GIS-based sediment assessment tool

Accelerated soil erosion is a worldwide problem because of its economic and environmental impacts. To effectively estimate soil erosion and to establish soil erosion management plans, many computer models have been developed and used. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) has been used in many countries, and input parameter data for RUSLE have been well established over the years. However, RUSLE cannot be used to estimate the sediment yield for a watershed. Thus, the GIS-based Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control (SATEEC) was developed to estimate soil loss and sediment yield for any location within a watershed using RUSLE and a spatially distributed sediment delivery ratio. SATEEC was enhanced in this study by developing new modules to: 1) simulate the effects of sediment retention basins on the receiving water bodies, 2) estimate the sediment yield from a single storm event, and 3) prepare input parameters for the Web-based sediment decision support system using a GIS interface. The enhanced SATEEC system was applied to the study watershed to demonstrate how the enhanced system can be effectively used for soil erosion control. All the procedures are fully automated with Avenue, CGI, and database programming; thus the enhanced SATEEC system does not require experienced GIS users to operate the system. This easy-to-operate SATEEC system can be used to identify areas vulnerable to soil loss and to develop efficient soil erosion management plans.