ALCR05996: Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Gillingham, UK (1989-1999)
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Description
Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Gillingham, Lower Rainham Road site, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999, with mapping scales ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000. Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys.
Use Cases
Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
Analyze historical soil characteristics and land quality for a specific UK site based on the available soil pit descriptions.
Integrate historical land classification boundaries with modern GIS layers for longitudinal land-use change studies.
Train models to predict land quality subgrades (e.g., 3a vs. 3b) using the detailed survey methodology and point data.
Strengths
Uses the established grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' publication.
Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b for more detailed analysis.
Contains original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey record.
Limitations
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
Source
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (UK), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.
Collection Method
Detailed site surveys conducted by government agricultural surveyors, with results compiled into paper maps and reports.
Time Range
1989 to 1999
Geography
Gillingham, Lower Rainham Road (Medway Towns), United Kingdom