ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the development of spectroscopy from an experimental research instrument toward an operational mapping tool. Integrating spectral based methods with well-established physicochemical methods such as the Atterberg limits, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), will bring about a better understanding of expansive soils and result in a better classification. Proper calibrations based on a limited number of samples will enable a user to classify soils of unknown swell potential. Such an approach provides a tool for generalizing results of soil assessments conducted at limited sites, and thereby increases the efficiency of expensive and time-consuming studies. The rapid nature of the measurement allows soil variability to be more adequately sampled than with conventional approaches. The spatial characterization of the soil surface in the field provides a coherent framework for linking soil information with remote sensing information for improved spatial prediction of swelling.
