Conventional watershed programs typically rely on field surveys to identify degraded areas, but these can be time-consuming and ineffective in capturing the complexities of erosion. The Urmodi study offers a more comprehensive method by integrating ten variables that influence soil erosion, such as rainfall, geology, slope, and vegetation health (using NDVI). Researchers used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to weigh these factors, then created a soil erosion risk map in a GIS environment.
Results showed that nearly half of the watershed has a very low erosion risk, primarily in flatter areas, while 15% is in high-risk zones, especially in steep, barren upper catchments. The study validated the AHP map against the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and found both methods identified similar erosion hotspots, affirming the reliability of the GIS-AHP framework for guiding conservation efforts. This study emphasizes the use of modern geospatial tools for informed public investment, allowing planners to target interventions more effectively.
Source link
