Enhancing Soil Degradation Assessment through the Integration of GIS and RS: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

GIS and RS are powerful tools that play a crucial role in natural resource management, especially when it comes to assessing soil degradation. Soil degradation is a long-standing global problem, and to understand the role of GIS and RS in addressing it, data from secondary sources were collected and analyzed. Several researchers have utilized GIS and RS, integrated with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), to assess soil degradation. Their findings reveal that soil erosion, triggered primarily by water, is a critical form of land degradation. This erosion significantly reduces the potential capacity of the soil, posing threats to economic growth, environmental resources, and social assets. Furthermore, the severity of soil erosion varies across different regions of the country. Despite the valuable insights gained through studies using GIS and RS for soil degradation assessment, their contributions are not yet widely recognized by government organizations, NGOs, policymakers, decision-makers, environmentalists, and researchers. This lack of recognition hinders the attention and action that could be directed towards mitigating soil degradation. To address this issue, this paper aims to comprehensively review the contributions of GIS and RS in assessing soil degradation. By doing so, it seeks to raise awareness among key stakeholders and foster greater attention and support for tackling this critical environmental challenge.