Soil Projects > Completed Projects > ECALP(Ecopedol. Map of Alps)
The project "Eco-pedological Map for the Alpine Territory" was proposed by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory, within the SOIA (System for the Observation and Information on the Alps) Working group of the Alpine Convention. The Ministry drew up an agreement with APAT (Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services) charging it to work out the project in cooperation with the Regional Environmental Protection Agencies and other technical and scientific institutions, particularly the Centro Studi Val d’Ossola (Domodossola) of the Catholic University of Milan. A first draft of an eco-pedological map for the entire alpine territory is to be developed by the Centro Studi, supported by the European Soil Bureau Network; ARPA Veneto will coordinate the activities, since it is the only regional agency deeply involved in national soil mapping projects (Ecopedological Map of Italy, Soil Map of Italy at 1:250.000 scale).
The main purpose of the project is to create a useful network among regional and national institutions which own and manage soil data, in order to achieve the setting up and updating of a shared soil database for the Alps, according to SOIA's tasks. To this end, it seems necessary to develop common procedures to allow data exchange and updating and evaluation for some application purposes. The definition of an exchange format for data, to be tested in some sample areas, seems to be the most effective way to follow, having the contribution of the experience of the partners involved in the project. The aim is to establish contacts with a proper number of partners and thus pilot areas, which can represent different situations and experiences.
Ecalp Database: The Ecalp Database has been implemented for the Pilot Areas according to the Inspire Reference Grid. Data in Access format, Excursion Reports and Final Reports are available in the Ecalp Data. All the Pilot areas will upload their data in this section.
Ecalp 2006 Meeting: During the
6th and 7th of February 2006 the Meeting for "Harmonization of
Soil Information in the Alps - Results and Prospects " (ECALP
Project) was held in JRC, Ispra, Italy. For more information click on the Agenda
- Presentations.
During the 3rd and 4th of February 2005 the Meeting for "The Technical and operational procedures in the Harmonization of Soil Information in the Alps" (ECALP Project) was held in JRC, Ispra, Italy. For more information click on the Agenda - Presentations.
During the 1st and 2nd of July 2004, the Meeting for "Harmonization of Soil Information in the Alps" was held in JRC, Ispra, Italy. This meeting was organized in order to analyze the problems of harmonization of soil information in the Alps. For more information click on the Agenda - Presentations.
Alpine Soil Information System (ALPSIS)
The adoption of the protocol on soil protection (Bled, 20/10/98), within the Alpine Convention, sets new goals for the European Soil Bureau (ESB) Network. Currently the only harmonised soil database covering the Alps is available at the ESB in the framework of the European Soil Information System (EUSIS). The soil information available within that system is at small scale (1:1,000,000) and therefore not suitable for regional scale applications as required by the Alpine Convention. Particularly article 11 of the soil protection protocol calls for the establishment of a soil erosion risk database in order to delineate areas at high risk. This will require further work towards the establishment of a more detailed soil information system for the Alps. The envisaged structure of the Alpine Soil Information System (ALPSIS) will follows essentially the structure of the geo-referenced soil database for Europe.
For background information you can read the article related to The development of an Alpine Soil Information System (L. Montanarella and Th. Negre).
In the context of ALPSIS and in line with INSPIRE principles, the JRC has set up a collaboration with the "Eco-pedological Map for the Alpine Territory" (ECALP) project. This project was proposed by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory, within the SOIA (System for the Observation and Information on the Alps) Working group of the Alpine Convention in order to develop a first draft of an eco-pedological map for the entire alpine territory.
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Completed Projects
ECALP(Ecopedol. Map of Alps)
Project Description
Meetings
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