Assessment of Erosion Risk in the Altınapa Dam Watershed Using a CRITIC-WASPAS Based Multi Criteria Decision Making Approach

This study aims to prioritize 13 sub-watersheds within the Altınapa Dam Basin, located in the Konya Closed Basin, based on their erosion risk levels. In the research, morphometric parameters derived from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data were analysed and evaluated as decision-making criteria. The relative importance of each parameter was determined using the CRITIC approach, a statistically based objective weighting method. Subsequently, the erosion risk levels of the sub-watersheds were calculated using the WASPAS method, incorporating the weights obtained from the CRITIC analysis. The erosion assessment was conducted under three different lambda (λ) scenarios (0, 0.5, and 1), and Qi scores were computed for each sub-watershed to establish a risk-based ranking. According to the results, sub-watersheds AH-8, AH-11, and AH-13 consistently ranked in the “very high” risk class across all scenarios. These sub-watersheds exhibited prominent values in terms of slope, drainage density, and topographic complexity. In contrast, AH-2 and AH-6 were classified in the “very low” risk group. Although the WASPAS model demonstrated sensitivity to the λ parameter, the consistent ranking of high-risk sub-watersheds supported the method’s reliability. In conclusion, the integrated CRITIC-WASPAS approach provides an effective and applicable decision-support tool for erosion risk assessment based on morphometric data. The findings offer a scientific foundation for the development of sustainable watershed management practices and erosion control strategies.