Abstract
This study presents a simple, synoptic and suitable for continuous monitoring model based on the fuzzy logic to monitor land
degradation after a forest fire in a Spanish Mediterranean coastal area. The model combined topography and vegetation
information to assess land degradation status. Topography parameters, slope and aspect were derived from a digital elevation
model (DEM). Evidences about the soil status were obtained by analyzing the vegetation cover with remote sensing images. The
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to assess vegetation cover.
As an initial approach, the model was proven efficient in assessing vulnerability to land degradation and further developments of
this framework could generalize and evolve the model. The model was calibrated with USLE cartography by employing ROC
curves to assign the most reliable membership functions weights. A maximum ROC area under the curve value (ROC=0.835)
was obtained with a weight of 0.6 for NDVI, 0.35 for slope and 0.05 for the aspect. Model results endorses the potential of using
digital elevation models and vegetation indices obtained through satellite images to assess soil vulnerability in large areas with a
simple and easy-to-update method.