ABSTRACT:
Soils information for the soils series (SCS-5) and the soil mapping unit (SCS-6) were provided by SCS and loaded into a relational database management system (DBMS). The physical design of a database involves the evaluation of implementation alternatives using the data model of the DBMS. This database, which is part of a geographic information system (GIS), will provide information for soil erosion and soil management studies, and land appraisal for tax assessment. The results of the conceptual design of a soil database were mapped to the relational data model. The resulting database is free from update anomalies (i.e., each elementary fact can be updated independently of other elementary facts), while preserving all dependencies among attributes. To facilitate data retrieval, pre-defined queries were developed to retrieve data based on various combinations of attributes. The results of queries can be presented as formatted reports, and linked to the cartographic database of the GIS.
Footnotes
R. Norberto Fernandez is a resource information manager, Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; Marek Rusinkiewicz is an associate professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004; Lucia Morais du Silva is a graduate student, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University; and Chris J. Johansen is director, Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Contribution from the Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ. Agric. Stn., Journal paper no. 12903. This research was funded by NASA Grant NAGW-1472. We thank SCS, Indianapolis Office, for providing digital soil data used in this work. Ms. Morais da Silva acknowledges financial support from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNOq)of Brazil.
- Copyright 1993 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.