Background For soil and water loss monitoring, the commonly used methods are sampling survey, comprehensive evaluation, and empirical models (USLE, WEQ, and CSLE). It is known that the field investigation is the key point for the monitoring of soil and water loss when we use the methods described above. However, the tradition field investigation technic cannot meet the requirements of present regional monitoring of soil and water loss. Therefore, this research mainly focuses on exploring an efficient, accurate and high quality data collection technic in Mengyin of the Yimeng-Taishan Mountain National Key Control Area.

Methods Based on the field investigation unit (Grid or watershed), the pros and cons of Ovitalmap technic with traditional field work methods were compared. Many new technics and methods have been developed through combing the Ovitalmap with Geographic Information System (GIS) in soil and water loss investigation as such:Basic data processing and importing, route navigation, position locating, data collection, location sharing, and data analysis.

Results The applications of Ovitalmap technic indicated that the efficiency and accuracy of route navigation and site positioning was improved dramatically. During the field data collection, Ovitalmap provided a digitalized platform for map drawing in the field without paper, which reduced the cost of indoor data analysis and increased the working efficiency. Meanwhile, the Ovitalmap was able to provide the real-time information of landform, vegetation coverage, and soil and water conservation measures, the comparisons of the information between measured value and extracted value in specific field sites, and reasonable evaluations of the comparison. Based on the overlay of vector data and raster data, the real-time positioning, and display function of Ovitalmap, it captured information with higher accuracy and efficiency. The camera function realized the exact correspondence between the location, time, shooting direction, and photos of the shooting point. The indoor organization process was effectively simplified and better convergence with collected information was achieved.

Conclusions This research found out and solved the problems in the application of Ovitalmap for the investigation of soil and water loss. Moreover, based on the practical usage experience of Ovitalmap, this paper also proposes some reasonable recommendations for the weaknesses of Ovitalmap. The results of this research can provide technical supports for regional soil and water loss monitoring, comprehensive management of soil and water loss, soil and water conservation of construction projects, and the field investigation of soil and water loss.