Aerial Photo Interpretation on British Columbia Rangelands

Abstract

Following intensive study of soils and plant communities in the Princeton area of southern British Columbia, it became apparent that photo interpretation techniques could be used to greater advantage in soils surveys and land classification than as simply field mapping guides. Significant relationships between soil-vegetation-physiographic units and photo patterns appeared. The area, a topographic low within the Thompson Plateau, contains mainly Chernozemic soils developed under grassland and open tree cover. Six land units were distinguished by combinations of tone, pattern, and texture on aerial photos as determined by topography, nature of bedrock or surficial deposits, drainage, kinds of vegetation, and patterns of micro-features and were related to land use.