Technology selection for erosion control vegetation and structures

摘要

The World Wide Web offers unprecedented opportunities for access to technical information. This paper describes two information systems under development to provide direct and easy access to guidance, information and analysis tools that can be used in support of land rehabilitation and maintenance activities. The first system, VegSpec, is a cooperative development effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. VegSpec is operational and available to the public, free of charge, over the web. Version 2.0 of VegSpec provides a list of recommended vegetation species based on user input about site conditions and management objectives. Upgrades to provide additional guidance in the form of seedbed preparation, soil amendments, planting methods, etc., are in progress. The second system, SEDSPEC, is under development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Designed to be a complimentary system to VegSpec, SEDSPEC provides guidance, technical information and analysis tools to support the selection of the most efficient and effective technology for structural erosion control. SEDSPEC is also a web-based information system. The initial version of SEDSPEC provides technical information about planning, design, construction and maintenance considerations that can be used to identify the best solutions to erosion control problems. A unique feature of SEDSPEC is the capability to input information directly from the field about lessons learned from field experiences. The technical database will grow continuously over time. A technology selection model will be added in 2000. SEDSPEC is oriented towards applications for military land management but will support wider applications throughout the erosion control industry.