Methods for Usability of Point Samples of the Soil Protection Information and Monitoring System

Abstract

The Hungarian Soil Information and Monitoring System (SIM) covers the whole country and provides opportunity to create similar information systems for the natural resources (atmosphere, supply of water, flora, biological resources etc). The aim of the SIM is to relate these databases. The SIM territorial measuring grid consists of 1236 measuring points with 21 elements content in Hungary. These points are representatives. Distribution of the points represents the variety of soil types of the country. The SIM is the essential basis of rational agri-environmental management and at the same time is an integrated unit of the environmental diagnosis of soils. Our aim is to develope a statistically based information system from data of the measured SIM points. We developed a method for estimating element content. To determine the concentration of the elements, need only the GPS co-ordinates of the place based on the number of the nearest neighbouring points. This method does not calculate with spatial circumstances. The other possibility is using the kriging method (spatial interpolation) for estimating more precisely the element content. In this study these two methods are compared. After building our statistical based information system we can develop an Internet-based service that makes it possible to reach the objectives through arranging the results of analyses into a database. Based on available data, the developed Internet-based service makes it possible to estimate element content at a certain diagnostic point with some statistical errors. It can also be applied in analyzing effects of environmental pollution.