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Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences 
Vol. 10, No. 1, 50-61, 2023 

ISSN(E) 2313-8173 / ISSN(P) 2518-0134 
DOI: 10.20448/arees.v10i1.5251 

© 2023 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 
 

 
 
 
Quantitative morphometric analysis of a river basin using GIS techniques: Case 
study of Miljacka River, Bosnia and Herzegovina  

 
Emina Ajanovic1   

Aida Korjenic2   

 

 
( Corresponding Author) 

 
1,2University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
1Email: emina.ajanovic2@gmail.com  
2Email: aida.k@pmf.unsa.ba  

 
Abstract 

This paper concerns the analysis of the morphometric characteristics of the Miljacka river basin 
using the Digital Elevation Model of the terrain in the Geographical Information System. A 
quantitative geomorphological analysis of general characteristics was performed, whereby the 
analysis was supplemented with specific parameters of the drainage system, which are of linear, 
areal and relief characteristics. Standard mathematical formulas and software tools for Surface and 
Hydrology in the GIS software environment were used to estimate the mentioned parameters, 
using ArcMap 10.4. By working in the Arc Map program, a database system was created, with the 
use of a grid system, which offers the possibility of overlaying geospatial data, extracting certain 
parameters and their analysis and synthesis. The analyzed parameters are indicators of the shape 
and recent processes in the relief. They represent a supplement in the inventory and typification of 
relief forms, which, thanks to GIS software, have a geographic reference, which facilitates their 
correlation. The importance of the conducted analysis is reflected in the fact that the obtained data 
have a numerical value, are verifiable and can be applied multiple times in practice for the 
purposes of determining erosive processes, protecting and improving space and the living 
environment, solving water management problems, planning economic activities and drafting 
spatial plans. 

 
Keywords: Geomorphology, Digital elevation model, GIS, Hydrology, Miljacka River Basin, Planning. 

 
Citation | Ajanovic, E., & Korjenic, A. (2023). Quantitative 
morphometric analysis of a river basin using GIS techniques: Case  
study of Miljacka River, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Asian Review of 
Environmental and Earth Sciences, 10(1), 50–61. 
10.20448/arees.v10i1.5251 
History:  
Received: 6 October 2023 
Revised: 4 December 2023 
Accepted: 14 December 2023 
Published: 21 December 2023  
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 

Attribution 4.0 License  
Publisher:Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support.    
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable. 
Transparency: The authors state that the manuscript is honest, truthful, and  
transparent, that no key aspects of the investigation have been om it ted, and  
that any differences from the study as planned have been clarified. This study  
followed all writing ethics. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing 
interests. 
Authors’ Contributions: Both authors contributed equally to the concept ion 
and design of the study. Both authors have read and agreed to the p ublished  
version of the manuscript. 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 
2. Study Area ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 
3. Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 
4. Results and Discussions ............................................................................................................................................................................. 55 
5. Conclusions..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
References ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
 

 
 
 

 

 

mailto:emina.ajanovic2@gmail.com
mailto:aida.k@pmf.unsa.ba
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://www.doi.org/10.20448/arees.v10i1.5251
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2196-863X
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0985-7943


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Contribution of this paper to the literature 
The use of GIS in this work made it possible to obtain specific data on the various geo 
morphological and hydrological characteristics of the watershed. In the same way, other 
watersheds in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be analyzed, which will contribute to better spatial 
planning, arrangement and use of space. 

