Soils for Landscape Development: Selection, Specification and Validation

This second edition of Soils for Landscape Development provides a clear, practical and systematic template for specifying landscape soils based on scientific criteria. The soil specifications provide essential information and a universally applicable method for landscape architects and designers, specification writers, landscape contractors and soil supply companies to ensure quality and fit-for-purpose soils. A strong emphasis is placed on reducing environmental impacts by reuse of on-site soil, promoting appropriate minimal soil intervention, and using recycled products. The first edition won the Award of Excellence for Research and Communication in Landscape Architecture at the AILA NSW (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) Awards in 2014. The authors won a 2nd award for this book through The Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) in 2015).

Simon Leake is Technical Director of SESL (Sydney Environmental and Soil Laboratory) and a soil science subject matter expert with over 40 years' experience. He has expertise in soil/vegetation rehabilitation and reconstruction such as in mine sites and urban renewal projects, in field pedology, soil chemistry and soil physics and particularly the application of these to land management including landscape development, waste to land application and environmental contamination. He has extensive experience in composting and waste resource recycling to land and SESL runs several monitoring programs for waste to land recycling.

Elke Haege Thorvaldson FAILA, MAIH has over 24 years of experience and is passionate about the development of and sustainable connections to natural systems, particularly in urban environments. She is an award-winning registered landscape architect and fellow of The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), a consulting arborist and member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH). Elke has worked on projects in Australia, China, Denmark, the UK and North America.