A Framework Based on Isoparameters for Clustering and Mapping Geophysical Data in Pedogeomorphological Studies

Understanding soil variability supports improved land use and soil security. This study aimed to generate uniform geophysical classes by integrating data from three proximal geophysical sensors with synthetic soil and satellite images using machine learning, proposing a soil survey protocol. Geophysical data—natural gamma-ray emissions (eU, eTh, K40), magnetic susceptibility (κ), and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa)—were collected in Piracicaba, Brazil, and clustered into homogeneous geophysical-isoparameter classes. These classes were modeled alongside Synthetic Soil Images (SYSIs), Sentinel-2 (0.45–2.29 μm), Landsat (0.43–12.51 μm) imagery, and morphometric variables. Empirical validation compared the resulting geophysical-isoparameter map with conventional pedological and lithological maps. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm exhibited the best classification performance. Results demonstrated that geophysical sensors quantitatively and qualitatively capture soil attributes linked to formation processes and types. The geophysical-isoparameter map correlated well with pedological and lithological patterns. The proposed protocol offers soil scientists a practical tool to delineate soil and lithological units using combined sensor data. Promoting collaboration among pedologists, pedometric mappers, and remote sensing experts, this approach presents a novel framework to enhance soil survey accuracy and efficiency.

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Publication Details

Journal
Soil Systems
Published
2025-11-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9040124
Primary Topic
Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

A Framework Based on Isoparameters for Clustering and Mapping Geophysical Data in Pedogeomorphological Studies

Danilo César de Mello, Lucas Vieira Silva, Tiago Osório Ferreira, Marcos Rafael Nanni et al.
Soil Systems
Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
article

A Framework Based on Isoparameters for Clustering and Mapping Geophysical Data in Pedogeomorphological Studies

Danilo César de Mello, Lucas Vieira Silva, Tiago Osório Ferreira, Marcos Rafael Nanni, Márcio Rocha Francelino, Gustavo Vieira Veloso, José Alexandre Melo Demattê, Roney Berti de Oliveira, Davi Feital Gjorup, Renan Falcioni, Elpídio Inácio Fernandes Filho, José Cola Zanúncio, Heitor Paiva Palma
article en

Abstract

Understanding soil variability supports improved land use and soil security. This study aimed to generate uniform geophysical classes by integrating data from three proximal geophysical sensors with synthetic soil and satellite images using machine learning, proposing a soil survey protocol. Geophysical data—natural gamma-ray emissions (eU, eTh, K40), magnetic susceptibility (κ), and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa)—were collected in Piracicaba, Brazil, and clustered into homogeneous geophysical-isoparameter classes. These classes were modeled alongside Synthetic Soil Images (SYSIs), Sentinel-2 (0.45–2.29 μm), Landsat (0.43–12.51 μm) imagery, and morphometric variables. Empirical validation compared the resulting geophysical-isoparameter map with conventional pedological and lithological maps. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm exhibited the best classification performance. Results demonstrated that geophysical sensors quantitatively and qualitatively capture soil attributes linked to formation processes and types. The geophysical-isoparameter map correlated well with pedological and lithological patterns. The proposed protocol offers soil scientists a practical tool to delineate soil and lithological units using combined sensor data. Promoting collaboration among pedologists, pedometric mappers, and remote sensing experts, this approach presents a novel framework to enhance soil survey accuracy and efficiency.

Soil SystemsVol. 9(4)
Universidade Estadual de Maringá (BR), Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR), Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 69%
Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
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