Effect of slope prediction methods on slope and erosion estimates

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to reduce data collection demands by extracting valuable information from existing data bases. One important application is in estimating slope steepness, which is a critical factor in estimating soil loss and chemical movement. Four algorithms/techniques that have been widely used to predict slope from elevation data sets, such as those found in raster-based GIS, are described. Using two 1010 cell data sets, the slope and USLE LS-factor were estimated for each grid cell using each method and then compared. Estimates of slopes for these areas were also obtained from topographic maps and site observation. Significant differences in the estimated slopes between methods were found. The effects of slope estimation techniques on non-point source models are demonstrated and discussed.

Effect of slope prediction methods on slope and erosion estimates Academic Article