 
1. Introduction 

In the last few decades, a significant focus in the field of geomorphology was directed to the development of 
quantitative methods important for the analysis of the genesis, evolution and behavior of drainage systems [1]. 
The branch of geomorphology, based on an analytical-cartographic approach and quantitative characteristics of the 
Earth, is geomorphometry. It is an interdisciplinary field whose scientific and methodological basis is in 
mathematics, natural sciences and informatics [2]. Morphometry as such includes methods that are basically 
geomorphological, based on the principles of computer analysis of the Geographical Information System (GIS). 
GIS has proven advantages in the areas of visualization of spatial data and manipulation of a large number of data, 
which is basically a characteristic of morphometric analyses. In addition to the obvious advantage in the area of 
collecting and manipulating a significant amount of data, GIS is an effective tool for preparing data for modeling 
[3]. Considering the above, this tool encompasses a significant number of scientific disciplines, and in addition to 
being successfully used in scientific research, it is an indispensable part of work processes in the field of resource 
management, property management, development and spatial planning, cartography and infrastructure planning 
[1]. An indispensable part of modern geomorphometric analysis, which uses the wide possibilities of the 
geographic information system, is the digital elevation model of the terrain [2]. A digital elevation model 
represents a special type of geodata, in the form of a digital statistical terrain model with a series of known three 
coordinates [4, 5]. It is based on the collection of height data, by sampling points with a certain accuracy and 
interpolation into software programs, continuous quantitative data on the terrain is obtained in the form of raster 
data [4, 6, 7]. In the earth sciences, GIS methods are improving more and more rapidly, new machine learning 
algorithms are being developed, and automation in geospatial analysis is improving the precision and quality of 
modeling and geo visualization[8]. The last decade has been characterized by a large number of geoportals from 
which medium-resolution DEM data can be downloaded, which has facilitated and improved research in this area. 

Morphometric characteristics of drainage systems show a significant level of dependence on natural factors. 
The characteristics of the surface conditioned by the geological structure and climatic influences are directly 
reflected in the creation and parameters of the river network and basin [9]. Although it is primarily a hydrological 
unit, the river basin also represents a natural entity, and is therefore a subject for physical, economic and social 
planning and development [10, 11]. Given the aforementioned high level of interdependence between natural 
factors and the river basin, changes in any component of the watershed can change the entire environment of the 
watershed [12]. GIS data can also contain data on the risk of torrential floods, which helps to reduce potential 

risks and their consequences in all spheres of life Kovačević-Majkić, et al. [13]. Ivanova Ivanova, et al. [14] states 
that morpho-hydrographic analyses, which are based on hydrographic and geomorphological methods and GIS, 
have their practical application especially in the sustainable use and management of natural resources. 

The results obtained from the quantitative geomorphological analysis carried out in this paper concerning the 
Miljacka river basin are of great importance in determining the intensity of erosive processes in the recent period, 
protecting and improving space and the environment. Morphometric parameters are presented tabularly, 
graphically and on thematic geomorphological maps.  
 

2. Study Area 
Miljacka represents the right tributary of the Bosna River, one of the most important hydrographic streams of 

Bosnia and Herzegovina. It mostly flows through Sarajevo, the capital of the state (Figure 1). Miljacka is formed by 
the confluence of the Paljanska and the Mokranjska Miljacka in the area of the Han Bulozi settlement, and flows 
into the Bosna River in the Rajlovac settlement. Using hydrological tools for extracting the river network in the 
GIS software environment, the total length of the Miljacka River was determined to be 20.02 km, or, with its 
larger component, a length of 40.43 km. The catchment area of 378.51 km2 drains the mountainous terrain of the 

northern part of Ravna Planina and Trebević, the southwestern slopes of Romanija, the southern parts of Bukovik 
and Crepoljski uplands. The lowest point in the watershed includes the area of the river mouth in Bosna and is 478 
m, while the highest point is on the slope of Jahorina, at an altitude of 1665 m.a.s.l. 

This area is characterized by the heterogeneity of the geological structure. Relations between the hydrological 
collectors (limestones and dolomites) and isolators (werfen deposits) caused the creation of springs. According to 
Figure 2, rocks of intergranular porosity are represented by alluvial deposits of Miljacka. Fissure porosity is found 
in ladinic deposits, while cavernous-fissure porosity is a feature of anisic limestone. Triassic carbonates are the 
most important aquifer of potable groundwater in the Miljacka river basin. Predominantly impermeable complexes 

are clastics of the Lower Triassic and deposits of "Orlovački" conglomerates of the Upper Miocene, while 
practically impermeable rocks are Miocene sediments of the “Koševska” series.  

