Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield Analysis Using Prototype & Enhanced SATEEC GIS System Models

Abstract

Rapid propagation of soil erosion is a severe worldwide problem because of its economic and environmental impacts. Thus various efforts have been made to evaluate soil erosion and sediment yield spatially and temporarily to develop effective soil erosion best management practices. To effectively estimate soil erosion and to establish soil erosion management plans, many computer models have been developed and used. In the past couple of decades, these soil erosion models have been integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) for spatiotemporal analysis of generation and transport of soil erosion and sediment. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) has been used in many countries, and input parameter data for RUSLE have been well established over the years. Thus, the GIS-based Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control (SATEEC) was developed to estimate soil loss and sediment yield for any location within a watershed using RUSLE and a spatially distributed sediment delivery ratio. In this paper SATEEC GIS System Ver.1.6 and version 1.8 were used for estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield. Moore & Burch ‘LS’ factor method and slope based SDR were used for estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield. The simulation results are reveals that SATEEC ver.1.6 exhibits 3 times more in quantity of soil erosion and sediment yield to SATEEC ver. 1.8.