Project description

Soil erosion not only leads to the loss of humus and nutrients, but can also cause damage to and disruption of infrastructure. The causes of the increasingly observed soil erosion include intensive agricultural land use, as well as severe weather events (heavy rainfall). Due to climate change, heavy rainfall is occurring with increasing frequency and intensity. 

DRAIN aims, for the first time, to incorporate meteorological data, current Copernicus data and other geospatial data into a model that enables dynamic and real-time forecasting of soil erosion. This allows for targeted forecasts tailored to each individual event, which is useful for directly affected communities and farmers. 

In the DRAIN project, the integration of Copernicus, EUMETSAT and weather data enables the further development of forecasting models. Analyses are retrieved on a time-controlled basis and fed into the dynamic erosion calculation. This enables a timely and precise forecast, which becomes more accurate the closer the event approaches. The results are made available to users via a dashboard. The approach is being tested in the Styrian municipality of Fernitz-Mellach and evaluated using higher-resolution satellite data and locally collected data. In recent years, the municipality has built three water retention basins, whose catchment areas form a spatial focus. A further focus is also placed on farmers across Austria who are potentially affected by erosion; they contribute to data collection in the field and are thus continuously involved in the project.

Benefits of the project

DRAIN combines Earth observation (EO) data with meteorological warnings in a unique approach to create a soil erosion risk map. It provides warnings not only about the event itself, but also about its expected impacts. In future, stakeholders will be able to use DRAIN to access an EO-based early warning system for soil erosion risk. The map is intended to be made available in future to all interested parties affected, who will benefit equally from an early warning. 

The warning function can also help to better protect aquatic ecosystems from the input of fine sediment, nutrients and pollutants. Long-term recommendations regarding the adaptation of crop types, soil tillage and management measures, as well as the consideration and implementation of erosion control measures, can be derived. The project thus promotes climate-resilient agriculture in the field of soil and erosion protection. Support is provided for investments already made or those required in the future (e.g. retention basins).