Gis-based Approach for Change and Prediction of Soil Erosion

The paper has the goal to evaluate if the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)applied using thematic paper maps and a DEM is sufficient to generate a model to map and predict the influences on the environment caused by soil erosion on Loess Plateau. Factors of USLE R, K, S, L, P as well as C were adapted to the test area, the Nihe Gou catchment in Chunhua County in Shaanxi. Afterwards the parameters of the USLE were evaluated individually and merged in order to calculate the amount of soil loss. In order to derive all necessary factors, a TIN was generated out of a paper contour map. Furthermore, thematic paper maps and climate data completed the source of information for the implementation. The result of the study was a calculation of the amount of soil erosion over the corresponding years, the years 1977 and 2003. This result was visualized by thematic maps and the work flow was generalized and automatized by integrating it into a toolbox that can be applied on further areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Finally, the verification of the result was performed comparing the real world situation at the test area with the resulting thematic maps. * Corresponding author. Yuan Lifeng, E-mail : [email protected]