Highfields Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites. The surveys were conducted in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and use the current grading methodology. Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land quality based on the grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Map land grade subdivisions, including Grade 3a and 3b, based on the scanned original maps.
• Analyze soil characteristics based on unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
• Compare land classification across different survey sites mapped at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Strengths

• Survey data uses the current grading methodology as described in 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales'.
• Individual sites have been mapped at varying scales and levels of detail, typically at 1:10,000.
• Data includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Collection Method

Site surveys conducted in detail, with scanned original paper maps and reports.

Time Range

1989-1999

Geography

England and Wales (likely, based on survey methodology reference)