Soil map of Brazil is updated

Embrapa Soils (Rio de Janeiro-RJ) updated the soil map of Brazil, scale 1:5.000.000, in the Embrapa Spatial Data Infrastructure (GeoInfo). "Corrections were made to the attribute table by ArcGis", says the Company's analyst, Ricardo Dart.

The map was updated in vector format, which can be manipulated in Geographic Information Systems. These adjustments and organization in the attribute table will be important for users on the Brazilian National Soil Program Platform (PronaSolos). “This environment, under development, will make it possible to carry out searches, filters or reclassify the map by a certain attribute. Thanks to PronaSolos, we are updating some maps” concludes Dart.

The updated map is available here. 

The map and its functions

The Soil Map of Brazil identifies and maps the different types of soil found in Brazil. It brings together information and knowledge produced over almost 60 years of soil science in Brazil, a reflection of the advanced stage of technical-scientific knowledge of tropical soils by the Brazilian scientific community. For its preparation, exploratory soil surveys produced by the RadamBrasil Project throughout the 1970s and 1980s were used, complemented by other more detailed studies of soils produced mainly by Embrapa and IBGE.

Specifically for territorial planning, even without providing information for local use, the map contains strategic information for understanding and evaluating the dynamics of the national landscape, regional and state zoning and planning, in addition to sectoral plans, such as the use and conservation of water resources, corridors development, road systems and others.