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A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data. Much of this often happens within a spatial database; however, this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS. In a broader sense, one may consider such a system also to include human users and support staff, procedures and workflows, the body of knowledge of relevant concepts and methods, and institutional organizations.
Pedology is a discipline within soil science which focuses on understanding and characterizing soil formation, evolution, and the theoretical frameworks for modeling soil bodies, often in the context of the natural environment. Pedology is often seen as one of two main branches of soil inquiry, the other being edaphology which is traditionally more agronomically oriented and focuses on how soil properties influence plant communities. In studying the fundamental phenomenology of soils, e.g. soil formation, pedologists pay particular attention to observing soil morphology and the geographic distributions of soils, and the placement of soil bodies into larger temporal and spatial contexts. In so doing, pedologists develop systems of soil classification, soil maps, and theories for characterizing temporal and spatial interrelations among soils. There are a few noteworthy sub-disciplines of pedology; namely pedometrics and soil geomorphology. Pedometrics focuses on the development of techniques for quantitative characterization of soils, especially for the purposes of mapping soil properties whereas soil geomorphology studies the interrelationships between geomorphic processes and soil formation.
A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete global grid. DEMs are used often in geographic information systems (GIS), and are the most common basis for digitally produced relief maps. A digital terrain model (DTM) represents specifically the ground surface while DEM and DSM may represent tree top canopy or building roofs.
Ecological classification or ecological typology is the classification of land or water into geographical units that represent variation in one or more ecological features. Traditional approaches focus on geology, topography, biogeography, soils, vegetation, climate conditions, living species, habitats, water resources, and sometimes also anthropic factors. Most approaches pursue the cartographical delineation or regionalisation of distinct areas for mapping and planning.
Soil classification deals with the systematic categorization of soils based on distinguishing characteristics as well as criteria that dictate choices in use.
Soil survey, or soil mapping, is the process of classifying soil types and other soil properties in a given area and geo-encoding such information.
A soil map is a geographical representation showing diversity of soil types or soil properties in the area of interest. It is typically the result of a soil survey inventory, i.e. soil survey. Soil maps are most commonly used for land evaluation, spatial planning, agricultural extension, environmental protection and similar projects. Traditional soil maps typically show only general distribution of soils, accompanied by the soil survey report. Many new soil maps are derived using digital soil mapping techniques. Such maps are typically richer in context and show higher spatial detail, yet are not necessarily more accurate than traditional soil maps. Soil maps produced using (geo)statistical technique can also include an estimate of the model uncertainty.
Inference is a process of deriving logical conclusion from the basis of empirical evidence and prior knowledge rather than on the basis of direct observation. Soil inference system (SINFERS) is the term proposed by McBratney et al. (2002) as a knowledge base to infer soil properties and populate the digital soil databases. SINFERS takes measurements with a given level of certainty and infers data that is not known with minimal uncertainties by means of logically linked predictive functions. These predictive functions, in a non-spatial context are referred to as pedotransfer functions. The basic assumption underlying SINFERS is that if one knows or is able to predict the basic fundamental properties of a soil, one should be able to infer all other physical and chemical properties using PTFs. Pedotransfer functions relate basic soil properties to other more difficult or expensive to measure soil properties by means of regression and various data mining tools. Crucial to the operation of SINFERS are reliable inputs, the ability to link basic soil information, and the quantification of uncertainty.
A thematic map is a type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter (theme) in a geographic area. This usually involves the use of map symbols to visualize selected properties of geographic features that are not naturally visible, such as temperature, language, or population. In this, they contrast with general reference maps, which focus on the location of a diverse set of physical features, such as rivers, roads, and buildings. Alternative names have been suggested for this class, such as special-subject or special-purpose maps, statistical maps, or distribution maps, but these have generally fallen out of common usage. Thematic mapping is closely allied with the field of Geovisualization.
Geomorphometry, or geomorphometrics, is the science and practice of measuring the characteristics of terrain, the shape of the surface of the Earth, and the effects of this surface form on human and natural geography. It gathers various mathematical, statistical and image processing techniques that can be used to quantify morphological, hydrological, ecological and other aspects of a land surface. Common synonyms for geomorphometry are geomorphological analysis, terrain morphometry, terrain analysis, and land surface analysis. Geomorphometrics is the discipline based on the computational measures of the geometry, topography and shape of the Earth's horizons, and their temporal change. This is a major component of geographic information systems (GIS) and other software tools for spatial analysis.
