Soil Erosion Assessment Based on Remote Sensing and GIS in the East Bandung Basin, Indonesia

Abstract

The research area is located in the East Bandung Basin, West Java, Indonesia. This research aims to assess the soil erosion rates in East Bandung Basin using remote sensing and Geographic Information System method. It was calculated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation, involves rain erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, and land use indices. Rain erosivity and soil erodibility indices were determined from secondary data analysis whereas slope length and steepness, and land use indices were determined from the image analysis. The soil erosion rates in the research area can be classified into 5 classes, namely very low which is mapped across the foot slope to toe slope in the Rancaekek and Majalaya (7,055.22 ha), low in the shoulder to back slope (7,325.71 ha), moderate mostly from the summit to toe slope in half of the research area (17,151.91 ha), severe (3,223.97 ha) and very severe (2,891.49 ha) across the shoulder to back slope in parts of the Tanjungsari, Cileunyi, Jatinangor, Cimanggung, Cicalengka, Cikancung and Paseh areas. The results are expected to be important contribution to the government and local communities in order to minimize the impact of land use changes that can increase the risk of erosion.