Creating a modern concept for a large-scale digital soil map and updating the existing soil map (MULD2)

Project goals

The existing large-scale Estonian soil map is unique and widely used. It has a high value but needs to be partially updated in terms of soil unit distribution, spatial accuracy, topology, as well as the related database. The main goal of the project is to develop a road map and modern methodological approach for modernizing the soil map. Classical soil field exploration and classification, laboratory analysis, remote sensing and machine learning methods and other novel technologies are combined to carry out the work. Previous datasets are used to develop the methodology, update and validate the map layers and additional fieldwork is carried out.

Activities

In order to achieve the objective, the most important activities are: 

• the existing vector map database is updated and new parameters are added;
• a matrix of soil change risks and a map layer reflecting probability for changes in soil will be developed, which will make it possible to distinguish between areas and data sets that need to be updated as a matter of priority;
• to develop and validate a method for specifying the distribution of peat soils and eroded soils;
• to add new soil classes missing in current vector map to cover distribution and attribute data in urban, and mining areas and to represent sealed soils.

Expected results

• Soil Map is machine-readable.
• Existing Soil Map is repaired by removing technical or other mistakes.
• Updated soil types where changes have occurred (with focus on eroded-deluvial soil complexes and organic soils)
• Existing Soil Map is updated in areas where there was no soil information (areas around and inside citys, mining areas etc).
• Development of a new sustainable soil data information system (raster-based soil map).