Lab Exercise-03

Objectives: To study of base maps used for soil survey, village or cadastral maps, topographic
maps, aerial photographs and satellite imagery.
Base map: It is fundamental requirement for all mapping activity. It is important for surveyor to
delineate soil boundaries correctly and conveniently. Irrespective of type of soil survey, a
fundamental requirement of all mapping activities is a suitable base map. The base map should
be complete in details of features and accurate in their in location to enable the surveyor to
delineate soil boundaries more correctly and conveniently. Based on the intensity of mapping,
following base maps are used.
Legend: It is list of defined mapping units with their symbols (colour, number or letter).
CADASTRAL MAPS:
 It is of scale 1:2640(24”:1 mile) to 1: 7920(8”: 1 mile) or 1:15,840(4”:1 mile) in plain
areas and 1: 1200 ( 52.8” : 1mile) in hilly areas for detailed mapping.
 Cadastral maps shows field boundaries and field or revenue survey number; however
they lack the topographical features (contours, elevations).
 Advantage in using cadastral map is that soil survey interpretation can be communicated
to individual farmers. Cadastral map can be obtained from VAO. It is also called as
village map.
 Department of Survey and Land records shows location of individual holding, ponds,
Roads and streams. Physiographic features and contour lines are not available.
 Map scale is 24” = 1 mile to 8” = 1 mile (or) 4” = 1 mile in plain areas and 52.8” = 1 mile
in hilly areas.
Observation of Cadastral Map
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP
 Topographical maps are published in scale of 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:250,000. These
maps show not only physical features but also contain topographical details in the form of
contours and elevation above mean sea level.
 These maps have reliable planimetric accuracy facilitating measurement of distances and
easy preparation of soil maps. In India it is prepared and published by Survey of India,
Dehradun.
 Scale of Map: 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:250000. This map shows roads, tracks, streams,
water source along with contour lines and physiographic features.
Observation of Topographical Map
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH
 Aerial photographs are taken from cameras fitted in an aircraft and fly over the terrain at
a predetermined height depending upon the scale of aerial photograph and focal length of
camera Aerial photographs gives bird’s eye view of large areas.
 Aerial photographs ranging in the scale from 1:8000 to 1: 60,000 are used in different
types of soil survey.
 Conventional panchromatic (black and white) photography, color photography, and
infrared photography used as base maps for the soil survey. They provide important clues
about kinds of soil from the shape and colour of the surface and the vegetation.
 Aerial photographs using spectral bands not visible to the eye, such as color infrared,
enable subtle differences in plant communities to be observed Photographs of land
surface taken from air craft - in vertical angle.
 Viewed stereoscopically three dimensional views. Landforms, vegetation, land use, roads
and tracks can be directly seen. Soil properties, geology and other land properties require
indirect interpretation. Scale of map (1:10,000 to 1:50,000).
Observation of Aerial Photography

SATELLITE IMAGERIES
 It is obtained through remote sensing technique. Sensing devices located at distance
captures the earth features.
 The earth features so captured are available in the form of False color composite (FCC)
for visual interpretation and in computer compatible disc (CCD) which is amenable for
changes by computer through a process called digital image processing.
  Satellite imageries are available in different scale like 1:10,000, 1: 25000, 1: 50000,
1:250,000, 1:1000, 000.
 Final scale preparation with help of satellite imageries is supported by ground truth
check.
Observation of Satellite Imagery
Earth resources satellite or Landsat Imagery: Gives synoptic view of large areas (185 x 185
km) on one image.