Understanding Gully Erosion Vulnerability in Old Imo State Using Geographic Information System and Geostatistics

Geostatistical model (GM) and the Geographic Information System (GIS) are used as the Decision Support System (DSS) for the examination of the vulnerability rate of gully erosion in Old Imo State. The gully erosion sites were identified using a combination of Landsat TM satellite imagery, interpretation of aerial photographs and field surveys using the Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Databases on the geological formations, and gully erosion were determined through fieldwork, and digitization. Factors which influence gully occurrence, such as slope, distance from drainage and terrain mapping unit were calculated from the topographic database, and the relationship between these factors determined.