The field of digital soil mapping has bridged the classic theories of soil science into the modern computing age to produce high resolution predictive soil maps. This body of work utilizes classic soil factorial theory (soil = f[climate, organisms, relief (topography), parent material, time] + ɛ, or ‘clorpt’). The clorpt framework has been approximated using various environmental spatial data layers to predict soil types and properties between field observations, which are expensive and time consuming. We are using these mapping techniques, coupled with an expanding availability of field observations, to create a variety of soil property, soil classification, and land potential classifications across the western US. By developing a workflow that incorporates existing observations and new digital soil mapping techniques, we have been able to map soil themes at a broad scales to facilitate informed land management decisions.
Product: Soil property and class maps
100-meter (328’) resolution soil property and class maps of the lower 48 US states
Product: A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework
A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups
Product: 30m Resolution soil maps for CO River Basin
A broader set of 30-meter soil property maps now available for the Upper Colorado River Basin
Background & Importance
In the age of big data and complex modeling in science, quantitatively sound, high resolution soil maps are more important than ever. Soils play an important role as an interface in mediating water and nutrient movement in ecosystems that can vary greatly across landscapes. This spatial variation in soils can mean that different areas may be more or less resilient to human disturbance and climate change while still maintaining ecosystem services. Soils are at the heart of the ‘potential’ of an area to produce the foundational energy of photosynthetic vegetative production, maintain surface water supply and quality, and keep particulates and dust from threatening air quality. Understanding how soils of differing potential and vulnerability are distributed through a landscape with maps can help a multitude of researchers, land owners/managers, and policy makers to make informed decisions.
General Methods
Digital soil mapping employs a vast set of environmental mapping layers with exhaustive spatial extent to help predict soil types and properties between field observations of soils. Locations where soil field observations exist are related to the environmental layers (topography, satellite imagery, climate, geology, and other remotely sensed products) with machine learning or artificial intelligence algorithms to predict soil type or properties in locations that scientists haven’t visited, but that are similar in environmental condition to places where soils have been sampled. This process is repeatable, easily updated, and provides robust measures of map accuracy and prediction uncertainty at every pixel.
Important Results
Recent developments include 1) 100-meter (328’) resolution soil property and class maps of the lower 48 US states, 2) POLARIS soil property maps at 30-meter resolution for the lower 48 states, and 3) a broader set of 30-meter soil property maps now available for the Upper Colorado River Basin (see links above). Additional studies lead by the USGS have applied DSM tools and products to assess oil and gas well-pad reclamation status and Colorado River salinity management. These products are also being used in conjunction with vegetation data, expert feedback, available state-and-transitions models, and laboratory data to create a new site potential classification system.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau
Southwest Energy Development and Drought (SWEDD)
- Overview
The field of digital soil mapping has bridged the classic theories of soil science into the modern computing age to produce high resolution predictive soil maps. This body of work utilizes classic soil factorial theory (soil = f[climate, organisms, relief (topography), parent material, time] + ɛ, or ‘clorpt’). The clorpt framework has been approximated using various environmental spatial data layers to predict soil types and properties between field observations, which are expensive and time consuming. We are using these mapping techniques, coupled with an expanding availability of field observations, to create a variety of soil property, soil classification, and land potential classifications across the western US. By developing a workflow that incorporates existing observations and new digital soil mapping techniques, we have been able to map soil themes at a broad scales to facilitate informed land management decisions.
Product: Soil property and class maps100-meter (328’) resolution soil property and class maps of the lower 48 US states
Product: A quantitative soil-geomorphic frameworkA quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups
Product: 30m Resolution soil maps for CO River BasinA broader set of 30-meter soil property maps now available for the Upper Colorado River Basin
Background & Importance
In the age of big data and complex modeling in science, quantitatively sound, high resolution soil maps are more important than ever. Soils play an important role as an interface in mediating water and nutrient movement in ecosystems that can vary greatly across landscapes. This spatial variation in soils can mean that different areas may be more or less resilient to human disturbance and climate change while still maintaining ecosystem services. Soils are at the heart of the ‘potential’ of an area to produce the foundational energy of photosynthetic vegetative production, maintain surface water supply and quality, and keep particulates and dust from threatening air quality. Understanding how soils of differing potential and vulnerability are distributed through a landscape with maps can help a multitude of researchers, land owners/managers, and policy makers to make informed decisions.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.New 30-meter map of surface fine sand content of soils in the San Rafael Desert of Utah (left). Soils in this area are high in fine sand content making them more susceptible to wind erosion impacts as shown at right. General Methods
Digital soil mapping employs a vast set of environmental mapping layers with exhaustive spatial extent to help predict soil types and properties between field observations of soils. Locations where soil field observations exist are related to the environmental layers (topography, satellite imagery, climate, geology, and other remotely sensed products) with machine learning or artificial intelligence algorithms to predict soil type or properties in locations that scientists haven’t visited, but that are similar in environmental condition to places where soils have been sampled. This process is repeatable, easily updated, and provides robust measures of map accuracy and prediction uncertainty at every pixel.
Important Results
Recent developments include 1) 100-meter (328’) resolution soil property and class maps of the lower 48 US states, 2) POLARIS soil property maps at 30-meter resolution for the lower 48 states, and 3) a broader set of 30-meter soil property maps now available for the Upper Colorado River Basin (see links above). Additional studies lead by the USGS have applied DSM tools and products to assess oil and gas well-pad reclamation status and Colorado River salinity management. These products are also being used in conjunction with vegetation data, expert feedback, available state-and-transitions models, and laboratory data to create a new site potential classification system.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau
Wind erosion of soils and dust emissions are a significant resource management challenge on the Colorado Plateau. Loss of topsoil and associated aeolian sediment (wind-driven sediment) movement can lead to reduced soil fertility as well as abrasion and burial of vegetation. Dust in the atmosphere poses a threat to human health, visual resources, and regional water supplies (due to interactions...Southwest Energy Development and Drought (SWEDD)
Deserts of the southwestern US are replete with oil and gas deposits as well as sites for solar, wind, and geothermal energy production. In the past, many of these resources have been too expensive to develop, but increased demand and new technologies have led to an increase in exploration and development. However, desert ecosystems generally have low resilience to disturbance. More frequent... - Data
- Publications
- Partners