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ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS OF HUNGARIAN SOIL 
AND TERRAIN DIGITAL DATABASE (HUNSOTER) 
Laszlo Pasztor, Jozsef Szabo, Gyorgy Varallyay 
Research Institute of Soil Science 
and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences 
ABSTRACT 
The primary aim of the SOTER Project is to utilize current and emerging information 
technology to establish a World Soils and Terrain Database, containing digitized map units and 
their attribute data. The main function of this database is to provide the necessary data for 
improved mapping, modeling and monitoring of changes of world soil and terrain resources 
and presenting a wide range of accurate, timely interpretative analyses for decision- and 
policy-makers for their development concepts, decision-making, planning and implementation 
activities. The methodology of SOTER was elaborated by ISRIC (Wageningen, The 
Netherlands) within the frame of a UNEP-funded Project, with the cooperation of an 
international expert group. 
SOTER provides a system which is capable of storing and handling soil information at 
different scales of operation, provides a better geographical basis for studies of environmental 
degradation than has been possible so far due to using physiographically defined terrain and 
soil components, as opposed to taxonomically defined soil mapping units. 
In Europe Hungary is the first where a "SOTER window" has been opened. RISSAC GIS 
LAB implemented -with various modifications, due to the different scale (500.000 versus the 
ordinary 1.000.000)- Hungarian version of SOTER, the HUNSOTER system. The two main- 
simultaneous- task groups of the HUNSOTER system are: 
o the delineation of areas with a homogeneous set of terrain and soil characteristics 
(mapping of SOTER units); 
o the development of an attribute database related to the mapping units and based on 
well-defined differentiating criteria. 
The main objectives of the development of HUNSOTER were the elaboration of a 
comprehensive, scientifically-based computerized land resource development and 
environmental management system in Hungary using the SOTER concept, proving its 
multipurpose applicability in the regional and national decision-making process for the 
sustainable use of land and water resources for agricultural production and for other purposes; 
for their conservation ensuring their renewal and normal functions; the prevention of natural 
environmental hazards and human-induced side-effects, such as soil and land degradation 
processes and landscape deterioration. 
The HUNSOTER database is a soil and terrain digital database prepared in the scale of 
1:500,000 for the whole country (93,000 km 2 ) following SOTER methodology. The database