Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Soil Erosion Risk in Małopolska (Poland), Supported by an Object-Based Image Analysis
The project aimed to identify the areas that are most vulnerable to degradation (potential and current erosion), and therefore, requires to implement effective methods of agricultural soils ta first step. The study used high-resolution RapidEye satellite images from the years 2010-2011, and digital orthophotos. Remote sensing data were processed using object classification (called GEOBIA – Object Based Image Analysis ) in the eCognition software supported with spatial analysis. The assessment of the severity of erosion of soil degradation Małopolska was based on spatial modeling using USLE model (called Universal Soil Loss Equation ). It is the world’s most widespread erosion model whose advantages are its simplicity and low requirements on the input data.
The result was the numerical hazard maps of arable land surface potential and current erosion , as well as erosion developed specific recommendations for individual municipalities and counties.