A hexagonal cellular automaton for modelling soil erosion by water: an application to a real event

Cellular Automata (CA) are "a-centric" and parallel space-time discrete dynamical systems, widely utilised in modelling complex natural phenomena. In fact, in spite of their simplicity, they could represent a valid alternative to the classic approach based on partial differential equations in order to simulate phenomena that can be described in terms of local interactions among their constituent parts. SCAVATU-hex is the evolution of the first bi-dimensional CA-based model SCAVATU, developed in order to simulate soil erosion by water. The original cellular space, partitioned in squared cells of uniform size, has been replaced by a regular hexagonal one and the cellular automaton transition function, determining dynamical evolution of the system, has been improved in order to better take into account the real phenomenon. The model has been applied to a real event occurred in the Molise region (Italy) in September-October 2002 using data acquired by a remote automated system, located into the Morgiapietravalle basin. Results of first applications, limited to hydro-dynamic and infiltration processes, and further possible works are presented.