Advancing Environmental Conservation

Elevation & Terrain

• DEM (Digital Elevation Model) — raster of ground heights above mean sea level.
  Products: DEMSA2 L1 (raw), SUDEM5.
• DSM (Digital Surface Model) — elevation of ground + features (trees/buildings).
  Products: DEMSA2 L2
• DTM (Digital Terrain Model) — smoothed bare-earth terrain for contours & hydrology.
  Products: DEMSA2 L3
• Contours — lines of equal elevation for mapping & design.
  Products: Contours from DEMSA2 L3
• Slope / Gradient / Aspect / Curvature — terrain derivatives for erosion, exposure & access.
  Products: DEM derivatives (DEMSA2 / SUDEM5)

Flood & Hydrology

• FHI (Flood Hazard Index) — composite index of likely pooling/inundation zones.
  Products: FHI layer built from DEMSA2/SUDEM hydrology.
• HAND (Height Above Nearest Drainage) — relative height above stream network; strong flood/wetness indicator.
  Products: HAND layer from DEMSA2/SUDEM.
• Flow Direction & Flow Accumulation — downslope paths and upstream contributing area; identifies channels & headwaters.
  Products: Hydrology suite (DEMSA2/SUDEM5 derivatives).
• Watersheds / Catchments — areas draining to an outlet for management & reporting.
  Products: Catchment delineations
• Distance to Rivers (Perennial / Non-Perennial), Waterbodies (Natural / Artificial), Wetlands, Oceans, Nearest Drainage — proximity screens and riparian buffers.
  Products: Distance-to water layers

Terrain & Land Capability

• TWI (Topographic Wetness Index) — terrain-driven wetness potential from slope + upslope area.
  Products: TWI (from DEMSA2/SUDEM).
• Land Capability — best long-term rain-fed use given soil, climate & terrain.
  Products: Land Capability
• Soil Capability / Grazing Capability / Terrain Capability — agricultural & access suitability.
  Products: Capability suite
• Climate Capability — climatic fitness for uses/crops; Irrigation Suitability; Soil Potential.
  Products: Climate/Irrigation/Soil Potential layers
• Relatively Homogenous Farming Areas (RHFA), SA Geology, Majority Soil Type — planning context & process understanding.
  Products: RHFA, Geology, Majority Soil Type

Land Use & Vegetation

• National Vegetation & Biome Map (SANBI) — authoritative vegetation types/biomes.
  Products: SANBI vegetation package
• SANLC Land Cover (2018) — national land-cover classes (urban, agri, natural).
  Products: SANLC 2018 Land Cover
• Priority Vegetation Biomes — high-value ecosystems for focus and offsets.
  Products: Priority Biomes
• Protected Areas — Formal (SAPAD/PACA) & Informal Conservation Areas for screening.
  Products: Protected & Conservation Areas
• Admin Context — Municipal Districts/Wards; Surface Ground Water %; Road Networks; Survey Grid.
  Products: Admin/Context packs.

Climate / Process Layers

• Soil Erodibility (K-factor) — susceptibility of soil to detachment/transport (USLE/RUSLE).
  Products: K-Factor layer
• Soil Drainage Rate (%) — daily drainage potential (sandy > clayey).
  Products: Soil Drainage Rate
• Stormflow (mm) — runoff reaching streams after rainfall events.
  Products: Stormflow layer 
• Sediment Yield (t/ha) — annual mass of sediment generated/transported.
  Products: Sediment Yield layer