processes. As the conceptual models of soil formation evolve to quantitatively replicate soil forming processes, the impact of nonagronomic human activity on soil formation and distribution can be quantified and incorporated in the new models.
Traditionally focused on agricultural land evaluation, urban land planners and resource managers are requesting that modern soil survey programs document the soil resources for improved interpretation and management. A multidisciplinary, intergrated study along the urban-rural land use gradient is needed to improve our knowledge of the spatial relationships of urban soils. Increased knowledge of these spatial relationships will allow better predictive modeling of urban ecosystem functions and thus contribute to more accurate land use interpretations and management of our limited ecological resources.