Digital elevation models to improve soil mapping in mountainous areas: Case study in Colombia

Abstract

The demand for more detailed soil and relief information is steadily increasing. However, many countries have only general soil maps at 1:100,000 scale that do not satisfy the requirements needed for applications. This paper shows how geomorphometric analysis from digital elevation models (DEM) can contribute to improve information detail and accuracy and, thus, strengthen soil survey. The study was carried out in a mountainous area of Colombia where various geomorphometric parameters were calculated and a classifi cation of landforms was created. The results can be useful to supplement existing soil studies and meet the information requirements of environmental spatial models, agriculture development, hydrology, land use and conservation.