Browsing by Author "Wood, Gavin"

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    Monitoring urban sealing from space: The application of remote sensing to identify and measure changes in the area of soil prevented from carrying out functions by sealing
    (Cranfield University; National Soil Resources Institute, 2006-08) Wood, Gavin; Braganza, Steven; Brewer, Timothy R.; Kampouraki, Mary; Harris, Jim A.; Hannam, Jacqueline A.; Burton, Rodney; Deane, Graham
    Overview Urban development presents the greatest driver of soil loss due to sealing-over by buildings, pavement and transport infrastructure. To this end, soil sealing is recognised as one of the major threats to soil. The ability to monitor the rates, types and geo-spatial distribution of soil sealing is crucial to understanding the severity of pressure on soils and their impact on European and global socio-economic and environmental systems. The overall objective of this work was to test the feasibility of using space-derived information to support the Defra Soils Team (ST) in monitoring the extent and pattern of soil sealing. The rate and nature of sealing should be routinely measured in order for it to be managed to best effect. Monitoring soil sealing is intended to be a part of a national soil monitoring scheme and to inform policy creation. This report identifies appropriate Earth Observation (EO) technology and processing procedures to deliver a range of baseline and monitoring information, and assesses the practical scope for the routine use of EO information to support the delivery of the required tasks of the Defra ST1 . The project was funded under the British National Space Centre’s GIFTSS2 programme with support from Defra.
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    Soil-based services in the built environment: A report prepared for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    (Cranfield University, National Soil Resources Institute, 2005-05) Wood, Gavin; Kibblewhite, Mark G.; Hannam, Jacqueline A.; Harris, Jim A.; Leeds-Harrison, Peter B.
    Background: Publication of the First Soil Action Plan for England in 2004 has drawn attention to the value that can be derived from the protection and appropriate management of the country’s soil resources. This principle applies all soils equally including those in built environments which are the subject of this report. Soil is valuable because it underpins both quality of life and biodiversity conservation. It does this by providing a range of services or functions which meet human needs and sustain natural systems. The principal of these are environmental regulation and environmental maintenance, food and fibre production, above and below ground habitat maintenance as support for biodiversity, protection of cultural services and provision of a platform for the built environment. Soil is, in practical terms, a non-renewable resource which can be destroyed by construction. To help protect soils in the built environment, the services they can and do provide to both society and the environment need to be documented and explained. This report proposes a framework to help explain soil’s services and functions within built environments and provides a literature-based review of those services, their current perceived value, and a risk assessment of the threats that may degrade them.