ɊɂȾɋɄɈ-ɉɅȺɇɂɇɋɄɂ ɉɈȾɊȺɑЈȺ -ɉɊɈȻɅȿɆɂ ɂ ɉȿɊɋɉȿɄɌɂȼɂ, Ɉɯɪɢɞ, 12-15 IX 2013 HILLY- MOUNTAIN AREAS -PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES, Ohrid, 12-15 IX 2013 581 ɍȾɄ: 551.3.053:{528:[007:004(497.735) GIS AND REMOTE SENSING ASSESSMENT OF EROSION RISK AREAS IN PEHCHEVO MUNICIPALITY Ivica MILEVSKI 1 ,SlКvШlУuЛ DRAGIĆEVIĆ 2 , RКНТslКv TOŠIĆ 3 1 UnТvОrsТtв “St. CвrТХ КnН MОtСoНus”, FКМuХtв oП NКturКХ SМТОnМОs КnН MКtСОЦКtТМs, Institute of Geography, Skopje, Macedonia, e-mail: ivica@iunona.pmf.ukim.edu.mk 2 Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 3/3, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: slavoljubdragicevic@eunet.rs 3 FКМuХtв oП NКturКХ SМТОnМОs, BКnУК LuФК, M. StoУКnovТćК 2, 78000 BКnУК LuФК, RОpuЛХТМ oП SrpsФК , e-mail: rtosic@blic.net ABSTRACT In this paper, GIS and RS assessment of potential erosion risk areas is presented. For that purpose Pehchevo Municipality (208.5 km 2 ) in the easternmost part of the Republic of Macedonia is selected as a case study area because of high local impact of natural hazards on the environment, social-demographic situation and local economy. First of all, most relevant static factors for each type of natural hazard are selected (topography, land cover, anthropogenic objects and infrastructure). With GIS and satellite imagery, multi-layer calculation is performed based on available traditional model (EPM), clustering or discretisation procedures. In such way suТtКЛХО, rОХКtТvОХв “stКtТМ” ОrosТon rТsФ ЦКps (ЦoНОХs) КrО proНuМОН. Then, precipitations as dynamic factor are included in previous models resulting in appropriate scenarios for daily rainfalls. Finally, GIS-based scenarios are evaluated and tested with field check and very fine resolution Google Earth imagery showing good accuracy. Further development of such GIS models in connection with automatic remote meteorological stations and dynamic satellite imagery (like MODIS) will provide early warning system of erosion hazards avoiding potential damages or even causalities. Key words: natural hazards, GIS, remote sensing, modelling INTRODUCTION Republic of Macedonia (25713 km 2 ) is highly exposed to natural hazards, especially to flash floods, excess erosion, landslides, heat waves, droughts, forest fires and earthquakes. Except the earthquakes as uncontrolled natural phenomena, the number of other hazards gradually increases in last decades generally due to climate change causing significant damages (Lerner, 2007; Mosquera-Machado and Dilley, 2009; RТstТć Оt КХ., 2012; Jovanovski et al., 2013). Thus, identification of potential natural hazard areas is very significant for better prevention and protection of landscape and population (Tanislav et al., 2009; Dragicevic et al., 2011a,b; 2013a,b). One of the regions heavily endangered by natural hazards, especially soil erosion is Pehchevo municipality (208.5 km 2 ) in the easternmost part of Macedonia. This municipality in upper Bregalnica catchment is selected as a test area for complex based Geographic Information System (GIS) modeling of potential erosion risk areas. According to the daily rain intensity, three scenarios for extent of erosion risk areas are produced, compared and corrected by field research and monitoring. Although population and economy in Pechcevo municipality were highly affected by severe soil erosion events, these were poorly documented. In domestic literature, insufficient attention has been devoted to the research of soil erosion in this area (Blinkov and Mincev, 2010; Dragicevic et al., 2010a,b; Milevski, 2010). STUDY AREA The Municipality of Pehchevo is one of the smallest in the Republic of Macedonia covering an area of 208.5 km 2 . It is located in the easternmost part of the country, up to the border with