home news forum careers events suppliers solutions markets expos directories catalogs resources advertise contacts
 
Solution Page

Solutions
Solutions sources
Topics A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
  Species
 

­­Detailed digital soil maps cover Australia


Western Australia
December 10, 2014

For the first time in 50 years, new soil maps that cover the whole nation have been produced and are available online.

The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia builds on a vast range of field samples, observations and mapping data gathered from land surveys and assessments over the past five decades.

The Department of Agriculture and Food has been a key contributor to the Grid, a national initiative supported by Terrestrial Ecosystem Resource Network, led by the CSIRO in partnership with the University of Sydney, Geoscience Australia and the State and Territory governments.

The project has generated a detailed digital grid of the whole country.

Each pixel in the Grid contains data about soil properties, like carbon and soil acidity, and key landscape features.

The Grid provides reliable estimates and new digital technology for new datasets.  

Department research officers Karen Holmes and Ted Griffin (pictured) worked on the WA component of the project, using technology from the University of Sydney, to create a clear interpretation of soil types and properties across the State.

“What we are doing is essentially taking existing soil maps and marrying them with other kinds of data to develop new soil maps that supply soil information for every single place in Australia, mapped out as pixels in a grid,” Dr Holmes said.

“In doing so, we are tapping into on-ground surveys, conventional soil maps and the complex understanding of soils and landscapes held in soil surveyors’ heads, as well as satellite imagery. 

“These new techniques have brought independent sources of information together to generate maps that are suitable for a wider variety of uses than conventional soil maps alone.”

DAFWA’s involvement in the project was critical, drawing on the State’s well-designed and maintained soil map and soil property database.

“WA’s soil information covers more than a third of the continent,” Dr Holmes said.

“The new maps we’ve made are being merged with others as part of the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia, which will be like a ‘living map’ that can be continually updated as information, knowledge and technology evolves.”

Dr Holmes said the collaborative networks formed and sharing knowledge during the three year project were invaluable.

“The project involved substantial collaboration between parties to share data and develop new methods,” she said.

The products in the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia are available for free from csiro.au/soil-and-landscape-grid



More solutions from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: December 10, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Copyright @ 1992-2024 SeedQuest - All rights reserved