Hydrological modeling, like runoff modelling for flood prevention, is based on digital elevation models (DEMs). The fact that the DEMs do not represent existing road culverts can lead to considerable hydrological misinterpretations. In order to overcome this limitation, a GIS method was developed to automatically adjust the elevation model, hydrologically enforcing the DEM, so that the results of hydrological modeling accounts for flow through culverts. The hydro-enforced DEM showed to better represent the drainage network than the former DEM when compared with the river map. The topographic wetness index is the most commonly applied topographic index and a good indicator of soil moisture distribution. It has been integrated into many hydrological models and pollution risk indices as well as into the prediction of wetland distribution. Using the hydro-DEM from the previous step and the soil map in conjunction with the TWI, an improved TWI was achieved, namely a soil-topographic wetness index (STI). The linkages between specific soil types and TWI or STI values were analyzed. They revealed a clear linkage between STI values and soil type based on the soil transmissivity (R2=0.77). However, the TWI values showed low correlations to the soil types (R2=0.02). As a specific application, both TWI and STI were tested for the detection of wetlands. Wetlands are important ecosystems which act as buffer zones by filtering pollutants and slowing floodwater. Being able to identify their distribution is important in landscape planning and ecology. A wetland threshold value was determined for each index and their results where compared with the wetland map from the property map (assumed as ground truth) and with the potential wetland area. Finally, a visual validation was performed with the use of an aerial photography. The results showed that the STI performed slightly better than the TWI for the detection of wetlands, detecting 3% more wetlands. The impact of the soil map on the topographic wetness index was therefore determined as positive.

Submitted by Rafael Marini Paschoaletti Perri dos Santos (rafaelmpps@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-30T19:28:34Z No. of bitstreams: 2 PPGAA_ Dissertação_Rafael Marini PP Santos_2017 (1).pdf: 3014297 bytes, checksum: f71dea6e56def749b21f955b1a8a1ad5 (MD5) Encaminhamento_Dissertação_Rafael Marini dos Santos_PPGAA.pdf: 792545 bytes, checksum: eec6f1001daf58a9614a859a1d455837 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alini Demarchi (alini@cca.ufscar.br) on 2017-11-30T16:55:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 PPGAA_ Dissertação_Rafael Marini PP Santos_2017 (1).pdf: 3014297 bytes, checksum: f71dea6e56def749b21f955b1a8a1ad5 (MD5) Encaminhamento_Dissertação_Rafael Marini dos Santos_PPGAA.pdf: 792545 bytes, checksum: eec6f1001daf58a9614a859a1d455837 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alini Demarchi (ri.bar@ufscar.br) on 2018-01-15T18:25:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 PPGAA_ Dissertação_Rafael Marini PP Santos_2017 (1).pdf: 3014297 bytes, checksum: f71dea6e56def749b21f955b1a8a1ad5 (MD5) Encaminhamento_Dissertação_Rafael Marini dos Santos_PPGAA.pdf: 792545 bytes, checksum: eec6f1001daf58a9614a859a1d455837 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-01T13:31:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 PPGAA_ Dissertação_Rafael Marini PP Santos_2017 (1).pdf: 3014297 bytes, checksum: f71dea6e56def749b21f955b1a8a1ad5 (MD5) Encaminhamento_Dissertação_Rafael Marini dos Santos_PPGAA.pdf: 792545 bytes, checksum: eec6f1001daf58a9614a859a1d455837 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nowadays, society has a challenge to deal with sustainable water use. High demand and water contamination, environmental degradation and the unpredictability of climate changes are some water insecurity causes. Riparian forests maintenance offers water ecosystems services, but in some cases the riparian ecosystem is in a degraded condition that require human intervention actions for forest restoration. In this way, geotechnologies help us to infer about physical landscape characteristics where watershed is a basic unity for environmental planning. This study aimed to identify important hydrologically areas of Consulta stream watershed and Retiro stream watershed and propose priorities areas for forest restoration and sustainable agricultural destination. The two watersheds are the main sources of public water supply in the city of Bebedouro (Brazil). It is hypothesized that the limits established by Brazilian forest law (BFL) riparian buffers zones may not fully guarantee the two watersheds riparian areas protection. It was assumed that the forest community plays an important role in the attenuation of chemical elements and sediments, and that is essential that there is a disruption of potentially polluting activities near riparian areas. It was used in the study images from orbital sensors spatial resolution 30 m and 90 m and topographical map 1:50.000 for obtaining and processing elevations data and land use in geographic information system (GIS), and environmental legislation. The results allowed to characterize the watersheds that are surrounding and presented similarities in their physical parameters (basin form, drainage density, channel length, and others) and the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) class distribution, slope class, landscape elements and land use. Three scenarios of priority areas for forest restoration were generated. It was observed that the priority areas are distributed close to the drainage channel of watersheds and are partially related to required areas by BFL. It can be concluded that in the three scenarios established the BFL may not be sufficient