Advancing Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) Development: Integrating Cutting-Edge Science and Cloud-Based Innovations for Transformative Soil Erosion Modeling and Land Management

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2), is the primary water erosion prediction tool used by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for land management planning across the United States. Despite its widespread adoption, RUSLE2’s reliance on a personal computer-based model limits its capacity for large-scale, dynamic applications. This research addresses these constraints by developing a novel cloud-based platform to host and enhance RUSLE2, enabling server-based computation, geospatial data integration, and scalable modeling capabilities. Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the platform integrates web-based user interfaces, spatial databases, and geoprocessing tools to streamline soil erosion modeling. It incorporates historical data on soil properties, weather patterns, and land use practices to support precise assessments of rill and interrill erosion. A redesigned database architecture ensures computational efficiency, data security, and collaborative development. Scientific advancements in RUSLE2 include quantifying the effects of precipitation variability and land use on the spatiotemporal dynamics of key soil properties. Leveraging advanced field and laboratory methods, remote sensing, and machine learning, the platform improves the measurement and mapping of soil erodibility and soil loss across diverse U.S. agricultural landscapes. These enhancements enable more accurate forecasts of erosion risk under evolving environmental scenarios and support flexible land management strategies. This transformative, cloud-based platform delivers innovative tools to guide land use practices and improve long-term agricultural productivity. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and data-driven modeling, this work addresses longstanding challenges in erosion science and enhances regional and national resilience in soil resource management.