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?