An extra-urban soil cadastre for Italy: a first guide for the introduction of soil information

Abstract

Assuming a positive outcome of the parliamentary procedure for laws and, thus, the transformation of the official cadastre for buildings and land into a soil cadastre (urban, extra-urban and cadastre for the conservation of natural or semi-natural soil diversity) would start a new era for pedology. Finally, after many decades of activity to expand soil culture in Italy, almost all Italian families would be in contact with a soil specialist. Land use and redefined plots would be handled with greater care and responsibility. Experts in agricultural and forestry and biodiversity conservation would have a new impetus in their activity. Furthermore, economists will also have to address new issues. The aim of this work was to analyse how to meet the needs of a future Cadastre with respect to soil information both from a descriptive (Cadastral Certificate) and a cartographic point of view and to outline a practical guideline for future technicians who will be in charge of maintaining and updating the soil information system. To this end, we used the area of Caccamo (Sicily) and its soilscape as an example to put this concept into practice. On the one hand, this contribution aims at stimulating the start of a scientific-technical debate and, on the other hand, to give practical indications for the solution of the problem.