27361 - Geopedology Information Systems

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has acquired the methodological procedures, operated by suitable geographic information system to identify the landscape units, define the soil delineations, to characterize the different types of soils, describe the profiles and classify them. In particular, the student is able to classify the soils according to the characteristics pedogenic, chemical-physical and international taxonomies, draw maps of soils through the use of remote sensing tools, the importance of field and the application of GIS

Course contents

Prerequisites
The student who accesses this teaching is in possession of a good preparation in the fundamentals of chemistry and biochemistry of the soil, as well as have the basics of soil science. Knowing also the main factors that affect the ecosystem with particular reference to climate characters, the biotic components and processes of humification and mineralization of the organic component, the lithology and geomorphological forms supported by elements of cartography, aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing. These prerequisites are considered to have been provided by the Bachelor of classes L-21, L-25 and L-32 where it is believed to be imparted teachings in the areas of agricultural chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and Geopedology. The student knows finally the English language as part of the teaching materials used during the activities of the computer lab and exercise comes in the original in that language.

 

 

Theoretical content of the teaching unit (total 36 hours)
1. Introduction. Evolution and transformation of the ecosystem - The meaning of ecosystem, environment, territory and landscape - Action Man - conditioning the soil.
2. Formation and evolution of the soil. Factors of soil formation - The Soil profile - Horizons diagnostic or surface epipedon - The significance of pedogenic evolution - Horizons diagnostic depth or endopedon - paleosols and buried soils.
3. Diagnostic characteristics of the horizons of the profile. The board of soil survey - data stagzione - Description of the organic horizons - Color - Structure - Figure pedogenic - lower limit.
4. Physical and chemical characteristics of the horizons of the profile. Expeditious diagnosis - Methods of sampling and preparation of soil samples - Analysis of routine laboratory - Reading and interpretation of soil cards.
5. Soil classification according to international taxonomies. Key of Soil Taxonomy, USDA - Word Reference Base for Soil Resource, FAO.
6. Landscape units, the delineation soil and the soil map. The significance of landscape units - Detecting soil expeditious and timely - Organization of a soil map - Reading soil maps and their report.
7. The cognitive framework of international and national soil. The structures that operate internationally for the study, the knowledge and dissemination of the soil resource - The services of national and regional soil - The availability of soil information in the network.

8 . Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. Architecture of GIS - Modelling and characterization of geographic features - Spatial analysis of data.
9. Introduction to Open Source software Quantum GIS (QGIS). Startup, shutdown and graphical interface of QGIS - Viewing Data - Exploring Data and mapping - Projects.
10. QGIS Working with vector data and raster data. ESRI Shapefile - Properties of vector layers - Edit - vector analysis - Plugins (Tools) - Load raster - Properties of raster layer - Raster Calculator - Raster Analysis - GDAL Tools Plugin.

Acquired skills into teaching theoretical
As part of the major theme of the management and conservation of primary resources to acquire the ability to classify according to the international taxonomies and evaluate the quality of the soil and its interface with air, water, rock and plant, is a priority in the formation of an expert in the design and management of natural and manmade ecosystems.
The acquisition of the theoretical basis related to Geographic Information Systems puts in a position to consciously address the laboratory work with QGIS specific software usage and usefulness of such an application in the construction of soil mapping and related applications.

 

 

Contents of the didactic laboratory (24 hours total) and skills acquired
A. Acquisition of tools to perform the soil survey of the field. Surveys of vegetation habitats and forestry - Relief soil expeditious and timely - Reading the soil profile.
B. Sampling mode. Disturbed and undisturbed samples - Storage and Preparation for laboratory analysis.
C. QGIS Composer of prints. Open a new print template - Add a map - Add other items to the composer - Creation of output file - Saving and loading a print layout.
D. QGIS Plugin Georeferencing. General - Add GCP points - Set up and run a transformation - transformation algorithms and methods of sampling - GRASS GIS Integration: load raster and vector layers - location and mapset - Import data - The instrument Region - Working with the modules.
E. Three-dimensional morphological modeling. From the contours to 3D models - Interpolation based on the vertices of a vector - Plugin geomorphological analysis.
F. Construction of the soil map. Thematic data layers - Construction of the map of the landscape unit - Construction of the legend of the soil - Thematic cartography derived: land capability.
G. Creation of maps of the landscape units using QGIS

 

 

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures notes and selected chapters from:

- Amatucci M., Gherardi M., Lorito S., Vianello G. (2005) “Sistemi informativi Geografici”, Progetto MIUR Collana “Diffusione e sperimentazione della Cartografia, del telerilevamento e dei sistemi informativi geografici, come tecnologie didattiche applicate allo studio del territorio e dell'ambiente”, LAC, Firenze.

- IUSS, Working Group WRB, 2007. World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2006, first update 2007. World Soil Resources Reports  No. 103, FAO, Rome.

- Rasio R., Vianello G. (1995) “Classificazione e cartografia del suolo”, CLUEB Bologna [Capitoli 2-3].

- Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and Soil Survey Staff. 2012. Field book for describing and sampling soils, Version 3.0. Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.

- Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 11th ed. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.

- Vianello G. et al. (2009) “Radici della Terra: ecologia e geopedologia”, Cappelli Ed. Bologna [Capitoli 11-12-13].

Teaching methods

teaching Methods
The course makes use of GIS laboratories and soil survey related to each other. The GIS laboratory for the construction of maps of the landscape units, databases construction of soil characteristics and physico-chemical profiles, the construction of the soil map and its legend. The laboratory of soil survey for the reading of a soil profile defined by standard procedures at the international level.

Assessment methods

Tests are proposed in the pipeline in the form of questionnaires and field tests. The exam is oral final on theoretical and applied aspects addressed during the course. The evaluation of thirty, takes into account cultural and scientific expertise dellas is shown during testing in the pipeline that in the solution of the issues discussed during the assessment test.

Teaching tools

Tools for Teaching

During the lectures and tutorials are provided during the lecture notes, cards, pictures, files and bibliographic material. In addition there are a few websites: www.dipsa.unibo.it / CATGIS - www.dipsa.unibo.it / Aposa - www.apat.it / soil the root of life - www.soilmaps.it - gias.regione emilia -romagna.it/suoli ..

Office hours

See the website of Gilmo Vianello

See the website of Massimo Gherardi