Interacting fields approach for evolving spatial phenomena: application to erosion simulation for optimized land use

We propose a computational framework and strategies for performing tasks necessary for evaluation and optimization of land use management within an advanced GIS modeling environment. Such tasks involve modeling of landscape processes, simulation of impact of human activities on these processes and optimization of preventive measures aimed at creating sustainable landscapes. A typical example of interaction between landscape processes and human activity is water erosion, a natural process which can be accelerated or greatly reduced by human intervention. In our implementation, the underlying 2D water and sediment transport equations are solved within approximate diffusive wave hydrologic and detachment/transport capacity models using stochastic methods (Monte Carlo). The methods employ distributed input parameters and enable us to simulate the impact of complex terrain, various soils and land cover changes on the spatial distribution of erosion and deposition. The presented approach together with land use optimization scenario is illustrated by an application to an experimental farm in Germany, carried out within 3D dynamic GIS environment.