According to the values of the basic climatic parameters, the Miljacka catchment area primarily belongs to the 
Cfb climate, while hypsometrically, the entire basin is under the influence of the Cfc and Dfb climates [15]. C 
climate class is determined with regard to the thermal regime recorded at meteorological stations. The mean 
temperature of the hottest month is higher than 10 °C, and the mean temperature of the coldest month is above -3 

°C Drešković and Mirić [16].  Drešković and Mirić [16] state that areas of the Cf climate type in the average 
annual pluviometric regime do not have a pronounced dry period, which can be noticed based on the annual flow 
precipitation at all three meteorological stations. The annual amount of precipitation in the basin area is 
determined by the regional position of the area in relation to the Mediterranean and continental influence, as well 
as the relief characteristics of the wider area. The amount of precipitation is indirectly related to the annual course 
of temperatures, air humidity and cloudiness, as the main factors of condensation and sublimation of water vapor 



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and its excretion in the form of precipitation. The sum of annual precipitation ranges from 947.4 on meteorological 
station Bjelave to 968.8 on meteorological station Pale. 

 

 
Figure 1. The location of the Miljacka watershed on the map of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

 

 
Figure 2. Hydrogeological map of the Miljacka catchment area. 

 
By comparing the analyzed meteorological indicators with those in the recent period, recorded at the Bjelave 

meteorological station, certain changes can be observed. Average annual temperature for the period 2010 -2020 was 
11.1°C, which is an increase of 1.7°C compared to the previously analyzed time period. Average monthly 
temperatures are increasing, and the maximum temperature was recorded in August. Annual amounts of 
precipitation have been decreasing in the recent period, which indicates a slight increa se in the influence of the 
Mediterranean pluviometric regime. Figure 3. shows that the largest amount of precipitation was recorded in the 
period of climatological spring, with a maximum during the month of May. 

The hydrographic characteristics of the upper part of the basin are conditioned by the local geological-tectonic 
situation and relief energy, and in the hydrological sense, contacts of water-permeable carbonate deposits with 
water-bearing verfen deposits are significant. Consequently, the upper part of the basin is abundant with water. 
The dominance of hydrological collectors in the central part of the basin caused the rare appearance of weaker 
sources and surface flows (Figure 2), which are also characterized by large drops in the river beds, due to the 
topographical situation. The hydrographic characteristics of the lower part of the basin are determined by the 
presence of oligo-miocene sediments, alluvial sediments and anthropogenic factors. In this segment, a significant 
part of the river Miljacka and its larger tributaries in the Sarajevo region, for the purposes of expanding the urban 
system, was subjected to hydromelioration and construction works of the underground sewerage network of the 
city of Sarajevo. 

At the water measuring station the maximum water level values during the year were registered in the spring 
period, due to snow retention. The highest flows are positioned in the spring season (March - June), winter 
(December - February) and autumn (October - November), while the lowest flows are a characteristic of the 
summer season (July - September). 



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Figure 3. Climate diagram for meteorological station Sarajevo in the period 2010-2020. 
Source:  Federal Hydrometeorological institute [17]. 

 
On the Miljacka River, there are longer regulated sections and embankments in order to protect against floods. 

It mainly refers to the narrower city area, and in some segments, facilities were built with the aim of protecting 
industrial zones and agricultural areas. 
 

3. Methods 
One of the most important tasks of geomorphology is the study of geomorphological processes and forms with 

many different aspects, which are also the object of study of auxiliary geomorphological disciplines. One of them is 
the morphometric analysis, which determines the metric values of the relief shape and measures the dimensions of 
the relief [18]. This paper includes a morphometric analysis of the basin's drainage system and relief 
characteristics of the researched area. The paper shows the possibility of automatic extraction and analysis, using 
the European Digital Elevation Model EU-DEM for the assessment of areal, linear and relief features of the 
researched area, with the help of the GIS software ArcMap 10.4. in order to overcome the procedure of physically  
extracting the morphometric characteristics of the drainage system from topographic maps. EU-DEM model 
encompasses the area of 38 countries, 32 member of the European Union and 6 cooperating countries [4, 19]. For 
the purposes of this paper, EU-DEM v1.1 was used, which is the resulting data set, created by improving geo-
positioning, vertical accuracy and compliance of hydrological parameters. It is a continuous data set, divided into 
square areas of the size 1000x1000 km, with a resolution of 25 m, with a vertical accuracy of about 7 m (EU-DEM-
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service1). The GIS software environment offers the possibility of raster and vector 
analyses, available in the program package of tools for Spatial analysis, within which the tools for Hydrology were 

used. Strapazan and Petruț [21] concluded that „computerized hydrologic models have become an essential tool 
not only for a better understanding of the hydrologic cycle but also for a faster problem solving in hydrology, such 
as the ungauged catchments“ (p.95). Hydrology tools were used for the purpose of separating the drainage network 
within the previously defined boundary of the catchment area (Figure 4). 

