Based on the geospatial characteristics of waterways and the codes and processes for the design of waterways,we build a waterway-aided design platform on the framework of the ArcGIS by developing several key technogies.Equipped with universal tools such as water depth data identification and topographic coordinate transformation,the platform system can provide multiple design functions including analysis of physical conditions and riverbed evolution,calculation of channel dimensions,line selection and layout,and can implement integrated management of fundamental waterway data and design results,thus preliminarily gaining the synergy between various specialties of the waterway design and achieving the goals to improve the standardization level and efficiency of the waterway design.