Post on 30-Dec-2015
A Monolithic Endeavor:
Creating a Digital Collection of Soil
Profiles at the University of Idaho
Kathleen MonksAgriculture and Life Sciences LibrarianUniversity of Idahokmonks@uidaho.edu
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The University of Idaho (UI) is a land-grant institution, established in 1889.
UI is situated on the eastern border of the Palouse, an agricultural region known primarily for production of wheat and legumes. I serve as the liaison to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). CALS is the second largest college at UI, with an FTE of 1,300.
Rollin’ by Dave Morrow, http://www.davemorrowphotography.com/
“Each soil has had its own history. Like a river, a mountain, a forest, or any natural thing, its present condition is due to the influences of many things and events of the past.”
-- Charles Kellogg, The Soils That Support Us, 1956
What are soil monoliths?
Project background
Collaboration with faculty and staff
Metadata
Website creation
Image taken from the University of Arizona, CALS
Each monolith is assigned an exact classification.
This taxonomic language provides the structure for the physical and digital monolith collections.
Monoliths are typically 2’ to 6’ sections of soil used to: o Support classroom
instructiono Educate members of the
publico Identify soil features
Monoliths show: o Soil properties
(horizonation)o Vegetationo Parent material (geology)o Soil productivityo Geologic events (e.g.
Mount St. Helens and Mount Mazama eruptions)
Image taken from UI Agriculture and Life Sciences Magazine
Collecting and preserving monoliths is an intricate process that takes, on average, 6 weeks to complete.
Creation includes collecting, drying, soaking (with resin), and mounting the soil profile.
When complete monoliths can be hung vertically.
Images taken from Collection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths, by Maynard Fosberg
What are soil monoliths?
Project background
Collaboration with faculty and staff
Metadata
Website creation
Number of monoliths: ~230 (one of the largest collections in the U.S.)
States represented: Idaho, Washington Arizona, Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Montana, Iowa, and Colorado
First monolith collected: 1946Most recent monolith: 2007
Each of the 12 soil orders is represented, although some orders have more expansive coverage (e.g. Mollisols).
Images taken from Collection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths, by Maynard Fosberg
What are soil monoliths?
Project background
Collaboration with faculty and staffMetadata
Website creation
From left: Mollisol, Andisol, ArdisolImages taken by Kai Eiselein
Without the work of Paul McDaniel and Anita Falen this project would have never begun. Paul and Anita have been invaluable for:
o Sharing subject knowledgeo Providing website inputo Verifying the accuracy of
metadatao Securing funding for photography
of the collectiono Promoting the project to college
administrators
Devin Becker and the Library’s Digital Initiatives department has also aided in: o Offering advice throughout the
projecto Saving metadata and images to
our IRo Supporting the creation of the
website
What are soil monoliths?
Project background
Collaboration with faculty and staff
Metadata
Website creation
Metadata was collected using an adapted version of Dublin Core.
Metadata elements include:
• Title• Creator• Date• Description• Subject
(NAL subject headings)
• Language • Publisher • Relations • Rights
• Source • Original
Collection• Digital
Collection• Holding
Institution• Format
Original • Format
Digital• Type• Identifier• Date Digital
• Soil Order• Suborder• Great Group• Subgroup• Series• Classificatio
n
• Native Vegetation
• Habitat Type
• Parent Material
• Landform• Climate• Land Use• Elevation• Location
Depicted• Location
Coordinates (TRS)
• Region
What are soil monoliths?
Project background
Collaboration with faculty and staff
Metadata
Website creation
Thank you.
Are there any questions?