After completing the preparatory steps of filling the empty cells and defining the runoff directions of each cell 
the watercourse network was extracted from the digital terrain model, using the output parameters of the Flow 
Accumulation function. This function is based on the number of cells, which, considering the slope of the terrain, 
are "poured" into each cell. The limit value for this raster data was defined by comparing the data with a 
topographic map, scale 1:25 000.  

The ranking of the river network was based on assigning a numerical order to the flows in the drainage 
network, and the procedure was performed with the help of the Stream Order function, according to Straler's 
method. 
 

 
1url: https://land.copernicus.eu/imagery-in-situ/eu-dem [20].  

https://land.copernicus.eu/imagery-in-situ/eu-dem


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Figure 4. The procedure of applying GIS software tools in the morphometric analysis of the drainage basin.  

 
The aforementioned procedures included input indicators for the conducted morphometric analyzes of the 

drainage basin, of linear and surface characteristics. The analyzes were carried out with the help of operations on 
the attributes of geographic entities, which are presented further in this paper. Relief features are an important 
factor and have a key meaning in the spatial planning process, where they are analyzed from four aspects: 
morphogenetic, morphological, morphometric and morphographic features of the terrain. For the evaluation of the 
validity, limitations and/or convenience of the terrain, for the settlement of the population, the construction of 
residential buildings, roads, lifestyle and tourist activities, morphometric and morphological characteristics are 
significant [22]. The morphometric analysis of the relief features was carried out using tools for Surface and Zonal 
statistics of the digital terrain model (Figure 5). Statistical analyzes are supplemented with the Microsoft Excel 
program, basic scientific methods and mathematical formulas. This paper includes the analysis of hypsometry, 
terrain slope, exposure, and special attention is paid to the methodology ofderiving parameters for vertical relief 
dissection. The analysis of hypsometric values is based on a digital terrain model that represents the raster 
structure of the data. The location of the entity is defined by a direct relationship with the grid network, where 
each pixel is associated with a square plot on the earth's surface, in other words each pixel has a geographic 
reference, and new attributes of such a data set are created based on existing attributes, for example by 
classification [23]. Methods and algorithms integrated into the ArcInfo program were used to calculate the slope 
of the terrain. The software program determines the values for each pixel (square area), in a way that it calculates 
the maximum rate of value change from that pixel to the neighboring ones that surround it Radoš, et al. [2]. 
Slopes were determined by calculating the first-order derivatives of the values within a 3x3 square [24]. The 
geomorphological classification of slope gradients was performed according to the dominant processes on the 
slopes and the corresponding relief form. Consequently, the terrain slope is widely used in the analysis of slope 
processes (e.g. landslides), denudation, erosion and land use [22]. Exposure is a function of determining the 
orientation of an individual cell towards the cardinal points, and in GIS it is calculated using the function from the 
Surface tool. The algorithm is based on the calculation of the exposure value of the central pixel in relation to the 
eight neighboring ones. The final results are subtracted from the value of 90 or 360, and the orientation of each 
individual cell is obtained according to the azimuths [25]. The analysis of vertical dissection implies the 
determination of height differences between the lowest and highest points on a unit area (m/km 2). It is an 
important geomorphological factor for understanding the structural and functional characteristics of the 
environment, in order to properly manage it. Knowledge and understanding of vertical dissectionare a prerequisite 
for the prevention of threats of natural disasters and the rehabilitation of destructive processes [22]. According to 

Lozić [26], the calculation of vertical dissection is based on a formula that originates from the definition of this 
morphometric parameter: 
 

Vertical dissection = Hmax – Hmin/P  (m/km2)          (1) 
Where:  
Hmax - maximum height in a square cell.  
Hmin - minimum height in a square cell. 
P- area of a square cell (1 km2). 
The GIS software environment enables the formation of square surfaces, dimensions 1x1 km, together with 

interpolation points where the values of hisometric parameters are defined. The calculation of the vertical relief 
dissection was carried out using the Zonal statistics tool program, which opens the dialog box for the analysis of 



