Geospatial Analysis for Erosion and Sediment Yield Estimation: The Case Study of the Krueng Aceh River Basin, Indonesia

Miga Magenika Julian; Esa Fajar Hidayat; Nirmawana Simarmata

doi:10.48084/etasr.18606

Authors

Miga Magenika Julian Hydrography Research Group, Faculty of Earth Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
Esa Fajar Hidayat Marine Science Study Program, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
Nirmawana Simarmata Geomatics Engineering Department, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Indonesia

Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 36272-36278 | June 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.18606

Received: 9 March 2026 | Revised: 22 April 2026 | Accepted: 30 April 2026 | Online: 6 June 2026

Corresponding author: Esa Fajar Hidayat

Abstract

The Krueng Aceh River Basin (KARB) has undergone severe environmental degradation due to deforestation, land use changes, and the 2004 tsunami, resulting in increased erosion and sedimentation. This study estimated sediment yield using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) models integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) across five sub-basins covering 1,734 km². Input data included DEM, soil type, land use, and rainfall. Erosion rates ranged from 0 to 1.4×10⁷ tons/km²/year, with higher values observed in steep slopes, bare land, and erosion-prone soils, particularly in the Krueng Jreue and Krueng Inong sub-basins. SDR analysis showed greater transport efficiency for silt (2.8×10⁻²) than sand (2.7×10⁻³). The estimated total sediment yield was 2.4×10⁶ tons/year. Land use analysis highlighted that bare land (19% of the area) contributed significantly to erosion, while forest cover (29%) provided limited mitigation. The study underscores the urgency of integrated watershed management and reforestation efforts in KARB.

Keywords:

erosion, GIS, river basin, sediment delivery ratio, watershed management

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