The European Soil Database is the only harmonized soil database in Europe from which many other data information and services are derived. For instance, the European Soil Database v2 Raster Library contains raster (grid) data files with cell sizes of 1 km x 1 km for a large number of soil related parameters. Each grid is aligned with the INSPIRE reference grid. These rasters are in the public domain and allow expert users to use the data for instance to run soil-, water- and air related models. The European Soil Database may be downloaded from the European Soil Data Center.
ISRIC - World Soil Information, also known as the International Soil Reference and Information Centre, is a science-based independent foundation. It was established in 1966, following a recommendation by the International Society of Soil Science and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ISRIC's role is to compile and disseminate information regarding soil resources globally, contributing to the understanding and resolution of key global issues.
European Digital Archive on Soil Maps(EuDASM) is a digital inventory of the maps holding valuable information pertaining to soil that are highly demanded in various environmental assessment studies focusing on policy issues. The EuDASM is a common platform established by Joint Research Centre in Italy of the European Commission and the International Soil Reference and Information Centre(ISRIC) of Wageningen University in The Netherlands to store soil and related maps in digital format and to provide free access to the global community. The archive is typically unique at the present times, for it is the only archive that holds nearly 6000 maps online related to soils and are freely accessible to the public around the world. Moreover, the major focus of the EuDASM initiative is towards the developing nations of Africa, South America, Asia etc., in order to assist them to arrest the loss of existing information and prevent the quality deterioration.
Pedodiversity is the variation of soil properties within an area. Pedodiversity studies were first started by analyzing soil series–area relationships. According to Guo et al. (2003) the term pedodiversity was developed by McBratney (1992) who discussed landscape preservation strategies based on pedodiversity. Recently, examinations of pedodiversity using indices commonly used to characterize bio-diversity have been made. Ibáñez et al. (1995) first introduced ecological diversity indices as measures of pedodiversity. They include species richness, relative species abundance, and Shannon index. Richness is the number of different soil types, which is the number of soil classes at particular level in a taxonomic system. Abundance is defined as the distribution of the number of soil individuals.
Soil carbon is the solid carbon stored in global soils. This includes both soil organic matter and inorganic carbon as carbonate minerals. It is vital to the soil capacity in our ecosystem. Soil carbon is a carbon sink in regard to the global carbon cycle, playing a role in biogeochemistry, climate change mitigation, and constructing global climate models. Microorganisms play an important role in breaking down carbon in the soil. Changes in their activity due to rising temperatures could possibly influence and even contribute to climate change. Human activities have caused a massive loss of soil organic carbon. For example, anthropogenic fires destroy the top layer of the soil, exposing soil to excessive oxidation.
Pedometric mapping, or statistical soil mapping, is data-driven generation of soil property and class maps that is based on use of statistical methods. Its main objectives are to predict values of some soil variable at unobserved locations, and to access the uncertainty of that estimate using statistical inference i.e. statistically optimal approaches. From the application point of view, its main objective is to accurately predict response of a soil-plant ecosystem to various soil management strategies—that is, to generate maps of soil properties and soil classes that can be used for other environmental models and decision-making. It is largely based on applying geostatistics in soil science, and other statistical methods used in pedometrics.
In applied statistics and geostatistics, regression-kriging (RK) is a spatial prediction technique that combines a regression of the dependent variable on auxiliary variables with interpolation (kriging) of the regression residuals. It is mathematically equivalent to the interpolation method variously called universal kriging and kriging with external drift, where auxiliary predictors are used directly to solve the kriging weights.
