Creation of a Multiscale Series of Soil-Landscape Maps in GIS

A multiscale series of soil-landscape maps is regarded as a system of soil-landscape maps of all scales, which are adjusted in relation to geographical base and thematic content. Legends of the maps are based on a hierarchical soil-landscape classification. The methodological basis for the creation of the multiscale series of maps is the concept of “natural landscape” defined using the systems approach. Soil-landscape maps are maps of the vertical structure of landscapes and maps of properties of their elements – rocks, air, water, organisms, and soils. Technology for creating the multiscale series of maps in GIS environment includes bringing the primary maps to a basis coordinate system; conversion of paper map legends to digital form; organization of “geoinformational light tables”; manual creation of a multiscale series of integral vector layers containing adjusted and systematized information on natural landscapes; automatic derivation of the soil-landscape maps from these layers. The European part of Russia was selected as a pilot site for the development of the technology.