6.3 Updating and using the BCI soil map

There is a PDF version of the 2007 soil map in STRI and Potsdam and on-line.  Potsdam and STRI also hold a GIS BCI soil map master, which can be augmented or amended.  Changes should be made under the coordination of the STRI Webmaster in the form of new, clearly labeled and dated covers.  There should be separate covers for new data, for changes in the definitions of soil mapping units, and for alterations to soil boundaries.  Geo-referenced soils data can be entered as new covers, even if not mainly intended for soil mapping, as they will amplify the characterisation of BCI soils.

It is technically feasible to print the whole or parts of the 2007 map at any scale.  However, our augering was at an overall density sufficient for semi-detailed mapping.  International guidelines (FAO, 1979; Legros, 2006) indicate that the largest map scale supportable by our data is 1:15 000 for most of the island.  Printing at 1:10 000 is justifiable for the more intensively augered areas such as the 50 ha LTER plot and Lutz Creek catchment (see 7.1 and 7.2).  If more detail on soil spatial distribution is required for other areas, it is necessary to supplement the data and refine the map.

6.2 Spatial variability of BCI soil classes

7. Soils of Specific Research Areas