SOILL
MA, USAProfessor: Mark M
Collaborators : Sanajana S & Abhishek D
Soil, a complex amalgamation of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms, constitutes the uppermost stratum of the Earth's surface. Its significance is frequently overlooked, particularly by urban dwellers whose daily lives are not directly impacted by soil health. However, soil conditions have already deteriorated significantly due to widespread deforestation and unsustainable human activities. From industrialization to agriculture, virtually every sector has contributed to soil degradation, either directly or indirectly.SOILL, an academic research publication, is a collaborative effort between Sanjana S (Ex- World Monument Fund) and Abhishek Desai (Ex- Harvard Climate Solutions Fund) at Harvard University. This research endeavors to examine soil conditions and their spatial implications through the utilization of geospatial datasets and analytical tools. Recognizing that the average urban community often lacks understanding of soil types and their importance, the following excerpts from the larger publication aim to elucidate these concepts for a broader audience.
Soil Textures
Global Soil Representation
Sectional Soil Representation
To deploy the idea and understand the depletion of soil in urban areas, we analyzed the city of Boston to assess its soil health through the parameters of soil carbon sequestration and water retention capacities. This research revealed that the soil in Boston's city center has almost lost its capacity for carbon sequestration, which is also a contributing factor to the Urban Heat Island effect observed in major urban cities.
