Abstract
The Erosion Potential Method is a model for qualifying the erosion severity and estimating the total annual sediment yield of a catchment. The method includes a diverse set of equations, which are influenced by different factors such as geology, morphology, climate and soil use. This study describes a PyQGIS YES plug-in, which allows a semiautomatized use of the Erosion Potential Method in Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. In detail, we developed a plug-in using Python programming language that is made up of a series of operations allowing one to estimate sediment production through a wizard procedure. The first stage consists of data preprocessing and involves: (i) loading of the layers (e.g., geological map); (ii) spatial selection of the catchment area; (iii) elaboration of loaded layers (e.g., clipping). During the second stage, the user assigns a relative coefficient to each factor either by selecting a preloaded value from bibliographic sources or by inserting a value inferred from field observations and data. The third stage includes the addition of rainfall and temperature values loaded as: average values, point shapefiles (the plug-in calculates the average monthly values) or tables (the plug-in creates the linear regression depending on altitude). During the final stage, the plug-in executes the equation of EPM Model obtaining the sediment yield value at basin scale. Additionally, the user can use the “squared cell” method choosing the appropriate option in the setting dialogue of the plug-in. This method divides the catchment area in a regularly-spaced grid which allows one to carry out the distribution map of the sediment production during the final stage.
Highlights
In this paper we present a newly developed PyQGIS plug-in Yield Erosion Sediment (YES), which allows a semiautomatized application of the Erosion Potential Method (EPM) in Geographic Information System (GIS) environment
In this paper we present the plug-in, along with an application in the catchment area draining to the Savuto Lake located in the Calabria Region, which is widely affected by coastal erosion due lack of river sediments nourishment (e.g., [26,27])
GIS plays a key role in the execution of algorithms allowing us to solve complex spatially distributed mathematical equations of models such as the EPM
Summary
Quantifying erosion and sediment production in river catchments is a key issue in land use management, as well as in hydrological risk analysis [1,2,3] and the management of coastal erosion [4,5]. Water erosion; Wind erosion; Chemical degradation; Physical deterioration; Catchment area; Digital terrain model; Land use; temperature and rain; hydrographic network; landslide; Rainfall erosivity; Soil erodibility; Topography; Crop and management; erosion control practice; Vegetation Cover; Topography; Lithology; Rainfall intensity; Gully; Inverse distance from a river stream. The model is fitted with empirical coefficients that allow one to quantify the average annual sediment yield This method takes into account five factors depending on: geology, soil use, climatic factors (mean annual rainfall and temperature) and topographic features. Unlike previous GIS application of the EPM model, our plug-in provides an estimate of sediment erosion and transfer at the scale of single cell [24,25], which makes it possible to produce maps of sediment production, in order to recognize the areas with higher and lower sediment yield. In this paper we present the plug-in, along with an application in the catchment area draining to the Savuto Lake located in the Calabria Region (southern Italy), which is widely affected by coastal erosion due lack of river sediments nourishment (e.g., [26,27])
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
