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Integrating Multicriteria Environmental Factors and Spatially Cross-Validated Machine Learning for Synthetic Erosion Vulnerability Assessment in the Betsiboka Region, Madagascar


Authors : Rasoanaina Jacquis; Rakotoson Andriatiana Tolontsoa; Tovonirina Mamiharizo Jackie; Razafiarisera Ralay Tiana; Rasolomanana Eddy Harilala

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/35bx27sr

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/3c37u5kz

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul913

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : This study integrates multicriteria environmental analysis and spatially cross-validated machine learning to assess synthetic erosion vulnerability in the Betsiboka Region, Madagascar. The vulnerability index combined low NDVI, slope, hydrographic proximity, elevation, and available geological, soil, rainfall, and land-cover factors on a 1 km grid. Hydrographic proximity was modelled using an exponential distance-decay function with a characteristic distance of 3 km, while geology was represented through normalized susceptibility scores ranging from 0 to 1. Three regression algorithms— Random Forest, Extra Trees, and Histogram Gradient Boosting—were evaluated using five-fold spatial block crossvalidation.

Keywords : Erosion Vulnerability; Multicriteria Analysis; Spatial Cross-Validation; Machine Learning; Betsiboka Region.

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This study integrates multicriteria environmental analysis and spatially cross-validated machine learning to assess synthetic erosion vulnerability in the Betsiboka Region, Madagascar. The vulnerability index combined low NDVI, slope, hydrographic proximity, elevation, and available geological, soil, rainfall, and land-cover factors on a 1 km grid. Hydrographic proximity was modelled using an exponential distance-decay function with a characteristic distance of 3 km, while geology was represented through normalized susceptibility scores ranging from 0 to 1. Three regression algorithms— Random Forest, Extra Trees, and Histogram Gradient Boosting—were evaluated using five-fold spatial block crossvalidation.

Keywords : Erosion Vulnerability; Multicriteria Analysis; Spatial Cross-Validation; Machine Learning; Betsiboka Region.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - August - 2026

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