Thematic Mapper and Digital Elevation Modeling of Soil Characteristics in Hilly Terrain

Transformed thematic mapper (TM) data and topographic information from a digital elevation model (DEM) were combined to determine soil characteristics of hilly terrain in southwestern Wisconsin. Map units from a rasterized soil map were compared with a combination of spectral classification obtained from TM, and DEM derived elevation and slope data. Five soil classes were differentiated. Three were silt loams, varying in landscape position and drainage characteristics. The fourth was comprised mainly of well‐drained loamy soils, while the fifth was a Histosol. These results suggest that a general identification of soils is possible by this method. There was 72% agreement between the soil map and the classification used in the study. Simple addition was found to be accurate and efficient when combining TM and DEM data. The importance of topographic data in the differentiation of hilly soils was demonstrated.