A SYSTEM FOR DESIGNATING MAP-UNITS ON ENGINEERING SOIL-MAPS

A PROPOSED METHOD IS DESCRIBED FOR DESIGNATING MAP-UNITS OR DESIGNATIONS ON ENGINEERING SOIL MAPS. THE MAPPING SYSTEM PROPOSED WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: (1) ORIGIN OF PARENT FORMATION, (2) TYPE OF PARENT FORMATION, (3) LANDFORM (FOR TRANSPORTED MATERIALS ONLY), (4) EXISTENCE OF PROFILE CONTRAST, (5) TEXTURE OF IMPORTANT HORIZONS, (6) GENERAL DRAINAGE CONDITIONS, (7) UNDERLYING MATERIALS (WHERE IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO CONSTRUCTION), AND (8) GENERAL ENGINEERING PROBLEMS. THE MAPPING SYSTEM DESCRIBED ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT THE SOIL-INFORMATION FACTORS INTO A LOGICAL SYSTEM OF MAP-UNITS. THE TECHNIQUES OF AIR PHOTO INTERPRETATION ARE USED. THE METHOD IS BASED UPON HUMID- TEMPERATURE TO HUMID-COOL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. IT IS OF PARTICULAR BENEFIT WHEN THE SOIL-MAP IS SUPPLEMENTED BY A COMPANION DESCRIPTIVE BULLETIN WHICH, FOR EACH AREA, WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION NOT PRESENTED BY THE MAP-UNIT. THE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED BRIEFLY.