The Soil Map of Quinta de Santa Apolónia, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Réffega, Martins & Graça, 1984) in digital version

Abstract

In 1984, the soils of the Santa Apolónia property of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) were mapped by Professors António Réffega (UNL) and Afonso Martins (UTAD), assisted by Mário Graça (IPB), with the observation of 87 profiles. This campaign resulted in profile observation forms, analysis reports of the soil samples collected and a provisional draft of the Soil Map, drawn by hand. The consolidation of the map and the elaboration of the respective memory were never concluded by its authors. In tribute to the deceased authors of the unfinished original, this paper describes the tasks of digitization of the sketch and its associated elements, carried out with the purpose of making available in digital form the existing collection in the IPB. The analytical and morphological data were transferred to spreadsheets for conversion into a database. The sketch was digitalized and georeferenced in GIS environment, fully reproducing the original. According to the Portuguese Classification (SROA), Hydromorphic Soils (24%), Litholic para-Lithosols (23%) and Alluvial Soils (15%) predominate. The next steps are the updating of the nomenclature of the soil units and the creation of attribute tables for each profile, with morphological and analytical data, and for each soil unit, with the respective characterization.