Assessing the Impact of Anthropogenic Factors on Desertification Through the DESERTICAS Software
Alassane Kone, Allyx Fontaine, Samira El Yacoubi, Maud Loireau and Salifou Nouhou Jangorzo
Based on coupling a continuous cellular automaton with the MEDALUS model enhanced by anthropogenic factors, DESERTICAS is specially designed to model and simulate the evolution of land degradation over time and space. One of the interests of this modelling is to associate rehabilitation and restoration actions through a factor, called the predominant factor, which has an overall impact on the system. The study carried out in this paper aims at extracting this prevailing factor among those already involved in the desertification phenomenon through the DESERTICAS software. The comparative analysis of the effects of the different desertification factors highlights the predominance of man-made management in the modelling carried out. Acting positively on the management factor means acting indirectly on the other desertification factors in order to interrupt the sources of degradation and slow down or stop land desertification.
Keywords: Cellular automata, MEDALUS, desertification sensitivity index, desertification software, land degradation, predominant factor