Soil maps of cities (overview of Russian cities)

Soil maps of cities, as a new branch in soil geography and cartography, differ both in content (presentation of soils) and methodology of their compilation. The review analyzes 23 maps of 18 cities of the Russian Federation, published in journals, monographs, dissertations, and atlases of cities. Historical, social and economic factors turned out to be more significant for the formation of urban soils than the natural ones. The compilation of urban soil maps is based on city plans, space images, maps of natural soils, geological formations and Quaternary deposits, relief, as well as terrain observations, i. e. the descriptions of soil profiles. The maps were analyzed by the following aspects: map content, number of legend units, and organization of the legend as a reflection of the map’s concept. The predominant part of maps is compiled using the M.N. Stroganova classification system which focuses on the functional zones of the city. Later, elements of the classification of Russian soils were introduced into map legends. Structured map legends reflect the authors’ concepts regarding the arrangement of a city soil cover: the priority of natural factors and modifications of natural soils or the priority of anthropogenic factors, namely, functional zones. A grouping of soils in the legend by the functional zones of the city differs in the composition of functional zones and the details of their soil content. There is an experience of compiling maps in terms of the theory of soil cover structures. The analysis of soil maps of Russian cities has shown their significant diversity in terms of content, scale, methods of presentation, as well as a trend to more complicate content, i.e. the increasing volume of information, the systematization (identification) of spatial patterns and the refinement of cartographic units using the advanced technics. The methods of cartographic representation of urban soils and soil cover structures are considered.