Using unmanned aerial vehicles and geographic information systems for mapping the soil cover of the territory

Abstract

The article presents the results of soil mapping of the territory using unmanned aerial vehicles and geographic information systems. Data from a geomorphological study of the site are provided. Using leveling survey and SRTM survey data in the QGIS geographic information environment, a digital relief map of the territory with a cross-section height of 1 meter was created. It was found that the height range varies from 53.72 to 61.46 meters above sea level. Data from a geobotanical survey of the territory, carried out with an adjustment for the accuracy of identifying the boundaries of plant associations using aerial photography from a UAV, are presented. 30 plant associations were identified. A study of the morphological and physicochemical properties of soils in the mapped area was carried out. A digital geobotanical and soil map was created in the QGIS geographic information environment. It was revealed that the soil cover is represented by sod-podzolic medium-humus soils of heavy texture with a clear differentiation of the soil profile by the content of the silt fraction. The soils have a strongly acidic reaction of the environment (pHKCl 4.36). The degree of acidity decreases with depth. The value of hydrolytic acidity, depending on the horizon, varies within 5.49-5.84 mmol (eq)/100 g, reaching maximum values in the podzolic horizon. Differentiation of the values of the cation exchange capacity and the degree of saturation of the bases along the profile was revealed, the minimum values are characteristic of the eluvial horizon.

Keywords

• gis
• uav
• qgis
• soil mapping
• geobotanical survey
• digital maps