to produce overall land suitability for each crop (Nwer
2005).
In 2010, Elaalem adapted fuzzy systems, including
Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches to the FAO
framework for land suitability for agriculture crops such
as barley, wheat, maize in Jafara Plain of Libya. Many
relevant soil and landscape criteria were identified and
encoded in the GIS environment and their weights specified as a result of discussions with local experts.
Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches used to drive land
suitability maps for the selected crops. Elaalem concluded
that the two fuzzy approaches have shown their ability to
explore the uncertainties associated with describing the
land properties in the Jafara Plain of Libya (Elaalem
2010).
2.5.2 Mapping of Natural Resources
for Agricultural Use and Planning Project
Achievements
2.5.2.1 Derivation Soil and Terrain Database
(SOTER) Map of Libya
SOTER databases provide data on key soil and terrain
properties that offer relevant input to agro-environmental
applications such as food projection studies, climate studies,
land evaluation, or hydrological catchment modeling. In
addition to this, SOTER aims to establish a global Soils and
Terrain Database, at scale of 1:5,000,000, containing digitized map units and their attribute data in standardized
format.
In this study, all the spatial data related to soil, and
lithology and topography were encoded, analyzed, and
processed. Then, various SOTER units in Libya were
determined and mapped, using SOTER system schemes.
136 Soter units were recognized (105 Soter units have a
pedagogical basis or soil formation, and 31 Soter units have
not pedagogical basis or non-soil formation). As the SOTER
units were defined, all the nonspatial information (Terrain,
Terrain Components, Soil Components) as well as plant
cover, land use, meteorological data, analysis procedures,
and map sources, were fitted in special forms.
The Relation Database Management System (RDBMS)
was used to enter, edit, process and SOTRE data in the
computer, using the Geographical Information System
(GIS). The spatial information (maps) were combined with
the nonspatial information to produce digital SOTER units at
scale 1: 1 M (Fig. 2.13).
The SOTER map of Libya at scale 1:1 M was compiled by
the cooperation of the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid
Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) with the Department of Soil
at General Water Authority (GWA) of Libya. This map is in
addition to the SOTER Maps of the north-east and north-west
of the country prepared at scale of 1:250,000 (ACSAD and
GWA 2005; Ben Mahmoud 1997, 1998, 2001).
2.5.2.2 Derivation Digital Soil Map of Libya
Preparation of a digital soil map of the country at a scale of
1:1 M was compiled in 2005 by the cooperation of ACSAD
with the department of soil in GWA. The US Soil Taxonomy
system was applied to produce a digital soil map of Libya
(ACSAD and GWA 2005). Figure 2.14, shows Soil Map of
Libya at scale 1: 1 M.
2.5.2.3 Derivation Digital Land/Vegetation Cover
Map of Libya
The primary data used in this study were Landsat data with
30 m spatial resolution. The visual interpretation was
applied to analyze satellite imagery data. The results showed
that the cultivable areas were estimated at only 2.0 million
hectares, which is slightly over 1% of the total area (1.3%).
Also, the majority of the cultivated and/or rangelands are
located along the northern zone. At present, the areas that are
under irrigation are at about 610 thousand hectares. These
areas include large scheme projects, settlements, and
smallholder farms (LIB00/004 2007). Figure 2.15 shows
Land Vegetation Cover classes in Libya.
2.5.2.4 Establishment Land Resource Information
Management System (LRIMS) in Libya
Before 2001, none of the soil maps was in digital formats. In
2001, the Libyan Land Resources Database and Information
Management System was initiated. This occurred through a
project entitled Mapping of Natural Resources for Agricultural Use and Planning (LIB00/004 2007), which was
implemented by FAO in cooperation with a number of
Libyan experts. This project recognizes all the natural
resource data in a geographically referenced computerized
database, including Soils.
2.5.3 Academic Achievements in Soil Genesis,
Classification, and Mapping
As mentioned in Sect. 2.3, the MSc program in the field of
soil genesis, classification, and mapping was developed in
some agricultural facilities in Libya such as faculty of
agricultural in Tripoli, Libya, and therefore different soil
scientific topics were covered. Table 2.2. shows some of the
master's thesis topics applied by Libyan students in the area
of soil genesis, classification, and mapping within the faculty
of agricultural in Tripoli, Libya.
In addition to this, because the Ph.D. program is still not
active in Libya, as mentioned above, the Libyan government
granted a number of Libyan graduate students’ scholarships
in the field of soil genesis, classification, and mapping.
