Survey and Planning

Abstract

SURVEY and planning are the basic requirements in anyscheme for new developments, and it is particularly so in Soil Conservation where all lands are to be put to proper land-use according to their use-capabilities. Determination of the use-capabilities is, however, the most difficult task for a planner as it is to be based on (i) past experiences (ii) research data and (iii) socio-economic consideration. In an old country with well-established traditions in land-use, determination of use-capability is a simpler affair than in a new undeveloped region where the potentialities of the various types of lands are so little known that it becomes hazardous to lay down arbitrary land-use classification for their- proper development. In the latter case help of several specialists is required at the same time, to work out a sound working classification. A concrete instance of such a team work may be quoted from the work-ing of the Land Research Section of the C.S.I.R.O., Australia, which is surveying and classifying lands in Northern Australia and Queensland at present. The Land Survey Unit consists of a geologist, a geomorpho-logist, an ecologist, a systematic botanist, a pedologist and a climatologist.