Soil erosion hazard evaluation—An integrated use of remote sensing, GIS and statistical approaches with biophysical parameters towards management strategies

Abstract

Soil erosion hazard maps can be an essential tool in erosion prone areas as they explain and display the distribution of hazards and areas likely to be affected to different magnitudes. Therefore, it is very useful to planners and policy makers initiating remedial measures and for prioritizing areas. In this study, a numerical model was developed for soil erosion hazard assessment, in which Z-score analysis was combined with a geographical information system (GIS) to compute a synthetic soil erosion hazard index (SEHI). For this model, nine factors which have notable impact on soil erosion were selected. To generate the selected factors remote sensing, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS techniques along with spatial models were applied. To standardize all of the factors and establish the factor weights, the AHP method was adopted. For Z-score analysis with selected standardized factors, the Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) software was used and nine individual layers with Z-scores were prepared. Afterwards, the layers were integrated with their factor weights by means of a weighted linear combination to derive a SEHI value for each pixel. To classify the discrete SEHI map to represent a meaningful regionalization of soil erosion hazard, the equal distance cluster principle was used and graded into four levels of hazard; very high, high, moderate and low. The results depicted that in general, a moderate hazardous condition of soil erosion was found in the study area and the proposed approach was also able to identify the areas under high and very high hazards that require urgent intervention on a priority basis. Based on this study, comprehensive erosion hazard management strategies were anticipated for the efficient management of present and future erosion disaster in the area.