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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #135239
Title: GEOWEPP-THE GEO-SPATIAL INTERFACE FOR THE WATER EROSION PREDICTION PROJECT

Author
item RENSCHLER, C - DEPT. GEOGRAPHY, NY
item Flanagan, Dennis
item ENGEL, B - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Frankenberger, James - Jim

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/28/2002
Citation: Renschler, C.R., Flanagan, D.C., Engel, B.A., Frankenberger, J.R. GEOWEPP-The geo-spacial interface for the water erosion prediction project. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers. 2002. Paper No. 02-2171.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Decision-makers operating at different scales of interest and responsibility have to assess the distribution, extent, and severity of soil erosion and sedimentation. To seek solutions in handling natural and human actions related to this type of nonpoint source pollution, the linkage of distributed assessment models and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) at various spatial and temporal scales is in high demand. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model is a continuous simulation, process-based model that allows simulation of water and sediment balance in small watersheds and on hillslope profiles within those watersheds. This presentation introduces an approach for running WEPP simulations based on using available geo-spatial information through a linkage with GIS. The new Geo-spatial interface for WEPP (GeoWEPP) utilizes readily available digital geo-referenced information from publicly accessible Internet sources such as the U.S. Geological Survey digital elevation models, topographical maps, and land use data as well as Natural Resources Conservation Service soils maps. Together with parameter sets of the WEPP database containing statistical parameter sets from more than 2600 U.S. climate stations, GeoWEPP enables even non-GIS-and-modeling users to derive and prepare valid model input parameters to assess representative conditions in an area of interest. After establishing the main data input for a particular site, various land use scenarios can be evaluated to assist with soil and water conservation planning. This research impacts field conservation agency personnel, environmental consultants and others involved in assessment of land management effects on watershed soil erosion and sediment loss. The GeoWEPP program allows for rapid and unbiased watershed delineation and parameterization.