennsylvania data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/31tXLJ8
  Download size: 56 MB | Disk space required: 220 MB | Version number: 1.3 | Last modified: December 6, 2014
• Download Southwest Pennsylvania data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/32paEFw
  Download size: 36.1 MB | Disk space required: 74.3 MB | Version number: 1.3 | Last modified: December 6, 2014

New York and New England

You must download the regional data and the data for your specific section.

Regional Data

• Download the New York/New England regional data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2MWD2IH
  Contains GIS layers and weather files for the entire New York/New England region. Download size: 68.6 MB | Disk space required: 100 MB | Version number: 1.2.0 | Last modified: October 22, 2013

Section Data

Contains streams and raster data sets for each section.

• Download NY/NE Section 1 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2VTUvWd
  Download size: 131 MB | Disk space required: 889 MB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 2 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2nXfvib
  Download size: 164 MB | Disk space required: 773 MB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 3 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2oTvwpX
  Download size: 193 MB | Disk space required: 1.05 GB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 4 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2VTUX6R
  Download size: 194 MB | Disk space required: 962 MB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 5 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2BnEoXv
  Download size: 133 MB | Disk space required: 1.24 GB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 6 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/31r6trE
  Download size: 171 MB | Disk space required: 1.33 GB | Version number: 1.2.0 | Last modified: February 4, 2016
• Download NY/NE Section 7 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/32vCL6a
  Download size: 242 MB | Disk space required: 1.27 GB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 8 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2MqKm07
  Download size: 179 MB | Disk space required: 970 MB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012
• Download NY/NE Section 9 data from Google Drive: http://bit.ly/2W1B8L2
  Download size: 233 MB | Disk space required: 1.93 GB | Version number: 1.1.0 | Last modified: July 23, 2012

PRedICT Users Manual

• Download PRedICT Users Manual at http://bit.ly/35MUvvF
  Download size: 1.27 MB | Version number: 7.1 | Last modified: February 2008

GIS Projection Information

GIS projection information for the demo and Pennsylvania datasets.

• Download GIS Data Projection Information at http://bit.ly/2P0pxtX
  Download size: 13.9 KB | Version number: 1.0 | Last modified: October 3, 2011

Best Managment Practices Pollution Reduction Guidance Manual

Guidance manual for various agricultural best management practices (BMP).

• Download BMP Pollution Reduction Guidance Manual at http://bit.ly/33T1zFx
  Download size: 5.79 MB | Version number: 1.0.0 | Date created: November 30, 2001

Original RUNQUAL Manual

Original Runoff Quality From Development Sites users manual (Cornell University).

• Download the original RUNQUAL manual at http://bit.ly/2nXWoVf
  Download size: 147 KB | Version number: 1.0.0 | Date created: June 30, 1993

MapShed is a customized GIS interface that is used to create input data for an enhanced version of the ArcView Generalized Watershed Loading Function watershed (GWLF-E) model originally developed at Cornell University. With MapShed, a user selects areas of interest, creates model input files, runs the simulations model, and views the output in a series of seamless steps.

Introduction to MapShed (https://youtu.be/dA0e0C6OvOY)

Installing MapShed (https://youtu.be/NzBT0-nW35o)

Creating a MapShed Project (https://youtu.be/TMckkjuD8xM)

Creating MapShed Model Input (https://youtu.be/YyaIfR5n9BQ)

Running the GWLF-E Model (https://youtu.be/ByXId7ycYqk)

View and Edit MapShed Model Input (https://youtu.be/xqTd9MBihdw)

Creating a Watershed File (https://youtu.be/BSYEmU9SR7E)

Introduction to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)/Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Case Study (https://youtu.be/OSNW61o6cUE)

Background Information for TMDL/MS4 Case Study (https://youtu.be/bbulILr9950)

Installing Data for the TMDL/MS4 Case Study (https://youtu.be/N6lft6Eu41Q)

Load Data for the TMDL/MS4 Case Study (https://youtu.be/JOMK4o4KIFQ)

View Model Output for the TMDL/MS4 Case Study (https://youtu.be/App0DvKwdKs)

Use BMP Editor for the TMDL/MS4 Case Study (https://youtu.be/ur1BCTqdbTc)

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