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Joint Research Center (JRC)
RUSLE2015

Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation

Environmentsoil erosionrainfall erosivitysoil erodibilityUSLECover ManagementRUSLESoil loss by waterSupport practices

Quality & Transparency

Quality

Model uncertainties

Models are by definition affected by uncertainties (in input data, input parameters, scenario definitions, etc.). Have the model uncertainties been quantified? Are uncertainties accounted for in your simulations?

yes
Uncertainties are provided for each of the input layers.

    Sensitivity analysis

    Sensitivity analysis helps identifying the uncertain inputs mostly responsible for the uncertainty in the model responses. Has the model undergone sensitivity analysis?

    yes
    The model has undergone a sensitivity analysis in the publication(additional material): Borrelli et.al 2013

      Have model results been published in peer-reviewed articles?

      yes
      The model has been peer reviewed in the publication and by the scientific community.

        Has the model formally undergone scientific review by a panel of international experts?

        Please note that this does not refer to the cases when model results were validated by stakeholders.

        no

          Model validation

          Has model validation been done? Have model predictions been confronted with observed data (ex-post)?

          yes
          Model predictions have been compared with data provided by countries (coming from the EIONET data collection). In 2009, the JRC has collected data on soil erosion from the EIONET network and only 8 countries have provided maps/datasets. RUSLE2015 data are compared well with the EIONET datasets. Comparison with plots is not possible as the plots have short-term measured data and they refer to different land uses. In 2020, the RUSLE2015 data were also compared with data from 21 regional studies (Panagos et al., 2020).

            Transparency

            To what extent do input data come from publicly available sources?

            This may include sources accessible upon subscription and/or payment

            Entirely based on publicly available sources

            Is the full model database as such available to external users?

            Whether or not it implies a specific procedure or a fee

            no
            Input data are accessible from the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC).

              Have model results been presented in publicly available reports?

              Note this excludes IA reports.

              yes

              Have output datasets been made publicly available?

              Note this could also imply a specific procedure or a fee.

              yes
              Output data are made accessible through the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC).

              Is there any user friendly interface presenting model results that is accessible to the public?

              For instance: Dashboard, interactive interfaces...

              no

                Has the model been documented in a publicly available dedicated report or a manual?

                Note this excludes IA reports.

                yes
                The model is documented in the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC), plus in peer review Open Access publications.

                Is there a dedicated public website where information about the model is provided?

                yes

                Is the model code open-source?

                no

                Can the code be accessed upon request?

                yes