User Guide for SAGA (version 2.0.5) 
  
Acknowledgment 
 Table of Content 
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Volume 2 
Description: Chapter 2 – Some SAGA Basics 
Description: Chapter 3 – SAGA Buffer Modules 
 Grid – Calculus/Grid Calculator 
Description: Chapter 4 – Creating Data Layers from DEMs in SAGA 
Description: Chapter 5 – Generating a Watershed Basins Layer 
Description: Chapter 6 – Evaluating Proposed Community Park Sites 
Description: Chapter 7 – Using SAGA With Digital Satellite Images 
Description: Chapter 8 – The SAGA Point Cloud (.spc) Data Type 
Description: Volume 1  
 Chapter 2 - Some SAGA Basics 
List of Data Layers, Tables and Maps In Work Session 
Rename a Grid or Shapes Data Layer 
The SAGA Grid Calculator 
 
Re-Classifying Grid Data Values  
Using the Change Grid Values Module 
Using the Reclassify Grid Values Module 
Creating a Vector Layer from a Grid Data Layer 
Viewshed Analysis 
 Chapter 3 - SAGA Buffer Modules 
 
Introduction 
 Grid – Calculus/Grid Calculator 
Grid – Tools/Threshold Buffer 
The Shapes – Tools/Shapes Buffer Module 
Example 1 
Example 2 
The Grid – Tools/Grid Buffer Module 
Example 1 
Example 2 
The Grid – Tools/Grid Proximity Buffer Module 
Example 1 
Example 2 
The Grid – Tools/Threshold Buffer Module 
Example 1 
Example 2 
Example 3 
 Chapter 4 – Creating Data Layers from DEMs in SAGA 
 
Introduction 
Creating Slope and Aspect Maps from a DEM 
Developing Terrain From Grid Data Layers 
Creating Contour Shapes Data Layers 
Creating Slope and Aspect Maps From a DEM 
Developing Terrain Form Grid Data Layers 
Creating Contour Shapes Data Layers 
 Chapter 5 - Generating a Watershed Basins Layer 
Preparing a DEM Data Layer for Hydrology Analysis 
Calculating Catchment Area 
Defining Channel Networks 
Defining Watershed Basins 
 Chapter 6 - Evaluating Proposed Community Park Sites 
 Grid-Calculus/Grid Calculator 
Selection Criteria 
Criterion 1: Identifying the boundary for Grapeview 
Criterion 2: identifying Open Space land use in Mason County and Grapeview 
Criterion 3: Open Space parcels must be a minimum size of 5 contiguous acres 
Criterion 4: Open Space land parcels with road access 
Criterion 5: The park parcel cannot be adjacent to these land uses: industry, commercial, mineral extraction, and utilities 
Criterion 6: The park parcel may be adjacent to these land uses: agriculture, commercial recreation, public, rural and residential 
Criterion 7: The park is most suitable adjacent to these land uses: open space, forest, rural, and water 
Criterion 8: The highest amount of ground surface with slopes between 0 and 3 degrees 
Criterion 9: The viewing of these land use classes in the foreground and middle-ground will be minimized: industry, commercial, mineral extraction, utilities. This criterion will be used to compare parcel choices 
Discussion of Results 
Summary 
 Chapter 7 – Using SAGA With Digital Satellite Images 
Imagery Background Information 
Contrast Enhancements 
Filters 
Ratios 
 
Composite Images  
Vegetation Indices 
The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 
Ratio 
The Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) 
Transformed Vegetation Index (TVI) 
Corrected Transformed Vegetation Index (CTVI) 
Normalized Ratio Vegetation Index (NRVI) 
Image Classification 
Unsupervised Classification 
  
Supervised Classification 
Preparing the Input Polygon Shapes Data Layer 
 Chapter 8 – The SAGA Point Cloud (.spc) Data Type 
Point Cloud Type Background Information 
Importing a .las File 
Cluster Analysis for Point Clouds 
How to Delete a Point Cloud Attribute 
Point Cloud Attribute Calculator 
Selecting a Subset of a Point Cloud Layer 
The Shapes – Point Clouds/Point Cloud Reclassifier/Subset Extractor Module 
Thinning a Point Cloud 
Creating a Point Cloud Layer from Other SAGA Data Types 
 
Converting a Point Cloud to a Grid Data Layer 
Saving a Point Cloud Layer to Shapes Data Layer 
Transforming a Point Cloud Layer 
The Shapes – Point Cloud Viewer/Point Cloud Viewer Module 
 APPENDIX I – Volume 2 Example Data Layers