for the full protection of riparian sites and the adopted methodology proved to be efficient for guiding water resources management actions at larges scales. / Resolver conflitos relacionados ao uso da água é um desafio para a sociedade atual. Dentre os fatores que preocupam a segurança hídrica destacam-se a crescente demanda de consumo, a contaminação dos mananciais, a degradação de áreas naturais e a imprevisibilidade das mudanças climáticas que resultam em períodos irregulares de secas e estiagens. As matas ripárias oferecem funções importantes para os serviços ecossistêmicos de provisão hídrica, mas em algumas regiões encontram-se degradadas e com baixa resiliência, necessitando de ações de restauração florestal. As geotecnologias permitem inferir as características físicas da paisagem e a microbacia hidrográfica (MBH) é uma unidade básica para o planejamento ambiental. Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar áreas hidrologicamente importantes nas MBHs do Córrego da Consulta e do Córrego do Retiro, de abastecimento público do município de Bebedouro (SP), e propor áreas prioritárias para a restauração florestal e manejo diferenciado. A hipótese é que as áreas de preservação permanente (APPs) de 30 m não são suficientes para abranger por completo as áreas ripárias destas MBHs. Considerou-se a eficiência da comunidade florestal em atenuar agentes químicos, sedimentos e a necessidade de interrupção de atividades potencialmente poluidoras próximas às áreas ripárias. Foram utilizadas imagens orbitais com resoluções espaciais de 30 m e 90 m, carta topográfica em escala 1:50.000 para obtenção e processamento de dados de elevação e uso e ocupação dos solos em sistema de informações geográficas (SIG), e legislação ambiental pertinente. Os resultados permitiram caracterizar as duas MBHs que são circunvizinhas e apresentaram semelhanças nos seus parâmetros físicos (fator de forma de bacia, densidade de drenagem, comprimento de canais, entre outros), na distribuição das classes do índice topográfico de umidade (ITU), de classes de declividade, de elementos de paisagem e de uso e ocupação dos solos. Foram gerados três cenários de áreas prioritárias para a restauração florestal. Observou-se que as áreas prioritárias para a restauração florestal e manejo diferenciado estão distribuídas próximas ao canal de drenagem das MBHs e estão relacionadas às APPs. Conclui-se que, nos três cenários estabelecidos, as APPs não são suficientes para a integral proteção de locais de caráter ripário e a metodologia adotada se mostrou eficiente para apontar ações de gestão de recursos hídricos em escalas maiores.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Social demands on soil information have grown dramatically, meanwhile the soil surveys are seldom carried out in the country. Digital soil mapping techniques can be applied to infer the spatial distribution of soil from existing soil maps or from reference areas, extrapolating this information to areas not mapped. The purpose of this study was to apply in a Geographic Information System the Multiple Logistic Regressions (MLR) using Principal Components (PC) as explanatory variables to predict soil classes spatial distribution. The study area was the region of municipality São Pedro do Sul / RS. For the development of predictive models a set of nine terrain attributes were used. Model training was executed on an existing soil map and with a survey carried out in a reference area, both in a 1:50.000 scale. The first three retained PC explained 65.57% of the data variability. The predictive models which used PC had lower values of kappa index. The most accurate predicted map reached a kappa value of 63.20% and was generated by using the nine attributes of land as predictive covariates. The mapping accuracy is sensitive to similarities between the mapped classes, and mapping in a more homogeneous categorical level reduces the accuracy of the predicted maps. Soil classes relatively not representative in the training maps are not properly spatialized. The use of MLR allows spatializing of soil classes to areas not mapped, although the use of PC needs to be tested with a larger number of covariates. / As demandas da sociedade pela informação solo têm crescido, porém levantamentos pedológicos praticamente não ocorrem mais no país. Técnicas de Mapeamento Digital do Solo podem ser empregadas para inferir a distribuição espacial de classes de solos a partir de mapas existentes e áreas de referência, extrapolando esta informação para áreas não mapeadas. O objetivo deste estudo foi empregar em um Sistema de Informações Geográficas as Regressões Logísticas Múltiplas (RLM) utilizando-se de Componentes Principais (CP) como variáveis explicativas para a predição espacial de classes de solos. A área de estudo foi na região do município de São Pedro do Sul / RS. Para o desenvolvimento dos modelos preditivos foram utilizados um conjunto de nove atributos do terreno. O treinamento dos modelos foi executado em um mapa de solos existente, e em um levantamento realizado em áreas de referência, ambos na escala 1:50.000. As três primeiras CP retidas explicaram 65,57% da variabilidade dos dados. Os modelos preditivos que empregaram CP obtiveram menores valores do índice kappa. O mapa predito mais acurado empregou os nove atributos do terreno e alcançou um valor de kappa de 63,20%. A acurácia do mapeamento é sensível a semelhança entre as classes mapeadas, e o mapeamento em níveis categóricos mais homogêneos reduz a precisão dos mapas preditos. Classes de solos relativamente pouco representativas não são corretamente espacializadas. O emprego de RLM permite espacializar classes de solos para áreas não mapeadas, embora o emprego de CP necessite ser testado com um maior número de covariáveis.

