APPLICATION OF GIS METHODS IN SOIL-EROSION MODELING

Soil erosion studies are of great importance, not only from a scientif ic, but also from a practical point of view. The most widely used asse ssment method is the application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation ( USLE). Three calculation methods are shown in the paper. The first met hod is only based on the USLE, whereas the two other calculation metho ds represent different estimations of soil loss by the USLE. In each c ase, soil loss assessment was carried out by GIS methods. ARC-INFO is used for the storage of the data layers on each factor controlling soi l erosion. The main advantage of the GIS methodology is in providing q uick information on the estimated value of soil loss for any part of t he investigated area. The results obtained by the different calculatio ns are slightly different. An evaluation of the results and of the met hods is given in the discussion.