A soil survey classifies and maps soils in a given area according to a standard system. It plots soil boundaries on an aerial photo base map and predicts soil behavior. Soil maps vary in scale and detail, from very intensive first order surveys of small plots to exploratory fifth order regional planning maps covering thousands of hectares. Higher order surveys provide more detailed soil information for uses like agriculture while lower orders are suited to broader land use assessments.

1. Soil Survey
• A soil survey describes the characteristics
of the soils in a given area, Usually a
Province is the unit of publication.
• Classifies the soils according to a standard
system of classification,
• Plots the boundaries of the soils on a map,
the map uses an aerial photo as the base
• Makes predictions about the behavior of
soils,

2. Map Scale
• Soil maps differ in their scale:
• Map scale refers to how many inches on
the map represents inches on the ground -
• Scale of 1:24,000 says 1 mm on map =
24,000 mm or 24 m on the ground

3. • First order: very intensive (detailed); experimental
plots, building sites; minimum size delineation < 1
hectare
• Second order: intensive (detailed); general agriculture,
urban planning; minimum size delineation 0.6 to 4 has.
• Third order: extensive; rangeland, community area
planning; min. size delineation – 1.6 to 16 has.
• Fourth order: extensive (reconnaissance); for broad
land use potential and general land
management; min. size delineation – 16 to 252 has.
• Fifth order: exploratory; regional planning, national
planning; min. size delineation – 252 to 4000 has

4. Orders of Soil Survey
• Order 1 soil survey - very detailed
• Order 2 = semi-detailed
• Order 3 = reconnaissance survey
• Order 4 = general soil map
• Order 5 = regional map