Temporary streams have received undeservedly little scientific attention and as a result their role in hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological processes is not yet fully understood. The ultimate goal of the research was to gain a better understanding of the temporary stream network and the processes that control it and determine how the active and connected stream length change with catchment wetness conditions to find simple methods to map seasonal and event-based changes in temporary flowing stream networks. Streams, springs and wetlands of four relatively small headwater catchments (11.7 – 25.3 km2) and one wetland in the steep and remote Zwäckentobel catchment in Alptal, canton Schwyz (Switzerland), were mapped and stream segments were classified by flow type during different weather conditions using direct observations. The mapping was performed by an elite orienteer with mapping experience. The variation in streamflow was analysed and related to the catchment wetness and topography using the TWI-values and the upslope accumulated area of the stream segments. As the catchments wetted up in response to fall rainfall events after a dry summer the flowing stream density increased up to five times and the connected stream density increased up to six times with a 150-fold increase in discharge. Also the number of flowing stream heads increased up to ten times. The best description of the pattern of stream expansion is a combination of the variable source area and the element threshold concepts, where surface topography, particularly TWI (Topographic Wetness Index) and upslope accumulated area (A), and local storage areas controls where streamflow is initiated and how flow in different stream segments connects. Streams in the Alptal show a seasonally bottom up or disjointed connection pattern. Mapping the temporary streams in steep and remote watersheds as a function of hydrological conditions is not an easy task. It is however necessary in order to fully understand where water is flowing or not. A combination of field observations with monitoring equipment can facilitate this extensive work by providing a more detailed temporal resolution.

Sweden have faced decreasing groundwater storage with critical low groundwater levels for several years. Gotland is one example with issues of providing freshwater due to the low groundwater levels. These circumstances can be related to impacts caused by early agriculture development, an increased demand of freshwater and climate change. There is a need in this region to increase the groundwater storage to ensure enough freshwater. The aim of the study is to increase freshwater storage. Digital geographical information system (GIS) was chosen as a tool in this study in order to cover large geographical areas.  The study was divided into two parts, with focus to determine hydrological and hydrogeological conditions and to identify suitable areas where groundwater storage could be increased. The first part studied: specific capacity, groundwater storage, groundwater balance and topographic wetness index. The second part locked at four methods to increase freshwater storage: Lakes, controlled drainage, wetland and subsurface dam. The result tells us that lakes have the potential to provide freshwater for the municipal distribution network. The controlled drainage method has the ability reduce the outflow of surface water and to increase the groundwater infiltration. Earlier drained wetland areas was identified which could serve as freshwater storage. Suitable areas for subsurface dams were identified. They could work as a large groundwater storage as a decentralized system with the ability to provide groundwater for wells that are spread out. However the identified areas for each methods needs further investigations in more detail to determine the accuracy of the results.

