Unveiling the Soil beyond Definitions: A Holistic Framework for Sub-Regional Soil Quality Assessment and Spatial Planning

Anna Richiedei (), Marialaura Giuliani and Michèle Pezzagno
Additional contact information
Anna Richiedei: Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Marialaura Giuliani: Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Michèle Pezzagno: University Research and Documentation Center for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda—CRA 2030, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-38

Abstract: The issue of land/soil consumption and degradation has been extensively explored in international literature, yet a universally accepted definition of soil quality remains elusive. Over the decades, the scientific community has witnessed the evolution of the concept of land/soil quality, with varying nuances across different disciplines. The absence of a shared definition poses challenges in addressing local concerns and preserving the distinctiveness and well-being of the soil. The present paper seeks to fill this gap from the spatial planning perspective by proposing a soil quality detection framework tailored for the sub-regional spatial context, offering support in particular for local planning decisions. The concept of soil quality is approached comprehensively, and the indicators put forth are selected based on specific soil functions, services, or threats. To support this all-encompassing approach through a case study in the Italian context, this paper suggests integrating 11 datasets and 55 indicators. This extensive dataset aims to quantify and generate meaningful cartographic representations, offering a multifaceted and detailed understanding of soil quality within the sub-regional context. The goal is to establish a framework that facilitates a more holistic understanding of soil quality, aiding in effective spatial planning and policy-making processes.

Keywords: land planning; rural planning; supra-local planning; ecosystem quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6075/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6075/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6075-:d:1436408

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().