Development of an ArcGIS-Pro Toolkit for Assessing the Effects of Bridge Construction on Overland Soil Erosion

Abstract

Erosion is a natural process, but it can be accelerated by anthropogenic activities. Two of the predominant types of human-induced erosion are related to agricultural and construction activities. Of the two, construction-induced erosion is more severe because of the simultaneous removal of the land cover, disturbance of the soil, and eventual compaction of the soil by heavy machinery. Eroded materials released from bridge construction sites can alter the sediment regime and geomorphological conditions of receiving streams and may have short- and long-term impacts on aquatic habitats. Several models have been developed to estimate the total amount of soil erosion and sediment yield; however, no predictive model is available to quantify the potential release of sediment during the construction of bridges or to predict the quantity, size fraction, and accumulation depths for the extent of the measurable downstream effect. A GIS-based predictive sediment toolkit is developed to estimate the overland erosion and to determine the potential depositional area and suspended sediment concentration downstream of bridges. The performance of the GIS toolkit in estimating soil erosion was assessed using field data collected from the Wilson Creek bridge construction site in McKenney, Texas, U.S., and it was concluded that it predicted the overland erosion rate and sediment yield within the ranges observed in the field.

Application of Machine Learning Approaches in Particle Tracking Model to Estimate Sediment Transport in Natural Streams

“…According to the historical flow data at the USGS 08059590 gauge station (11.2 km downstream of the bridge location), the mean daily flow varied between 0 and 37.4 m 3 /s, with an average of 1.98 m 3 /s (U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2016). Two storm events, on April 29 and November 3, 2022, with an average daily discharge of 37.4 m 3 /s and 7.4 m 3 /s, were considered, and it was estimated that during these events a total of 12.8 and 2.4 tonnes/day of sediment entered the creek due to overland erosion from the construction sites, respectively (Ahmari et al, 2022a).…”

“…Water samples collected by the automated samplers and grab samples were sent to the lab for TSS analysis, using EPA method 160.2 (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2017). More information on the field monitoring program can be found in Ahmari et al (2022a).…”

“…The sediment regime in natural streams can be altered by anthropogenic activities such as agriculture (Peacock et al, 2005), logging (Beschta, 1978), mining (Seakem Group et al, 1992), urbanization (Guy and Ferguson, 1963), bridge and dam constructions (Ahmari et al, 2021;Ahmari et al, 2013a and2013b), and hydrological alteration (Black, 1995;Hastie et al, 2001).…”

“…The eroded material from these activities adds to the sediment load, which can significantly impact water quality and threaten the lives and habitats of aquatic species (Ahmari et al, 2021;Sulaiman et al, 2021). Numerical models have been utilized to assess sediment transport in natural streams (e.g., Wu, 2004;Fang and Rodi, 2003) and estuaries (e.g., Tu et al, 2019;Ouda and Toorman, 2019); however, the mechanisms of sediment movements in a flow domain are not well understood (Shi and Yu, 2015).…”

Soil Loss Estimation Using Remote Sensing and RUSLE Model in Koromi-Federe Catchment Area of Jos-East LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

“…Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools have become robust tools in estimating soil loss and monitoring and managing erosion. The always-growing availability of earth observation data and the well-established use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lead to the development of automated geospatial toolboxes for the estimation of soil erosion [20,21]. These tools have been used in different parts of the world to predict erosion and soil loss; in South Africa [22], in Germany [23] in Italy [24], in India [25,26], in China [27], in Ethiopia [28], in different parts of Nigeria [29][30][31], and so on.…”