A 1:25,000,000 scale map of world soil resources was completed in 1990, generalized from the FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World. The map was updated in 1998 to incorporate new soil data and adopt the World Reference Base for Soil Resources classification. It was prepared under the FAO/UNESCO and SOTER Programme.
Use Cases
- Analyze soil unit boundaries matched with major landforms for terrain-soil correlation.
- Study the conversion of FAO legend soil classifications into WRB classification for nomenclature standardization.
- Model soil distribution using geospatial data in a Flat Polar Quartic projection for global mapping.
- Integrate additional soil data from new or revised soil map sources for regional soil inventory updates.
Strengths
- Map provides a global coverage of soil resources.
- Data incorporates updates from the SOTER Programme and revised soil map sources.
- Classification uses the standardized World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).
Limitations
- Original data source is from 1990-1998, potentially lacking recent soil changes.
- Specific column names, row counts, and file formats are unknown.
- The map is a generalized product at a 1:25 million scale, limiting local detail.
Provenance
- Source
- FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World, updated under the SOTER Programme.
- Collection Method
- Generalization and updating from original 1:5,000,000 scale map, incorporating new data and legend conversion.
- Time Range
- 1990 (original), 1998 (updated version).
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Global.