SCIMAP is now part of the main SAGA-GIS distribution. You can find the tool under Tools → Simulation → SCIMAP Toolkit 1.1. The inclusion of the toolset within SAGA-GIS means that:
- SCIMAP desktop is available on Windows, Linux and macOS
- The tool will be updated alongside the main SAGA-GIS tools, enabling access to a wide range of geoprocessing tools
- Being on the desktop will simplify the development of SCIMAP maps with detailed LiDAR and drone-based topographic datasets.
- The inclusion of SAGA-GIS opens the door to integrating SCIMAP within QGIS and ArcGIS via the connecting plugins.
You will have seen that I have moved the version number to 1.1. This change reflects internal adjustments aimed at improving the code’s speed and reducing its memory footprint. These changes enable you to consider wider areas with finer resolution. You will also notice that there are several new options for calculating hydrological connectivity, topographic wetness, and stream power. These options are a preview of the planned development direction for SCIMAP, whereby SCIMAP will examine the set of equations and model structure that best fit your catchment and its pattern of pollution. Over the next year, I plan to add more options for calculating the risk maps.
The SCIMAP Toolkit within SAGA includes the first version of the Hydrological Connectivity Indices Collection (HCIC). This collection will allow you to calculate a range of connectivity indices from a digital terrain model (DEM) and rainfall patterns. Currently implemented are the Network Index (NI) and the Percentage Downslope Saturated Length (PDSL). The Network Index is the original index included in SCIMAP, and the PDSL extends the NI by including the effect of slope length.
You can download the SAGA-GIS version with SCIMAP included here. You need version 9.10.1 or greater.