On the basis of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, watershed delineation and sp atial topological relationship were proposed by the Digital Elevation Drainage Network Model (DEDNM) for the area upstream of the Hanzhong Hydrological Station in the Hanjiang River in China. Then, the Muskingum-Cunge method considering l ateral flow into the river was applied to flood routing on the platform of digit al basin derived from DEDNM. Because of considering lateral flow into the river, the Muskingum-Cunge method performs better than the Muskingum method in terms of the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient and the relative error of fl ood discharge peak value. With a routing-after-superposition algorithm, the Mu skingum-Cunge method performs better than the Muskingum method in terms of the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient and the relative error of flood discharge peak value. As a result, the digital basin coupled with the Mus kingum-Cunge method provides a better platform for water resources managemen t and flood control.
