Measuring the quality of digital soil maps using information criteria

One of the purposes of a soil map is to present information regarding the s patial variation of soil to the end user. In the past, statistical methods of uncertainty have been used to indicate map quality. In this paper, the i nformation content of a map is proposed as a more suitable measure of map q uality. The theory has its basis in information theory, more particularly S hannon's information criterion. A modification of Shannon's information cri terion is presented. Other than being used as an indicator of map quality, the method is particularly useful as an aid during the map production proce ss, for example, choosing block size or and spacing. Four examples illustra te the concept and its potential use in soil science. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.