cy of
ion
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rz, 1993)
1onitoring
oils data
ture Map”
and - use
ture map
sification
used for
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ous data
ages and
ster data
e gives
d spatial
escribing
ons. For
digitizing
procedure, image processing and manipulation of
database the IDRISI Version 4.1 package was used. The
following hardware configuration has been used (Mularz,
994) :
nOn el computer based on the Intel 80486 at 50 MHz
with math co-processor, 520 Mb hard drive, 4 Mb RAM
and SVGA graphics adapter capable of emulating
8514/A card,
- MAG colour monitor,
- a Microsoft mouse - compatible and 80486 CPU,
- HP Laserjet and HP Paintjet graphics printers for hard-
copy output,
- CALCOMP digitizer with SSCII output.
(USLE) the Universal Soil Loss Equation (Wischmeier
and Smith, 1978) was used for quantitative soil erosion
assessment of Cracow region (Mularz, 1993). The model
combine natural factors (slope steep, slope length,
rainfall and genetic susceptibility of each soil type to the
erosion and factors referring to human activity - land
use/land cover and conservation practice. These major
factors which determine or contribute to soil erosion
process were used in USLE model allowing computation
showing for each pixel the influence of all factors for
erosional effect. The six land categories were determined
and statistical evaluation of these categories were
calculated.
After reclassification the result map was compiled with
six categories: weak, slight, moderate strong very strong
and severe soil erosion susceptibility. Finally, as it can be
seen on the soil erosion map (Fig.4 taken from Mularz,
1994), only three categories were determined: slight
medium, strong and fourth category showing non -
agriculture areas (urban, forest, water and waste-land).
The map shows that strong and medium categories are
the most frequent at the Cracow area.
Several cross tabulation analyses were performed to
evaluate the results. This shows that for instance strong
erosion class exists for slope interval between 3° and 25°.
That loess soil is heavily exposed to the erosion process,
that the wheat complex is affected by medium and strong
erosion but range-land and grass-land belong to slight
erosion category.
8. CONCLUDING REMARKS
The densely populated Cracow region belongs
to the most polluted regions in Poland. Establishment the
local system supporting monitoring changes in terrestrial
ecosystems was an absolute necessity. Various types
and sources of information and impediments to the
Integration of the multiple spatial, temporal, terrestrial
and remote sensing data was a reason that as a tool for
the environmental monitoring - the integrated Geographic
Information System was chosen. These technologies
allow the coupling remotely sensed measurements with
other spatial and environmental pollution data describing
not only Earth surfaces but also biophysical
representation. These and GIS data have been profitably
merged for joint analysis of the phenomena under
investigation.
References
Mularz S., 1993. A GIS for Assessing the Soils Erosion
Susceptibility. GIS for Environment, Krakéw, Poland,
November pp.163-170.
Mularz S., 1994. Mapping Soil Erosion by GIS. GIS in
Ecological Studies & Environmental Management,
Warszawa, Poland, September pp.137-148.
Mularz S., Mierzwa W., 1993. An Attempt to Apply GIS
Technology for Soils Degradation Assessment. GIS for
Environment, Kraków, Poland, November pp.171-177.
Pyka K., Sitek Z., 1993. Remarks on DTM Generation for
GIS Needs. GIS for Environment, Kraków, Poland,
November pp. 197-203.
Sitek Z., 1993. Problems Associated with Monitoring of
Polluted Environment Using GIS - Technology. GIS for
Environment, Kraków, Poland, November p.p.211-221.
Wischmeier W.M., Smith D.D., 1978. Predicting Rainfall
Erosion Losses - a Guide to Conservation Planning.
Agriculture Handbook, no 537, US Department of
Agriculture.
Zabrzeska-Gasiorek B., Wróbel A., 1994. Application
FoxPro DBMS to Environmental Monitoring Information
Collection and Processing (in Polish). Archiwum
Fotogrametrii, Kartografii i Teledetekcji, Vol.2, Kraków,
pp.33-46.
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B7. Vienna 1996