Next-Generation Hydrographic Framework Delivers Unprecedented Detail for Watershed and River Network Analysis

Esri and its global partners have released HydroSHEDS v2, providing high-resolution hydrographic data for North, Central, and South America.
Developed with World Wildlife Fund in the US, McGill University and Confluvio Consulting in Canada, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the initiative reflects global collaboration in hydrologic science and geospatial technology.
HydroSHEDS v2 leverages TanDEM-X elevation data and Arc Hydro workflows to deliver more accurate drainage networks, watershed boundaries, and hydrologic connectivity.
The datasets support applications such as flood risk assessments, climate resilience studies, systematic conservation planning, water resource management, and environmental decision-making.
HydroSHEDS v2 datasets are available through ArcGIS Living Atlas, with additional global releases planned as part of a phased rollout.

Esri has made HydroSHEDS v2 publicly available for the first time. Confluvio Consulting led the development of the HydroSHEDS v2 foundational dataset in partnership with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Esri, whose geographic information system (GIS) technology will provide users with the data. A major innovation in global hydrographic capabilities, this hydrographic framework is the result of a collaboration initiated by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and McGill University.

HydroSHEDS v2 will support a broad range of applications, including flood risk assessments, freshwater ecosystem conservation, infrastructure planning, water resource management, environmental modeling, scientific research, and operational decision-making.

The initial release of HydroSHEDS v2 provides comprehensive hydrographic coverage for North, Central, and South America, and marks the beginning of a phased global rollout. By making these datasets available through ArcGIS Living Atlas, Esri is enabling GIS professionals, scientists, environmental organizations, and water resource managers to access more detailed and consistent hydrographic information for analysis and decision-making.

"HydroSHEDS v2 represents a major milestone in hydrographic data development and international collaboration," said Sean Breyer, director for ArcGIS Living Atlas. "By combining high-resolution elevation data, Arc Hydro processing capabilities, and the accessibility of ArcGIS Living Atlas, we are helping researchers, governments, NGOs [nongovernmental organizations], and organizations better understand and manage water resources across the Americas and eventually around the world."

"HydroSHEDS v2 provides an important new foundation for hydrologic science, conservation planning, and water resource management," said Bernhard Lehner, associate professor at McGill University and Confluvio cofounder. "Making these datasets openly available through ArcGIS Living Atlas will accelerate innovation and support better decision-making for freshwater systems worldwide."

HydroSHEDS has long served as one of the world's most widely used hydrographic frameworks. This new version represents a significant advancement, leveraging the high-resolution TanDEM-X global elevation model from DLR and advanced processing workflows. HydroSHEDS v2 enables users to create more accurate, comprehensive, and globally consistent representations of Earth's drainage systems.

To learn more about HydroSHEDS v2 and access datasets, visit https://livingatlas.arcgis.com or https://www.hydrosheds.org.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.

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