Measuring the quality of digital soil maps using information criteria

One of the purposes of a soil map is to present information regarding the spatial variation of soil to the end user. In the past, statistical methods of uncertainty have been used to indicate map quality. In this paper, the information content of a map is proposed as a more suitable measure of map quality. The theory has its basis in information theory, more particularly Shannonʹs information criterion. A modification of Shannonʹs information criterion is presented. Other than being used as an indicator of map quality, the method is particularly useful as an aid during the map production process, for example, choosing block size or grid spacing. Four examples illustrate the concept and its potential use in soil science.