A method was developed for extending a fine-scaled forest gap model to a watershed-scaled landscape, using the Eastern Cross Timbers ecoregion as a case study for the method. A topographic wetness index calculated from digital elevation data was used as a measure of hydrologic across the modeled landscape, and the gap model modified to have with a topographically-based hydrologic input parameter. The model was parameterized by terrain type units that were defined using combinations of USDA soil series and classes of the topographic wetness index. A number of issues regarding the sources, grid resolutions, and processing methods of the digital elevation data are addressed in this application of the topographic wetness index. Three different grid sizes, 5, 10, and 29 meter, from both LiDAR-derived and contour-derived elevation grids were used, and the grids were processed using both single-directional flow algorithm and bi-directional flow algorithm. The result of these different grids were compared and analyzed in context of their application in defining terrain types for the forest gap model. Refinements were made in the timescale of gap model’s weather model, converting it into a daily weather generator, in order to incorporate the effects of the new topographic/hydrologic input parameter. The precipitation model was converted to use a Markov model to initiate a sequence of wet and dry days for each month, and then daily precipitation amounts were determined using a gamma distribution. The output of the new precipitation model was analyzed and compared with a 100-year history of daily weather records at daily, monthly, and annual timescales. Model assumptions and requirements for biological parameters were thoroughly investigated and questioned. Often these biological parameters are based on little more than assumptions and intuition. An effort to base as many of the model’s biological parameters on measured data was made, including a new technique for estimating optimal volumetric growth rate by measuring tree rings. The gap model was set up to simulate various terrain types within the landscape.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Soil erosion, which is a critical component of land degradation, is one of the serious global environmental problems often threatening food security, water resources, and biodiversity. A comprehensive assessment and analysis of remote sensing applications in the spatial soil erosion mapping and monitoring over time and space is therefore, important for providing effective management and rehabilitation approaches at local, national and regional scales. The overall aim of the study was to assess the use of multispectral remote sensing sensors in mapping and monitoring the spatio-temporal variations in levels of soil erosion in the former homelands of Sekhukhune district, South Africa. Firstly, the effectiveness of the new and freely available moderate-resolution multispectral remote sensing data (Landsat 8 Operation Land Imager: OLI and Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Instrument: MSI) derived spectral bands, vegetation indices, and a combination of spectral bands and vegetation indices in mapping the spatio-temporal variation of soil erosion in the former homelands of Sekhukhune District, South Africa is compared. The study further determines the most optimal individual sensor variables that can accurately map soil erosion. The results showed that the integration of spectral bands and spectral vegetation indices yielded high soil erosion overall classification accuracies for both sensors. Sentinel-2 data produced an OA of 83, 81% whereas Landsat 8 has an OA of 82.86%. The study further established that Sentinel-2 MSI bands located in the NIR (0.785-0.900 μm), red edge (0.698-0.785μm) and SWIR (1.565-2.280 μm) regions were the most optimal for discriminating degraded soils from other land cover types. For Landsat 8 OLI, only the SWIR (1.560-2.300 μm), NIR (0.845-0.885 μm) region were selected as the best regions. Of the eighteen spectral vegetation indices computed, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Global Environmental Monitoring Index (GEMI) were selected as the most suitable for detecting and mapping soil erosion. Secondly, the study assessed soil erosion in the former homelands of Sekhukhune, South Africa by applying a time-series analysis (2002 and 2017), to track changes of areas affected by varying degrees of erosion. Specifically, the study assessed and mapped changes of eroded areas (wet and dry season), using multi-date Landsat products 8 OLI and 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+)). Additionally, the study used extracted eroded areas and overlay analysis was performed together with geology, slope and the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) of the area under study to assess whether and to what extent the observed erosional trends can be explained. ii Time series analysis indicated that the dry season of 2002, experienced 16.61 % (224733 ha) of erosion whereas in 2017 19.71% was observed. A similar trend was also observed in the wet season. This work also indicates that the dominant geology type Lebowa granite: and Rustenburg layered its lithology strata experienced more erosional disturbances than other geological types. Slopes between 2-5% (Nearly level) experienced more erosion and vice-versa. On the hand, the relationship between TWI and eroded areas showed that much erosion occurred between 3 and 6 TWI values in all the seasons for the two different years, however, the dry season of 2002 had a slightly higher relationship and vice-versa. We, therefore, recommend use and integration of freely and readily available new and free generation broadband sensors, such as Landsat data and environmental variables if soil erosion has to be well documented for purposes of effective soil rehabilitation and conservation. Keywords: Food security Global changes, Land degradation, Land-based ecosystems, Land management practices, Satellite data, Soil conservation, Sustainable Development; Topographic Wetness Index; Time series analysis.

This research work concentrate on developing digital soil maps to support field based plant phenotyping research. We have developed soil organic matter content (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), natural soil drainage class, and tile drainage line maps using topographic indices and aerial imagery. Various prediction models (universal kriging, cubist, random forest, C5.0, artificial neural network, and multinomial logistic regression) were used to estimate the soil properties of interest.