The GlobalSoilMap.net project aims to produce predictions of nine key soil properties at continuous depth intervals at a spatial resolution of 90 m for the entire world. These maps of soil properties will be produced by a participants working under the coordination of regional node leaders with responsibility for organizing and delivering results for eight defined geographic regions of the world. This paper identifies and discusses the technical impediments to moving towards commencement of operational production mapping. These are: i) agreement on specifications for all products, ii) location, digital capture and harmonization of legacy soil data, iii) assembly of covariate databases, iv) documentation of prediction methods, v) specification of data model(s) to use to capture, store and disseminate maps and data, vi) selection of cyber-infrastructure to support map production and dissemination vii) end user surveys assessment and verification, and vii) identification of methods for assessing the uncertainty and accuracy of predictions. Actions undertaken to date to address these challenges are presented and progresses evaluated. There are no significant technical reasons for not moving towards planning and implementing operational production mapping.
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