From Dokuchaev to Numerical - Advances in Observation and Classification of Soils.

Early soil classification systems were developed based on the genetic foundation of Dokuchaev. Most currently applied systems were elaborated before the recent boom in observation and measurement technologies, data storage and processing developments. The paper will review the big revolutionary steps in soil classification and related tools and methods. The approaches and results from the genetic to diagnostic and numerical will be discussed, as well as the objective tools of laboratory, field and proxy or remote measurements. The modern pedometric approaches of the present, data-rich environment will be also part of the review. Examples will demonstrate the major achievements.