Soil Erodibility at Bridge Construction Sites

Construction activity-generated sediment released into waterbodies may adversely impact water quality and aquatic habitats. The soil erodibility factor (K) is one of the fundamental parameters affecting soil loss rate. There are several empirical equations for calculating K; however, most of these equations have limitations as they are often based on experiments conducted on soils in specific locations. These equations also do not adequately account for the seasonal variability of K. Based on a literature review, this study identifies the main factors affecting K; provides a summary of field methods, empirical equations, and models to determine the K factor; and recommends two empirical equations suitable for estimating K at construction sites for US soils. The study further conducted a comparative analysis, contrasting calculated K values derived from soil parameters collected in the field and those obtained from the SSURGO soil database. The results indicate that, although the recommended equations demonstrate acceptable performance, future research still offers opportunities to develop new equations specifically for construction areas or modify the existing ones to accommodate the construction scenarios better.