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necessary parameters on the digital terrain model. “Range” is the most important parameter during the calculation 
of vertical dissection, by means of which the software calculates the differences between the maximum and 
minimum values within each square cell separately. It is important to associate the obtained values with the 
accompanying attributive tables of vector data, represented by a square grid and interpolation points. This step is 
enabled through a unique identification code (ID) code. The next step involves the point interpolations.Taking into 
account the simplicity, input data for this procedure or the fact that in GIS inverse distance interpolation is used to 
create a raster from point data Burrough, et al. [23], for the purposes of this paper, a map of vertical relief 
dissection was created using the IDW interpolation method. IDW (Inverse Distance Weighted) type of 
interpolation is a simple method in which value at the unknown point is calculated by taking the contribution of all 
points located in a certain radius around it with a statistical weight which is inversely proportional to the square of 
the distance of the point. 
 

 
Figure 5. Procedure of morphometric analysis of relief features using the tool package in GIS.  

 

4. Results and Discussions  
4.1. General Morphometric Characteristics of the Catchment Area 

The general morphometric analysis included the hypsometric characteristics of the terrain of the Miljacka 
River catchment area. During the analysis, using a digital elevation model, 13 hypsometric levels were 
distinguished, each with 100 m of relative height (Figure 6). Cartographic representation of hypsometric levels 
indicates a significant increase in altitude from west to east of the catchment area (Figure 7).  

The average height of the basin is 1043 m.a.s.l. which is a consequence of the dominant representation of 
hypsometric levels in the categories of medium-high mountains 1000-1500 m.a.s.l., low mountains 700-1000 m.a.s.l. 
and high >1500 m.a.s.l. [18]. 
 

 
Figure 6. Distribution of hypsometric levels of the Miljackariver basin. 



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According to this classification, terrains that include medium-high mountain areas make up 53% of the 
catchment area, 32% of the catchment area is represented by the category of low mountains, 2.7% by high 
mountains, while the lowest parts of the terrain, up to 700 m.a.s.l., comprise 11.8% of the total area basin. The 
presentation of the hypsometric characteristics of the terrain allowed an insight into the clear distinction of three 
significant geomorphological units, with dominant processes: the Mokranjska Miljacka valley, the Paljanska 
Miljacka valley and the valley of Miljacka from the confluence of the Mokranjska and Paljanska  Miljacka to the 
mouth of the Bosna River. 

Deviations in the continuous decline in the longitudinal section are the result of significant direction changes 
on shorter sectors in a separate watercourse network, reflected in the altitude change during the 3D analysis of the 
terrain. 

The analysis of the spatial distribution and coverage of certain categories of slope grade is important , 
considering their significance as indicators for the extent and intensity of morphostructural and exo-
geomorphological (denudation and accumulation) processes that influenced the genesis of slopes during the paleo -
geomorphological period, and are also an indicator of future impacts of the afore mentioned processes on their 
mutual relations [2]. 
 

 
Figure 7. Hypsometric map of the Miljacka river basin. 

 
The represented categories of slopes are presented with regard to the dominant morphological processes, and 

correspond to the classification accepted by the International Geographical Union. Table 1 summarizes selected 
slope categories that were used in this study. 

 
Table 1. Representation of terrain slope categories in the catchment area. 

Slope (°) Name of inclined surface Area (km²) Participation (%) 

0-2° Subhorizontal plains 21.24 5.61 
2-5° Slightly sloping grounds 45.39 11.99 
5-12° Inclined terrains 145.87 38.54 

12-32° Very inclined terrains 157.31 41.56 
32-55° Steep terrain 8.66 2.29 

>55° Very steep 0 0 

 
Slope category up to 2° of subhorizontal plains, is characteristic for the largest part of the valley extensions of 

Mokranjska, Paljanska Miljacka, Miljacka valley in Sarajevo region, especially in the alluvial plain part (see Figure 
8). The second slope category in the form of slightly sloping terrain in the amount of 2-5°, represent kind of a 
contact zone, a gentle transition of valley extensions to steeper mountain ranges. The mentioned valleys were 
created on the edges, and in the eastern part of the analyzed watershed, they also include smaller valley areas of 
streams that denuded the slope sides in the advanced stages to the recent slope values. Areas like this on the edge 
of the Miljacka valley have been significantly anthropogenically conquered. The largest part has very inclined 
terrains (12-32°), with very strong slope processes, and they are represented in the eastern and central part of the 



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basin, as a result of neotectonic movements, higher hypsometric levels of mountain areas, which are under the 
strong influence of fluvio-denudation processes.  

