PURPOSE OF driving directions MAPS
A map is not reality terrain, but a representation of structured knowledge on the distribution of soils in the landscape.
This is an approximation to the ground reality, an approximation that will be all the more precise, the higher the density of observations and the more detailed the scale.
The cartographic representation of the soils of a given territory constitutes a visualization of the intrinsic properties of the soils and the delimitation of their specific scope of distribution.
The division of a certain landscape into supposedly homogeneous areas constitutes a modeling exercise that materializes driving directions maps the distribution of soils in the landscape.
The cartographic expression of this information constitutes a remarkable effort of synthesis and concretion. A soil map must harmoniously integrate the scale of work, the amount of information to be represented, the quality of the definition and delimitation of units and the ability to interpret information users.
The soil maps therefore have the purpose of:
To synthesize in a single document the key properties of the soils by means of a set of codifications and legends that allow a quick interpretation of the results.
Describe the distribution of soil units, grouped under more or less generalized or detailed concepts, according to a suitable work scale.
In particular, it constitutes a graphic document of synthesis of the inventory and/or evaluation of units of soils, with the corresponding distribution above the territory.
To contribute to the diffusion of knowledge of the soil and the situation in the space of soils and their properties. Often, the soil map is the only document that allows a non-specialist to access information about soils.
Quick access to soil information. As a specific, visual, synthetic and two-dimensional representation of the soils of a given area, the soil map should provide access to information that allows for a rational exploitation of the data of the soils represented.