Retrospective evaluation has consistently shown that soil information has value beyond the investment used to produce it. Digital soil mapping and assessment (DSMA) is the new paradigm for soil survey and a key source of soil and land information. It promises increased utility and flexibility for the users of soil information. Does DSMA methodology add value? What are some of the outcomes and emerging impacts? Seven examples from the burgeoning use of DSMA in and near Australia have been explored to determine the nature and extent of outcomes and impact achieved. The analysis began with a workshop of key soil scientists, involved a survey of the use of DSMA and attitudes to impact amongst practitioners of DSMA and looked at each of the seven examples in the context of the systems they seek to influence. There is evidence of progress along impact pathways in each case. In the simpler systems, the products of DSMA are being used as envisaged and change is occurring. In more complex systems, the role of soil information meshes with many other influences and impact is harder to discern. Importantly, we find that few practitioners using DSMA explicitly identify impact pathways and design projects at the outset to optimise the chance of more extensive impact. Thus, an approach to planning for impact in DSMA is proposed that could improve the chance of impact and allow for iteration as our understanding of the systems in which change is expected improves through our interaction with them.

回顾性评估始终表明，土壤信息的价值超出了用于生产土壤信息的投资。数字土壤测绘和评估（DSMA）是土壤调查的新范例，是土壤和土地信息的重要来源。它保证了土壤信息用户的实用性和灵活性。DSMA方法是否能增加价值？有哪些结果和新出现的影响？研究了在澳大利亚及其附近地区迅速使用DSMA的七个例子，以确定成果的性质和程度以及所取得的影响。该分析始于主要土壤科学家的研讨会，涉及对DSMA的使用和对DSMA实施者之间影响的态度的调查，并在他们寻求影响的系统的背景下考察了这七个实例。有证据表明在每种情况下，影响途径都有所进展。在较简单的系统中，按预期使用DSMA的产品，并且正在发生变化。在更复杂的系统中，土壤信息的作用与许多其他影响密切相关，而影响则难以辨认。重要的是，我们发现很少有使用DSMA的从业人员从一开始就明确确定影响途径并设计项目，以最大程度地扩大影响范围。因此，提出了一种计划DSMA中的影响的方法，该方法可以提高影响的机会并允许迭代，因为我们通过与它们的交互来了解对预期将发生变化的系统的了解。土壤信息的作用与许多其他影响密切相关，而影响则难以辨别。重要的是，我们发现很少有使用DSMA的从业人员从一开始就明确确定影响途径并设计项目，以最大程度地扩大影响范围。因此，提出了一种计划DSMA中的影响的方法，该方法可以提高影响的机会并允许迭代，因为我们通过与它们的交互来了解对预期将发生变化的系统的了解。土壤信息的作用与许多其他影响密切相关，而影响则难以辨别。重要的是，我们发现很少有使用DSMA的从业人员从一开始就明确确定影响途径并设计项目，以最大程度地扩大影响范围。因此，提出了一种计划DSMA中的影响的方法，该方法可以提高影响的机会并允许迭代，因为我们通过与它们的交互来了解对预期将发生变化的系统的了解。