The exposure of slopes in geomorphological processes is very significant, given that differently exposed slopes 
receive different amounts of short-wave radiation, in accordance with the apparent movement of the Sun, which 
affects the characteristics of climatic elements, and thus exo-geomorphological processes. Very warm exposures are 
south-facing slopes [2]. Figure 9 shows the distribution of exposures in the area of the Miljacka basin. 

The highest representation is recorded by the southwest-exposed slopes (14.27%), which is in accordance with 
the Dinaric direction of providing dominantly represented relief morphostructures. Northern exposures cover 
considerable areas, i.e. 13.89% of the terrain. Two values of northern exposures were registered, considering the 
fact that the GIS software records the northern exposure to the west and the east from the zero azimuth, more 
precisely from 337.5° to 22.5° [1]. In the context of suitability, slopes with very warm and warm exposures occupy 
39% of the terrain, neutral exposures account for 23%, and slopes with moderately cool and cold exposures occupy 
37% of the terrain. The vertical relief dissection is a component of the overall relief dissection. From the 
geomorphological aspect, it is aintensity parameter of the development of geomorphological processes [27]. The 
analysis of the spatial representation of this parameter allows insight into endogenous processes, more precisely the 
tectonic activity of the area [28]. During the morphometric analysis of the vertical relief dissection, the 
methodology of forming a unit square grid in the amount of 1000x1000 meters was used, i.e. 1 km 2 of surface 
(Figure 10).  
 

 
Figure 8. Slope distribution of Miljacka Basin. 

 

 
Figure 9. Aspect map of Miljacka Basin. 

 



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Figure 10. Unit square grid for calculating the Miljacka drainage basin. 

 

 
Figure 11. Vertical relief dissection map of vertical dissection in the Miljacka basin. 

 



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Within each unit area, the lowest and highest point (height difference) is determined, the values are associated 
with interpolation points in the center of each square. Using the method of interpolation with inverse distances, a  
continuous area of categories of vertical dissection was obtained, for which statistical and zonal analyzes 
determined total areas and participation in the spatial coverage. The least determined values (11.9 m/km2) and the 
largest (555.6 m/km2) of vertical dissection of the terrain indicate that there is no flattened, nor very distinct relief 
in the researched area. By correlating the value of the slope gradient and categories of vertical dissection, it w as 
determined that accumulation processes prevail in the second category of vertical dissection, while the others are 
characterized by denudation processes. The distribution of vertical relief dissection categories indicates clearly 
expressed tectonic relationships in the basin area. Figure 11. shows that the western and southwestern parts are 
less vertically fragmented and are lowered by neotectonic movements, while the eastern, northeastern and 
significantly southern parts of the basin are characterized by greater vertical fragmentation due to neotectonic 
uplift processes. 
 
4.2. Specific Morphometric Characteristics of the River System 

Quantitative morphometric analysis resulted in important parameters for the assessment and understanding of 
hydrological processes in the catchment area.  

The parameters are divided into a group of lined, areal and relief aspects of the researched area (see Table 2 ) . 
The linear parameters include the morphometric characteristics of watercourses, and the areal, a group of 
watershed characteristics, based on which the derived sizes of watercourse and watershed characteristics can be 
calculated. The group of relief parameters completes the previous presentation of general morphometric 
parameters, conditioned by the hydrological processes of the analyzed basin. According to the methodology of 
determining the order of watercourses according to Straler, the total length of watercourses of order I -VI was 
calculated [29]. 
 

Table 2. Morphometric parameters in the Miljacka basin. 

