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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95599
Title: ENHANCING SOIL MAPS USING DIGITAL TERRAIN ANALYSIS

Author
item James, David
item Moorman, Thomas

Submitted to: Environmental Systems Research Institute Users Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent research has shown that soil quality variables are linked to complex processes in a soil landscape and can be related to geomorphic features. This paper describes the use of digital terrain data in a model developed to predict soil quality variables associated with geomorphic features. A digital elevation model (DEM) was developed using large-scale aerial photography and phase-level global positioning system (GPS)-based control points as inputs. Topographic indices and landscape features were derived from the DEM and used in conjunction with soil sample data to evaluate soil resources. The resulting information is used to predict soil quality variables that are not available in existing soil surveys.