Constructing a spatial analysis model in assessing the sensitivity of landscape erosion in mountainous regions of Vietnam

Abstract

This study demonstrates the steps of building a spatial analysis model that is applicable in synthetically assessing the sensitivity of landscape erosion in mountainous regions. Field testing was carried out at Ngu Chi Son commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. The primary basis is the application of the GIS spatial analysis model in mapping the landscape structure. Subsequently, depending on the landscape structure map, the analysis model of erosion levels due to erosion factors (rainfall, terrain, the thickness of soil layers, mechanical compositions, vegetation cover, and cultivation measures of human beings) was constructed. The employed algorithms included spatial overlay, spatial interpolation, attribute reclassification, and average indexes. The results of this study have indicated the erosion sensitivity of every landscape unit, which is categorized into five levels: very low, low, medium, high, and very high. Obtained appraisals and sensitivity categorization are important fundaments to issue exploitation orientations and reasonable usages of resources within the researched region. This proves to be a new direction of research with overall potentials in assessing mountainous landscapes.

Landscape sensitivity-based scenario analysis using flus model: a case of Asarsuyu watershed

“…Although the relationship between LUCC and landscape sensitivity is critical, landscape sensitivity studies which are considered an important strategy for ecological land use planning/management are extremely rare. Many existing studies related to landscape sensitivity have focused on topics such as a change in the landscape in terms of component, spatial pattern, environmental conditions (Knox 2001;Miles et al 2001;Usher 2001;), tourism development (Jennings 2004), floods (Safeeq et al 2015), visual landscape sensitivity quality (Fang et al 2021;Haara et al 2017;Wang & Qu 2018), landscape pattern across temporal and spatial scales (Chi et al 2019), erosion (Kieu et al 2020), the combination of ecological sensitivity, cultural sensitivity and visual sensitivity (Manolaki et al 2020). Hence there is a lack of studies that directly examine the relationship between landscape sensitivity and LUCC on the watershed scale.…”