Visualizing Hydrology with ArcGIS
Hydrology is the study of water—where it originates, how it moves, and where it ends up. It includes everything from rain soaking into the soil to rivers flowing across landscapes or groundwater moving beneath the surface. Understanding how water behaves is key to tackling challenges like floods, droughts, water quality, and sustainable resource management.
To make sense of these processes, hydrologists increasingly use digital tools. One of the most powerful tools in their toolkit is ArcGIS—mapping and analysis software developed by Esri. With ArcGIS, you can visualize data on maps and analyze it spatially to uncover patterns and risks.
For example, in hydrology, ArcGIS helps you see how rainfall spreads across different landscapes. You can pinpoint where water pools, where it flows, and how those patterns change with soil type or weather conditions. You can even simulate what happens during extreme events, such as heavy rainfall or long dry spells.
ArcGIS also allows you to create accurate maps of watersheds, stream networks, and groundwater systems. You’ll be able to run analyses using elevation data, precipitation records, and soil maps to spot bottlenecks and better predict how water will behave in real scenarios.
Whether you’re working in environmental planning, water management, or any field involving geodata, learning how to connect hydrology with GIS tools like ArcGIS gives you a strong foundation for real-world applications.
What will you learn in this Blended Learning course?
This beginner-friendly blended learning program is designed to help you understand how to use ArcGIS in a hydrological context—even if you have no prior experience with GIS.
You’ll begin with the basics: how to open projects, navigate ArcGIS Pro, work with map layers, and carry out simple tasks. You’ll also learn how to run basic analyses using geoprocessing tools and how to export results to use in other programs, like AutoCAD.
As you progress, you’ll dive into more advanced hydrology-specific topics. You’ll learn how to:
- Calculate flow direction and flow accumulation
- Delineate stream networks
- Identify and analyze watersheds
- Combine hydrological data with other spatial layers
- Create clear and well-structured map layouts for reporting and presentations
The program includes interactive video tutorials with step-by-step exercises that you can complete on your own. If you run into questions, you can always reach out for help. This ensures you don’t just follow instructions—you actually understand what you’re doing and why.
By the end, you’ll feel confident using the core tools in ArcGIS and applying geospatial data to hydrological challenges.
Why choose the ArcGIS Hydrology course?
Blended learning gives you the best of both worlds—live interaction and flexible self-paced study—so you can build real, job-ready GIS skills. In this course, you’ll get hands-on with ArcGIS and learn how to apply spatial hydrology techniques to real-world water management challenges.
We kick off with a live session where you’ll start working with real hydrological datasets right away. With guidance from experienced GIS trainers, you’ll learn how to calculate flow direction, delineate drainage basins, and create maps that support water resource planning and policy-making.
Next, our self-paced modules let you explore key hydrology concepts at your own pace. You’ll dive into topics like geospatial data, runoff modeling, watershed mapping, and spatial hydrology. Along the way, you’ll work with both raster and vector data, use elevation models to analyze water flow, and apply geoprocessing tools to extract meaningful insights.
Then, in a second live session, you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to realistic water-related scenarios. You’ll refine your techniques, troubleshoot real analysis challenges, and get feedback as you build maps and models that reflect real-world hydrological systems.
A highlight of the course is a case-based workflow that mirrors the kinds of tasks faced by professionals in water management. You’ll create practical outputs that can be directly used in environmental planning, research, or policy-making contexts.
By combining expert-led training with flexible learning, this course prepares you to do more than just use ArcGIS—you’ll learn how to solve real hydrological problems. By the end, you’ll have the skills and confidence to support better decision-making in your field.