Contents

Acknowledgements

Contributors

Part 1: Introduction

1 Rationale

Introduction

The need for new Guidelines

Readership and structure of the Guidelines

Rationale for land resource assessment

The trend to quantification

Approaches to land resource assessment

Opportunities offered by new technology

Towards a synthesis

References

2 Approaches to land resource survey

Introduction

The landscape continuum

Methods of survey

Selecting a survey method

References

3 Scale

Introduction

Concepts

Soil variation

Entities for field-based measurement

Moving within the scale hierarchy

Representing uncertainty

References

Part 2: Landscape context and remote sensing

4 Geology, geomorphology and regolith

Introduction

Some definitions for regolith

Earth data resources

Geological data

Landform data

Regolith data

Hydrology and regolith

Interpreting geological data for land resource survey

Linking geological data with soil and land attributes

Regolith attributes

References

5 Soil and landscape processes

Introduction

Soil and landscape evolution

Environmental change in ancient landscapes

Developing an understanding of landscape processes during survey

Benefits of understanding soil and landscape processes

Generalised conceptual models for Australian soil provinces

References

6 Digital terrain analysis

Introduction

Key concepts

Managing terrain data and generating DEMs

Terrain analysis methods

Use of terrain analysis in land survey

References

7 Hydrology

Introduction

Hydrological processes

Hydrological significance of soil features

Hydrological modelling

Soil information for hydrological modelling

References

8 Vegetation

Introduction

Applications and providers of information

National Vegetation Information System – NVIS

Principles and terms

Survey design and planning

Collection of vegetation attributes in the field

Data analysis – classification and mapping

Final outputs

How the National Vegetation Information System works

Future developments

References

9 Land use mapping

Introduction

Purpose

Key concepts in land use mapping

The Australian Land Use and Management Classification

Survey methodology

Data and metadata specifications

Land use mapping progress

Future directions

References

10 Remote sensing with air photography

Introduction

Air photographs

Using air photographs

Interpretation

Procedure

Relationship between photo interpretation units and map units

References

11 Remote sensing with imaging spectroscopy

Introduction

Fundamentals of imaging spectroscopy

Data acquisition

What do the data show?

Field measurements and validation

Data processing

Future prospects

References

12 Temporal analysis with remote sensing

Introduction

Selection and calibration of imagery for temporal analysis

Methods for temporal analysis

The future

Conclusion

References

13 Remote sensing with gamma-ray spectrometry

Gamma rays and data acquisition

Radioactive decay series and the gamma-ray spectrum

Radioelement characteristics of rock and soil

Applications in land resource survey

Limitations and future directions

References

Part 3: Survey mechanics

14 Survey specification and planning

Introduction

Background to the survey

Objectives and purpose of the survey

Scope and technical specifications

Resources

Project management

Constraints and assumptions

Outputs

Financial and legal considerations

Supporting documentation

References

15 Survey resources

Introduction

Human resources

Skills

Equipment

Information resources

References

16 Field operations

Introduction

Health and safety

Pre-survey activities

Georeferencing and navigation

Site observations

Soil observations

Photography of landscape, site and profile

Sampling for laboratory analysis

Hydrosols and Organosols

Post-fieldwork

References

17 Measuring soil

Introduction

Preliminaries

Conventional field measurement

Laboratory analysis

New systems for soil measurement

Minimum data sets for land resource survey in Australia

References

18 Qualitative survey

Introduction

Methods for qualitative survey

Sampling

Research phase

Mapping phase

Correlation

Validation

References

19 Classifying soil and land

Introduction

Concepts

Guidelines for local classification

Conclusions

References

Part 4: Digital soil mapping and pedometrics

20 Sampling using statistical methods

Introduction

Soil entity

Target and sampled population

Sampling using statistical methods

References

21 Statistical analysis

Introduction

Exploratory data analysis

Multivariate ordination and classification

Statistical modelling

Some remaining statistical issues

References

22 Predicting soil properties using pedotransfer functions and environmental correlation

Introduction

Pedotransfer functions in Australia

Principles

Types of pedotransfer functions

Predictors

Formulation and quality assurance

Choosing an existing function

Digital soil mapping

Soil inference systems

References

23 Geostatistics

Introduction

Theory

The experimental variogram

Modelling the variogram

Kriging: spatial estimation or prediction

Mapping

Sampling

Inspecting data

Software

References

24 Analysing uncertainty

Introduction

Components of uncertainty

Assessment of uncertainty

Uncertainty and sensitivity in prediction

Spatial uncertainty

Conclusions

References

25 Information management

Introduction

Identifying data to keep

Organising information

Access to data

References

26 Synthesis studies: making the most of existing data

Introduction

Define the new objective

Ascertain what data exist and their custodian

Collation and checking

Framework for data

Analysis

Ensuring surveys provide maximum benefit

The central place of synthesis studies

References

Colour plates

Part 5: Land evaluation

27 Conventional land evaluation

Introduction

Approach and purpose

Terminology and principles

Implementing an FAO-style assessment

Developments

Assessing the impacts of land management

References

28 Quantitative land evaluation

Introduction

Models

Model complexity and uncertainty

Input data for models

Sampling strategies

Modelling in a survey framework

Model verification

Conclusions

References

29 Intensive survey for agricultural management

Introduction

Sampling

Options for measurement

Mapping

Interpretation for optimal management of soil and crops

Irrigation design

Monitoring and adaptive management

Interpreting yield maps and managing zones

Investing in soil evaluation

Summary

References

30 Monitoring soil and land condition

Introduction

Rationale

Approach and purpose

The need for a whole-system view

Sampling

Measurement

Data management

Archiving

Change over time

Conclusions

References

31 Legal and planning framework

Background to legislation and policy affecting soil and land surveys

Evolution of environmental law

Decision-making using soil and land information

Resource management and the environment

Legislation on assessment of land resources

Legislation and policy on land use planning

Legislation and policy on land management

Legislation and policy on environment protection

Australian Standards

Legal obligations associated with land and soil survey and use of data

References

32 Communication

Introduction

Planning

Examples of communication planning

Guidelines for survey reporting

Digital communication products

Data presentation and visualisation

Communication activities

Conclusions

References

Index