Somalia Soil Map - Scale of 1:250_000

To achieve the preliminary land unit classification, a set of updated multispectral satellite images was acquired . A set of Sentinel-2 (from January to February 2020 interval time) images covering integrally the complexes of the project area with a spatial resolution of 10m per pixel has been processed using Near infrared, green and blue spectral band combination) and analyzed using a GIS software. The analysis of the images helps to classify the areas at fourth levels: Soil Region (1:3M scale) - System (1:1M scale) - Subsystems (1:500k scale) - Land Unit (1:250k scale) Further based on the photointerpretation, the morphologic and physiographic analysis the homogenous land units are defined. First, a general overview of the study area done based on bibliographic material concerning existing soil surveys, geography, geology, climate, agriculture, vegetation and soil characteristics. Particularly, in this case a mixed descending and ascending building and interpretation methodology was applied. As shown in the following picture, the descending methodology has used where existing soil data are lacking, starting from morphology, lithology and land use. Homogeneous polygons with same morphology, lithology and land use/cover may have same soils. For large part of Somalia country this methodology was applied. The ascending methodology has applied where existing soil data was available, in Somalia some 1.50.000/1:100.000 soil maps was available in north and in south part of the country. Of course due the different scale of the final soil map, the details are different, so some existing Land Units at semidetailed scale has merged to each one relating to the extensions and soil typology. The photointerpretation has done mainly with the aid of the following: - Sentinel-2 satellite images (Jan-Feb 2020) 10m resolution (NIR-GB spectral bands) - SRTM Digital Elevation model 30x30 and 90x90 m resolution - “Sm-landform” SWALIM shapefile