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Preventive soil protection; creation of soil function maps and thematic soil protection maps

The Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) evaluates the results of the pedological survey and uses them to develop soil protection principles such as thematic pedological evaluation maps for soil and groundwater protection.

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Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt

Street address

Bürgermeister-Ulrich-Str. 160
86179 Augsburg

Postal address

86177 Augsburg

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Procedure details

The "Preventive Soil Protection" task area provides administrative bodies, law enforcement agencies and planning offices with basic information and working aids, which are an important prerequisite for the practical implementation of soil protection legislation. In particular, the results of the soil survey are evaluated for the purposes of soil protection. Using special calculation algorithms from the soil properties, the performance of the soils is evaluated with regard to the natural soil functions and depicted in soil function maps. These maps are required in order to be able to weigh up the value of the soils in terms of their functionality and worthiness of protection in planning processes. The following soil functions are currently mapped:

  • Site potential for natural vegetation
  • Water retention capacity during precipitation events
  • Retention capacity for inorganic pollutants
  • Retention capacity for organic pollutants
  • Acid buffering capacity (KAKeff and KAKpot) for forest sites
  • Retention time of water-soluble substances
  • Natural yield capacity (arable land, grassland)

The maps are available in digital form via the UmweltAtlas Bayern.

The function of the soil as an archive of natural and cultural history is recorded on individual objects that document natural or cultural-historical processes in a unique way.

In order to provide a basis for evaluating the material composition of soils with regard to soil protection legislation, background levels of inorganic and organic pollutants were determined at the Bavarian State Office for the Environment and background values were derived using statistical methods and displayed on maps. The results of the state-wide evaluation are available in published form and as overview maps in the UmweltAtlas Bayern under the subject area of soil (see "Further links"). Problem-related evaluations for defined sub-areas can be prepared on request.

The proper and harmless recycling of excavated soil ranges between the requirements of the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act and the Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance. The first working aids on this topic have been developed, and information maps on exclusion areas for the recycling of (soil) material in accordance with § 7 BBodSchV are available in the form of site information in the UmweltAtlas Bayern. In the pilot districts of Lichtenfels and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, information maps (1:25,000) are currently being produced to support enforcement in areas with naturally elevated material contents in order to facilitate the proper and harmless recycling of excavated soil.

Written request via the contact form of the LfU data center (see "Further links").

Requests can be submitted via the contact form of the LfU data center (see "Related links").

The costs depend on the scope of the service used and are based on the scale of fees.

  • Soil science maps; retrieval
    The pedological survey records all essential information about the genesis, structure and properties of the soil. The pedological survey thus creates a working basis for thematic evaluations and for answering soil protection-related questions.
Status: 15.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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