2 The History of Soil Mapping and Research
25
2005).
In 2010, Elaalem adapted fuzzy systems, including
Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches to the FAO
framework for land suitability for agriculture crops such
as barley, wheat, maize in Jafara Plain of Libya. Many
relevant soil and landscape criteria were identified and
encoded in the GIS environment and their weights specified as a result of discussions with local experts.
Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches used to drive land
suitability maps for the selected crops. Elaalem concluded
that the two fuzzy approaches have shown their ability to
explore the uncertainties associated with describing the
land properties in the Jafara Plain of Libya (Elaalem
2010).
2.5.2 Mapping of Natural Resources
for Agricultural Use and Planning Project
Achievements
2.5.2.1 Derivation Soil and Terrain Database
(SOTER) Map of Libya
SOTER databases provide data on key soil and terrain
properties that offer relevant input to agro-environmental
applications such as food projection studies, climate studies,
land evaluation, or hydrological catchment modeling. In
addition to this, SOTER aims to establish a global Soils and
Terrain Database, at scale of 1:5,000,000, containing digitized map units and their attribute data in standardized
format.
In this study, all the spatial data related to soil, and
lithology and topography were encoded, analyzed, and
processed. Then, various SOTER units in Libya were
determined and mapped, using SOTER system schemes.
136 Soter units were recognized (105 Soter units have a
pedagogical basis or soil formation, and 31 Soter units have
not pedagogical basis or non-soil formation). As the SOTER
units were defined, all the nonspatial information (Terrain,
Terrain Components, Soil Components) as well as plant
cover, land use, meteorological data, analysis procedures,
and map sources, were fitted in special forms.
The Relation Database Management System (RDBMS)
was used to enter, edit, process and SOTRE data in the
computer, using the Geographical Information System
(GIS). The spatial information (maps) were combined with
the nonspatial information to produce digital SOTER units at
scale 1: 1 M (Fig. 2.13).
The SOTER map of Libya at scale 1:1 M was compiled by
the cooperation of the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid
Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) with the Department of Soil
at General Water Authority (GWA) of Libya. This map is in
addition to the SOTER Maps of the north-east and north-west
of the country prepared at scale of 1:250,000 (ACSAD and
GWA 2005; Ben Mahmoud 1997, 1998, 2001).
2.5.2.2 Derivation Digital Soil Map of Libya
Preparation of a digital soil map of the country at a scale of
1:1 M was compiled in 2005 by the cooperation of ACSAD
with the department of soil in GWA. The US Soil Taxonomy
system was applied to produce a digital soil map of Libya
(ACSAD and GWA 2005). Figure 2.14, shows Soil Map of
Libya at scale 1: 1 M.
2.5.2.3 Derivation Digital Land/Vegetation Cover
Map of Libya
The primary data used in this study were Landsat data with
30 m spatial resolution. The visual interpretation was
applied to analyze satellite imagery data. The results showed
that the cultivable areas were estimated at only 2.0 million
hectares, which is slightly over 1% of the total area (1.3%).
Also, the majority of the cultivated and/or rangelands are
located along the northern zone. At present, the areas that are
under irrigation are at about 610 thousand hectares. These
areas include large scheme projects, settlements, and
smallholder farms (LIB00/004 2007). Figure 2.15 shows
Land Vegetation Cover classes in Libya.
2.5.2.4 Establishment Land Resource Information
Management System (LRIMS) in Libya
Before 2001, none of the soil maps was in digital formats. In
2001, the Libyan Land Resources Database and Information
Management System was initiated. This occurred through a
project entitled Mapping of Natural Resources for Agricultural Use and Planning (LIB00/004 2007), which was
implemented by FAO in cooperation with a number of
Libyan experts. This project recognizes all the natural
resource data in a geographically referenced computerized
database, including Soils.
2.5.3 Academic Achievements in Soil Genesis,
Classification, and Mapping
As mentioned in Sect. 2.3, the MSc program in the field of
soil genesis, classification, and mapping was developed in
some agricultural facilities in Libya such as faculty of
agricultural in Tripoli, Libya, and therefore different soil
scientific topics were covered. Table 2.2. shows some of the
master's thesis topics applied by Libyan students in the area
of soil genesis, classification, and mapping within the faculty
of agricultural in Tripoli, Libya.
In addition to this, because the Ph.D. program is still not
active in Libya, as mentioned above, the Libyan government
granted a number of Libyan graduate students’ scholarships
in the field of soil genesis, classification, and mapping.
2 The History of Soil Mapping and Research
25