Evaluation of morphometric properties and erosion dynamics in the Isparta Darıdere watershed: Watershed prioritization using the Entropy-based WASPAS method

Abstract

This study aims to perform a detailed assessment of the morphometric characteristics of the Darıdere Watershed, located within the boundaries of Isparta Province, Türkiye, in order to evaluate its erosion potential and determine the management priority of its sub-watersheds. The analysis was based on the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)-derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM), from which a wide range of morphometric parameters were computed, including linear, areal and relief indices. To objectively weight these parameters without subjective bias, the Entropy method, a statistical approach grounded in information theory was employed. This method quantified the significance of each morphometric parameter based on its variability and information content across the sub-watersheds. The derived weights were then incorporated into the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique that combines the benefits of both additive and multiplicative models. The results revealed a notable variation in erosion susceptibility across the seven delineated sub-watersheds. Sub-watersheds SW-1 and SW-2 exhibited the highest erosion risk levels, while SW-4 was classified as high risk. In contrast, AH-7 was classified as low risk, whereas AH-3, AH-5, and AH-6 were classified as very low risk. These findings underscore the spatial heterogeneity of geomorphological conditions within the watershed and demonstrate the importance of site-specific prioritization in watershed management strategies. The integrated Entropy-WASPAS framework provided a robust, data-driven, and reproducible methodology for sub-watershed prioritization. The study not only contributes to the scientific understanding of erosion processes within the Darıdere Watershed but also offers a transferable model for sustainable watershed planning and land degradation mitigation in similar geographic contexts.

Keywords

• GIS
• Multi-criteria decision-making
• Entropy
• Erosion
• Watershed prioritization
• Morphometry
• WASPAS

Isparta Darıdere havzasında morfometrik özellikler ve erozyon dinamiklerinin değerlendirilmesi: Entropi tabanlı WASPAS yöntemi ile havza önceliklendirmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Isparta ili sınırları içerisinde yer alan Darıdere havzasının morfometrik özelliklerini detaylı olarak analiz ederek, erozyon potansiyelini belirlemeyi ve alt havzaların yönetimsel önceliklerini bilimsel yöntemlerle ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada öncelikle Mekik Radar Topografya Misyonu (SRTM) verilerinden elde edilen Sayısal Yükseklik Modeli (SYM) kullanılarak, havzanın çizgisel, alansal ve rölyef morfometrik parametreleri hesaplanmıştır. Elde edilen morfometrik veriler, karar verici etkilerden bağımsız ve nesnel bir şekilde ağırlıklandırılmak amacıyla Entropi yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Entropi yöntemi ile hesaplanan kriter ağırlıkları kullanılarak, çok kriterli karar verme tekniklerinden WASPAS (Ağırlıklı Toplu Toplam Ürün Değerlendirmesi) yöntemi uygulanmış ve Darıdere havzasındaki alt havzalar erozyon duyarlılığına göre önceliklendirilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda AH-1 ve AH-2 alt havzalarının çok yüksek erozyon riski taşıdığı, AH-4’ün ise yüksek risk grubunda yer aldığı tespit edilmiştir. Buna karşın AH-7 düşük risk düzeyinde, AH-3, AH-5 ve AH-6 alt havzaları çok düşük risk düzeyinde sınıflandırılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, havzanın morfolojik olarak heterojen bir yapıya sahip olduğunu ve erozyon riskinin alt havza düzeyinde önemli farklılıklar gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, Entropi-WASPAS entegrasyonu ile hem nesnel hem de tekrarlanabilir bir değerlendirme yaklaşımı sunmakla birlikte; sürdürülebilir havza yönetimi, toprak koruma ve su kaynakları planlaması açısından karar vericilere bilimsel dayanak sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca, kullanılan yöntemsel çerçeve, benzer topoğrafik ve çevresel koşullara sahip diğer küçük ve orta ölçekli havzalara da uygulanabilir niteliktedir.

Keywords

• CBS
• Çok kriter karar verme
• Entropi
• Erozyon
• Havza önceliklendirmesi
• Morfometri
• WASPAS

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