Modeling soil erosin to assess suitable slope length in hazard-prone areas

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assossiated Profsor Department of Geology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Expert of rural affairs office and provincial councils of Isfahan

10.22034/hyd.2026.70342.1825

Abstract

Soil erosion is a major environmental hazard in regions characterized by complex topography and intense rainfall, posing serious threats to land sustainability, agricultural productivity, and hydrological systems. Among empirical erosion models, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is widely used due to its reliability and compatibility with GIS-based spatial analysis. A critical parameter in RUSLE is the topographic factor (LS), which is highly sensitive to the spatial resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Inappropriate selection of DEM cell size can introduce substantial uncertainty into erosion estimates. This study aims to determine the optimal DEM resolution for accurate LS factor estimation in hazard-prone areas by integrating geostatistical techniques with GIS modeling. DEMs with spatial resolutions of 30, 50, 100, and 300 m were generated from topographic contour data and evaluated using semivariogram analysis and kriging interpolation. Geostatistical parameters including nugget, sill, range, and prediction error (RMSE) were systematically compared. The results indicate that a 50 m DEM provides the most balanced performance by preserving essential topographic variability while minimizing spatial noise and prediction error. The findings emphasize that DEM resolution should be selected based on statistical and spatial dependency analysis rather than arbitrary criteria. The proposed framework enhances the reliability of soil erosion assessment and provides valuable guidance for watershed management and hazard mitigation in erosion-prone landscapes.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 22 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 22 February 2026

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