The World Soil Museum (WSM) displays physical examples of soil profiles (monoliths) representing major soil types of the world, from the volcanic ash soils from Indonesia to the red, strongly weathered soils from the Amazon region. The museum is managed by the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), an independent, science-based foundation. Physically, the museum is located on the campus of Wageningen University and Research Centre in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Remote sensing is used in the geological sciences as a data acquisition method complementary to field observation, because it allows mapping of geological characteristics of regions without physical contact with the areas being explored. About one-fourth of the Earth's total surface area is exposed land where information is ready to be extracted from detailed earth observation via remote sensing. Remote sensing is conducted via detection of electromagnetic radiation by sensors. The radiation can be naturally sourced, or produced by machines and reflected off of the Earth surface. The electromagnetic radiation acts as an information carrier for two main variables. First, the intensities of reflectance at different wavelengths are detected, and plotted on a spectral reflectance curve. This spectral fingerprint is governed by the physio-chemical properties of the surface of the target object and therefore helps mineral identification and hence geological mapping, for example by hyperspectral imaging. Second, the two-way travel time of radiation from and back to the sensor can calculate the distance in active remote sensing systems, for example, Interferometric synthetic-aperture radar. This helps geomorphological studies of ground motion, and thus can illuminate deformations associated with landslides, earthquakes, etc.
References
- ↑ Scull, P.; J. Franklin; O.A. Chadwick; D. McArthur (June 2003). "Predictive soil mapping - a review". Progress in Physical Geography. 27 (2): 171–197. Bibcode:2003PrPG...27..171S. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.137.3441 . doi:10.1191/0309133303pp366ra. S2CID 787741.
- ↑ Lagacherie, P.; McBratney, A. B.; Voltz, M., eds. (2006). Digital soil mapping: an introductory perspective. Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 600. ISBN 978-0-444-52958-9. Archived from the original on 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
- ↑ Dobos, E.; Carré, F.; Hengl, T.; Reuter, H.I.; Tóth, G., eds. (2006). Digital Soil Mapping as a support to production of functional maps (PDF). Luxemburg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. p. 68.
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- ↑ Boettinger, J.L.; Howell, D.W.; Moore, A.C.; Hartemink, A.E.; Kienast-Brown, S., eds. (2010). Digital Soil Mapping: Bridging Research, Environmental Application, and Operation. Springer. p. 473. ISBN 978-90-481-8862-8.
- 1 2 Hengl, Tom; Mendes de Jesus, Jorge; McMillan, R.A.; Batjes, Niels H.; Heuvelink, G.B.M.; Ribeiro, Eloi C.; Samuel-Rosa, Allesandro; Kempen, Bas; Leenaars, J.G.B.; Walsh, M.G.; Ruiperez Gonzalez, Maria G. (2014). "SoilGrids1km — global soil information based on automated mapping". PLOS ONE. 9 (8): e105992. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j5992H. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105992 . PMC 4149475 . PMID 25171179.
- 1 2 3 McBratney, A.B.; M.L. Mendonça Santos; B. Minasny (1 November 2003). "On digital soil mapping". Geoderma. 117 (1–2): 3–52. Bibcode:2003Geode.117....3M. doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00223-4.
- ↑ Ballabio, Cristiano; Panagos, Panos; Monatanarella, Luca (2016). "Mapping topsoil physical properties at European scale using the LUCAS database". Geoderma. 261: 110–123. Bibcode:2016Geode.261..110B. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.07.006 .
- ↑ Orgiazzi, A.; Ballabio, C.; Panagos, P.; Jones, A.; Fernández-Ugalde, O. (2018). "LUCAS Soil, the largest expandable soil dataset for Europe: a review". European Journal of Soil Science. 69 (1): 140–153. Bibcode:2018EuJSS..69..140O. doi: 10.1111/ejss.12499 . ISSN 1365-2389.
- ↑ "ISRIC - World Soil Information".
- ↑ Poggio, Laura; de Sousa, L.M.; Batjes, N.H.; Heuvelink, G.B.M; Kempen, B.; Ribeiro, E.; Rossiter, D. (June 2021). "SoilGrids 2.0: producing soil information for the globe with quantified spatial uncertainty". SOIL. 7 (1): 217–410. Bibcode:2021SOIL....7..217P. doi: 10.5194/soil-7-217-2021 .
- ↑ Batjes, N.H.; Calisto, L.; de Sousa, D.M. (October 2024). "Providing quality-assessed and standardised soil data to support global mapping and modelling (WoSIS snapshot 2023)". Earth System Science Data. 16 (10): 4735–4765. Bibcode:2024ESSD...16.4735B. doi: 10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024 .
