UNIT 1

SOIL SURVEY PRINCIPLES

& ORGANIZATION
Let's have a Pre-test
Multiple choice
1. The process of classifying soil types and other soil
properties in a given area and geo-encoding such
information.

a. Aerial Photography
b. Soil Survey
c. Field Survey
d. Grid Survey
2. Choose one that is not belong to the three main strategies
or methods of soil survey?
a. Pre-field preparations
b. Mapping operation
c. Field surveys
d. Post-field operations

3. It is one of the methods used in field survey.

a. Free Survey
b. Soil Survey
c. Field Survey
d. Post-field operations
4. These include to the collation and study of existing data of the area
in Pre-field Preparations.
a. Design and planning of field survey
b. Identification of possible development hazards
c. Leading to the production of a soil map .
d. The unit of mapping is usually the soil series .

5. What are the things to do in Post-field Operation, except

to?
a. Aerial photo interpretation is revised in the light of field observations.
b. The soil samples collected are analysed.
c. The survey report is written.
d. Observations are made at regular intervals along pre-determined
traverses in the survey area.
ENUMERATION
1. Write the three Strategies in Soil Survey.

2. What are the two methods in Field Survey.

Essay
Write 5 -10 sentences about soil survey.
Objectives
To know what is soil survey.
To know the strategies in conducting soil survey.

Identify the uses of different device in conducting soil

survey.
Definition
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. It is the study of the natural
environment with special reference to the soil
resources, providing information on the spatial
distribution of major soil types, their
properties, potentials and responses to
management.
It applies the principles of soil
science, and draws heavily from
geomorphology, theories of soil
formation, physical geography,
and analysis of vegetation and
land use patterns.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-
and-biological-sciences/soil-survey
Primary data for the soil survey are acquired
by field sampling and by remote sensing.
Remote sensing principally uses aerial
photography but LiDAR and other digital
techniques steadily gaining in popularity.
In the past, a soil scientist would take hard-
copies of aerial photography, topo-sheets,
and mapping keys into the field with them.
 Aerial photography is one the earliest forms of remote sensing and is
still one of the most widely used and cost effective methods of remote
sensing.
LiDAR — Light Detection and Ranging — is a remote sensing method used to
examine the surface of the Earth.
Today, a growing number of soil scientists
bring a ruggedized tablet computer and GPS
into the field with them. The tablet may be
loaded with digital aerial photos, LiDAR,
topography, soil geo-data-bases, mapping
keys, and more.
Strategies in Soil
Survey

Pre-field preparations
Field survey
Post-field operations
Pre-field
Preparations

These include, collation and study of existing data of

the area i.e. maps, reports, topo-sheets and analytical
data, general field reconnaissance, aerial photo
assemblage and interpretation, and design and
planning of field survey.
Maps Design and Planning of
Field Survey

https://www.fao.org/fishery/docs/CDrom/FAO
_Training/FAO_Training/General/x6706e/x670
6e02.htm

Aerial photo assemblage

Pre-field and Interpretation

http://snpa.org/stories/make-a-google-map-
Preparations
with-layers-you-can-turn-on-and-off,1759819

Topo-sheets and General field

Report
Analytical data Reconnaissance

FLIGHTS_INTO_THE_PAST_Aerial_p
https://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/surve Detailed-reconnaissance-soil-survey- hotography_photo_interpretation_an
ys/mb/mb12/index.html in-Ireland_fig1_234062500 d_mapping_for_archaeology
Field Survey
Activities include, soil mapping operation and land
evaluation operation .
 The soil
mapping operation involves identification and classification of the soil types
present in the area, and
surveying their distribution, leading to the production of a soil map .

The land evaluation operation

includes field activities for assessing the potentials of the various soils for a
range of alternative types of
land use, and the identification of possible development hazards (Young,
1973a) .

 Two Methods of
FREE field survey GRID
SURVEY SURVEY

In the Free Survey ,the In Grid Survey, observations

surveyor uses his judgment of the
objectives of the survey and all the
available aerial photos and ground
evidence to locate profile pits of the most
useful and representative sites . The
number of the profile
pits depends on the requirements of the
survey and the complexity of the soil
pattern . The free survey
is only feasible in “open” areas, in grass or
arable regions.
are made at
regular intervals along pre-
determined traverses in the
survey area. This method is
especially useful for
large scale high intensity
detailed surveys and intensive
surveys.

Post Field Operations

Aerial photo interpretation is revised in the light of field
observations. The soil samples collected are analysed.
The data are analysed. The survey report is written.
 CHRISTINE LOZADA

Thank you!