Evaluation of some proximal sensing methods for mapping soils in urbanized terrain, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Abstract

5A study was carried out to test the accuracy and utility of field probes as proximal sensing tools for site-6 specific and regional soil mapping in the heavily urbanized terrain of Detroit, MI, USA. The results suggest that 7 surface scanning in situ with a magnetic susceptibility (MS) field probe is accurate, but limited by tall grass. Better 8 results were obtained after removal of the turf layer. The accuracy of the electrical conductivity (EC) field probe was 9 questionable. Hence, superior results were obtained ex situ using both EC and MS lab sensors. Lab EC and MS were 10 well suited for regional soil mapping, whereas all of the methods provided at least some useful information for site-11 specific applications. Tall grass, excessive artifact content, and severe compaction were the greatest limitations of 12 proximal sensing. Tall grass interfered with surface scanners (MS; metal detector), whereas excessive artifacts and 13 compaction restricted use of the EC surface probe. Penetrability and pH were useful for discriminating between 14 natural and anthropogenic soils, and moisture content for proximal sensing of soil ^A horizons. MS was especially 15 useful for delineating soils impacted by fly ash. Although it is less rapid and more labour-intensive than field 16 methods, the lab-based approach still provides a minimally invasive alternative to augering. Lab-based geophysical 17 surveying can be carried out first, and the results used as a guide for an auger-based soil survey. An anthropogenic 18 map index (AMI) is introduced which combines pH, penetrability, EC and MS into a single overall measure of soil 19 quality. AMI-based maps are postulated to be a useful as a geographic representation of soil health. These results 20 support our hypothesis that proximal sensing methods can facilitate soil mapping in urbanized terrain based on the 21 degree of human disturbance, and differences in artifact assemblages related to land use history. 22 23

Measuring city-scale green infrastructure drawdown dynamics using internet-connected sensors in Detroit

“…45 The correlation with longitude may be explained by prolonged soil compaction from development in central Detroit. 62…”

“…45 The correlation with longitude may be explained by prolonged soil compaction from development in central Detroit. 62 Some physiographic features had low correlation with the decay constants. Detroit is relatively flat, which may explain the low correlation with elevation and slope.…”

Source identification and driving factor apportionment for soil potentially toxic elements via combining APCS-MLR, UNMIX, PMF and GDM

“…GDM is an effective tool for spatial variance analysis, which can detect the nonlinear relationship among multiple explanatory variables, quantitatively determine the influence of various influencing factors on the spatial heterogeneity of soil PTEs, and solve the limitations of traditional methods in analyzing category variables 17 – 19 . It has been widely used in groundwater 20 , land use 21 , 22 , ecological vulnerability 23 , 24 , soil PTEs pollution 10 , 25 , 26 and other fields. Therefore, based on measurement data, auxiliary data and spatial information, this study proposes a comprehensive method to combine receptor models APCS-MLR, UNMIX and PMF with GDM.…”