Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2015
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Major
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
First Advisor
Steven K. Mickelson
Abstract
Vegetative Filter Strip (VFS) buffers have been used for over two decades to function as filters for surface runoff from agricultural land into streams and other water bodies. Many studies have revealed that the classic VFS design along the length of an agricultural field does not adequately address non-uniform flow through the buffer. New designs are being researched to increase the efficiency of the VFS, but in order to accurately implement new design strategies, researchers must be able to accurately model the runoff flowpaths through the agricultural field into the VFS. The common assumption about field runoff is that the runoff flows perpendicularly across VFS as sheet flow. But there is minimal research information available about the actual surface runoff flowpaths and the performance of VFS buffers. This research assesses the performance of existing established VFS by modeling and analyzing the flow accumulation from the field in the VFS, with the help of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and using new approach of Coefficient of Flow Interception (CFI) to assess the performance of VFS buffers. As spatially non-uniform runoff can reduce the efficiency of filter strips, this study will also prove to be helpful in identifying areas in the farmland where the flow is concentrated and help in designing more efficient filter strips to account for the concentrated runoff.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-4488
Copyright Owner
Manish Shrivastav
Copyright Date
2015
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
60 pages
Recommended Citation
Shrivastav, Manish, "Using ArcGIS hydrologic modeling and LiDAR digital elevation data to evaluate surface runoff interception performance of riparian vegetative filter strip buffers in central Iowa" (2015). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14889.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14889