Taking account of uncertainties in digital land suitability assessment

Abstract

An extensive soil sampling and climate modeling program was established in the Meander Valley in 2010 (Kidd et al. 2012; Kidd et al. 2015). In total about 576 soil cores were extracted from various locations throughout the area and analysed for a number of physical and chemical soil properties both in the laboratory and with chemometric techniques dependent on mid-infrared soil spectral calibrations (Kidd et al. 2015). Climate and temperature monitoring throughout the Meander was carried out over 2010 and 2011 using a network of distributed temperature sensors (Webb et al. 2014), and calibrated to long-term climate data (Webb et al 2015). Rainfall information was sourced from Australian Bureau of Meteorology monitoring sites located within and surrounding the study area (Webb et al. 2014). The soil sampling and climate monitoring network was conducted and installed respectively by field officers of the Tasmanian Government. For many sites that were situated on public or Government administered land, no permission was required for sampling or installation of temperature sensors. For sites that were situated on private landholdings, Government officers sort permission for access. In the rare situation where permission was not granted, the sampling or monitoring site was moved to an alternative and agreeable location.