Morphometric parameters Formula Result Unit 

Drainage network 

Hierarchical rank (Strahler system) 
Order stream (Suf)* 

1st  
 

214.58 km 
2nd  

 
120.03 km 

3rd 
 

66.09 km 
4th 

 
20 km 

5th 
 

15.33 km 

6th 
 

20.02 km 
Stream length (Lu) Lu= L1+L2+…+Ln 456.1 km 

Stream number (Nu) Nu= N1+N2+…+Nn 775 
 

Mean stream length (Lt)* 
 

20.02 km 
Main channel length (Cl)* 

 
16 km 

River flow development coefficient (C) C=Lt/Lmin 1.3 
 

Basin geometry 

Basin area (A)* 
 

378.51 km² 
Basin perimeter (P)* The length of the outer boundary as projected 

onto the horizontal plane of the map. 
128.02 km 

Basin length (Lb)* 
 

35.51 km 
Basin width (Wb) Wb = A/Lb 10.66 km 

Drainage density (Dd) Dd= Lu/A 1.20 km/km2 
Relief characterizes 

Minimum elevation of the basin (z)* Elevation of basin mouth.  478.1 m 
Maximum elevation of the basin (Z)* 

 
1665.6 m 

Total basin relief (H) H = Z - z 1187.5 m 

The average elevation of the basin (Ha)* 
 

1043.4 m 
Hypsometric integral (Hi) Area under the hypsometric curve  0.48 % 

Note: *Measured directly using GIS software analysis using DEM. 

Source: GIS analysis; according to Korjenić and Temimović [30]. 

 
The valleys of the lowest order are connected to the areas of the headwaters of the larger watercourses of the 

basin, and are mostly represented at higher hypsometric levels. Smaller deviations are observed comparing the 
watercourses of the V and VI order, considering the specific gorge valley and the elbow bend of the Mokranjska 
and Paljanjska Miljacka, on the way to their junction and the place of origin of Miljacka, which flows from this 
area, in the tectonically predisposed and significantly aligned sector of the Sarajevo area. The watercourse length in 
the system is first of all a reflection of the hydrogeological characteristics, i.e. the stability of the river network of 
the analyzed area. The obtained density value of the river network for the Miljacka river basin is a consequence of 
the climatic and hydrogeological conditions of the terrain, and especially the hypsometric scale in the analyzed 
coverage, which, along with the topographic base, served as an input parameter of the limit values of the 
watercourse accumulation function or for defining the river network with the help of GIS software tools.  

A very pronounced amplitude of heights in the watershed is a condition for high water flow capacity and high 
runoff, and thus a high potential for erosion in the watershed. 

The hypsographic curve is primarily important in the interpretation of the way rainwater flows towards 
watercourses in the hydrographic system [31]. The curve shape indicates the relief age, that is, the balance of the 
processes of denudation and accumulation, where the area under the curve shows the relief that should be denuded 
by these processes. To describe the shape of the hypsometric curve, use the hypsometric integral that quantifies the 
area under the curve, indicating the mature phase of the relief of the analyzed watershed (Figure 12).  
 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2023, 10(1): 50-61 

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Figure 12. Hypsometric curve of the Miljacka river basin. 

 

5. Conclusions 
Lately, Digital Elevation Models have been the subject of increased usage and interest. Resulting in the 

convenience that this type of data offers in the calculation of various morphometric parameters. The aim of this 
paper was to show the possibilities of calculating general and specific morphometric parameters in the Miljacka 
river basin using software tools offered by the Geographical Information System, based on the analysis of raster 
data, such as the Digital Elevation Model of the terrain, and vector data obtained as output parameters of previous 
operations. The accuracy of data obtained with such analyzes depends on the availability of raster data, their 
accuracy, the experience and skill of the experts who work on their preparation and application, a s well as the scale 
of spatial coverage for which they are applied. In order to understand the correlation of hydrological processes and 
the evolution of the relief, input parameters in the analyzes are important. The accuracy of the application of GIS 
for these needs can be seen in the obtained results of measuring specific morphometric characteristics. Significant 
result precision is possible by the automated extraction of individual surfaces of hypsometric levels, which in 
combination with Excel analyzes enable the creation of graphical representations of the balance of the basic 
geomorphological processes of the area. The GIS application enabled operations upondigital elevation model data 
of the terrain, which presented the main morphometric parameters that have a spatial reference. Further 
application of this type of spatial data is unlimited considering the possibilities of manipulation of huge databases in 
geographic information systems. This fact is also recognized by the institutions responsible for spatial planning, 
which in the recent period use morphometric data in the assessment of terrain stability and the prevention of 
natural disasters. 
 

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