AAAS 2008

Date

01/Jun/2008
 

Place

Boston, MA
United States

Link

Soil Protection for Sustainable Well-Being Session, AAAS, Boston (JRC SOIL)

A special session on 'Soil Protection for Sustainable Well-Being' at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) symposium in Boston is focusing on methodologies to assess the quality of soil and the need for protective measures to ensure the sustainable use of this key natural resource to support the well-being of people, particularly in developing countries. The session is organised by Dr Luca Montanarella, Head of the SOIL Action of EU-JRC in Italy.

Soil resources are limited on a global scale. Sustainable management of these limited resources requires implementation of innovative technologies based on in-depth knowledge of soil functioning and its chemical and physical properties. The high spatial variability of soil properties requires the integration of detailed knowledge of soil properties with geographic information system and spatial analysis tools.

This session covers the use of novel and innovative developments in the field of digital soil mapping to assess world soil resources and the implications for soil protection policies at global, regional, and national scales.

Digital soil mapping involves the creation of a spatial soil information system using field and laboratory observation methods coupled with quantitative spatial prediction techniques. Digital soil mapping follows the advancement in soil and environmental observations using proximal and remote sensing. It also utilises contemporary mathematical and statistical techniques that allow better prediction of soil properties in areas with little or no information as well as indicating the uncertainty of such predictions.

Digital soil mapping can be thought of as a means for modernising and systematising traditional soil survey. Digital soil mapping allows for a more accurate and efficient prediction of soil properties through optimal sampling strategies, rapid analysis of soil properties, rapid acquisition of environmental variables over large extent.

Currently a global consortium has been formed to generate a global soil map with a resolution of 90 m × 90 m using this new technology.

More Information - Links


Figure captions

Cultivated soil allows the production of crops that are essential for human existence (photo by Erika Micheli).
Soil properties can vary enormously. Soil characteristics can change across the landscape and also with depth. The soil under your feet will be quite different from that just 40 cm deeper. The above picture shows the vertical changes in a soil profile which has developed on the flood plain of a river valley.. The dark band below the surface is rich in organic matter while the pale zone below is due to the accumulation of lime (calcium carbonate) by water percolating through the soil. Note the presence of gravels deposited by the river at the base of the profile (photo by Erika Micheli).
General scheme behind DSM. From point observations to policies (Florence Carre).
The soil information system is composed of geo-referenced soil observations and environmental variables, in this case, 25m raster datasets derived from a digital terrain model and surface cover classes from satellite images (Florence Carre).
The outputs of DSM can be used for environmental modelling and the uncertainties produced can be considered as a representation of the soil mappers' confidence in the product (Florence Carre).