An operational GIS expert system for mapping forest soils

The successful integration of a Bayesian expert system with a commercially available geographic information system (GIS) (Genamap) is described. The package mapped forest soils into five soil landscape classes by utilizing a digital terrain model and vegetation map, as well as knowledge provided by a soil scientist. It is concluded that the map produced by the expert system was as accurate as the map drawn by the soil scientist, within a 95 percent confidence interval. An overall mapping accuracy of 69.8 percent was achieved for the soil maps produced by the expert system, while the conventionally derived map had an accuracy of 73.6 percent.