Modeling erosion at multiple scales: 
tasks, data, processes and models

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Scale	Regional/installation ~1000 sq km 30m DEM	Landscape/training area ~100 sq km 10m DEM	Field/small watershed ~1-10 sq km, 2m DEM with a gully 3m DEM resampled from 10m
Tasks	assessment of averaged pattern of erosion risk identification of high risk subwatersheds planning large conservation areas	identification of hot spots location of depositional and major concentrated flow areas planning location of conservation measures	detailed erosion and deposition pattern and effects of conservation measures detailed impact of erosion on roads design of measures
Data	Digital Elevation Models Soils Landcover   Rainfall Sample Data
	data spatially averaged for hydrologic units Standard 100-30m USGS raster	1:10000 vector data converted to 10m raster USGS or custom 10m raster	1:2000 vector data converted to 2m raster 1-3m resolution raster(LIDAR, field survey)
Processes	flow in rivers and streams depressions are neglected spatial variability is averaged out	overland flow (averaged sheet+rill erosion) concentrated flow (large gullies) stream flow (averaged bank erosion) large depressions included	overland flow: sheet and individual rills concentrated and preferential flow (individual gullies, roads, tracks) stream flow (specific bank erosion) all depressions included
Models	RUSLE3D (averaged)	RUSLE3d USPED SIMWE WEPP	RUSLE3d (lumped) USPED SIMWE RILLGROW2 WEPP
	RUSLE3d with GIS	USPED with GIS
Results	erosion risk map erosion risk by watersheds	erosion risk map erosion/deposition map	detailed erosion risk map detailed erosion/deposition map