In a world expected to reach a population of almost 10 billion inhabitants by 2050 and facing rapid global warming, it is essential to develop studies to better characterize and preserve the existing environmental heritage. Among these assets, soil stands out, which is fundamental for the balance of life on the planet (air quality and composition, temperature regulation, carbon and nutrient cycling, water cycling and quality, natural "waste" (decomposition) treatment and recycling, and habitat for most living things and their food). Due its importance, Soil information is increasing recently in order to attend human demands for land use management and capability, reduce erosion risks and soil security, for example. Particularly in Brazil, advances in soil science are now required to attend the new national systematic soil survey that have as a goal soil sustainability and security. Gathering machine learning tools, pedometrics and pedological concepts is a way to achieve these demands regarding soil data and related products. This book summarizes remarkable insights from the II Pedometrics Brazil Conference providing cutting-edge information to researchers, students and professionals working with soils in tropical countries such as Brazil.
Waldir de Carvalho Junior holds a degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, a Masters in Geography from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a PhD in Agronomy (Soils and Plant Nutrition) from the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil and a post-doctorate at INRA, France. He is currently a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. He has experience in the field of Geosciences and Pedology, working mainly on the following topics: digital soil mapping, zoning, surveys and environmental diagnoses.
Helena S.K. Pinheiro is graduate in Geology and Forest Engineer, Master and PhD in Soil Science from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a doctoral internship at Purdue University, USA. Currently she is Adjunct Professor at Soils' Department, Institute of Agronomy at UFRRJ, acting mainly on the following themes: reforestation, forest management, soil sciences (fertility, land use and capability, soil genesis and soil survey), modeling and geoprocessing applied to natural environments, digital soil mapping, pedometrics, diagnosis and survey of natural resources, integrated environmental assessment, analysis of environmental impacts, geological mapping and machine learning tools.
Marcos Bacis Ceddia is a full professor at the Department of AgroTechnologies and Sustainability (DATS-IA) at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ. He has a doctorate in Agronomy-Soil Science from UFRRJ and a sabbatical period at the University of Florida (2014-2015) working in digital soil mapping. Currently developing teaching and research activities in the areas of soil physics, geostatistics, digital agriculture, agroecology, and soil security. Creator of the MultiSoils digital platform.
Gustavo Souza Valladares holds a degree in Agronomic Engineering, a Masters in Agronomy - Soil Science and a PhD in Agronomy all from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro with a Post-doctorate at State University of Campinas, Brazil. He is currently Associate Professor of Federal University of Piaui. He has experience in the field of Pedology and GIScience working mainly on the following topics: soil survey, GIS, environmental management.
