Scalable and automated soil erosion assessment using Google Earth Engine: integrating RUSLE and SDR for cloud-based modeling
摘要
This study presents a cloud-based framework for the large-scale assessment of soil erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) in Google Earth Engine (GEE). The Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) Observatory platform automates the mapping of erosion and sediment yield, which has been validated in Moroccan watersheds (R2 = 0.89). The GEE implementation outperforms conventional GIS methods through enhanced computational efficiency and global dataset integration. Adaptable RUSLE parameters enable worldwide application across diverse climates. The SWC Observatory facilitates real-time scenario analysis for informed land management decisions. This approach provides open-access tools for erosion prediction, particularly valuable in data-scarce regions. The framework advances sustainable land management through replicable, precise assessment methodologies.