The work of this team is organized in 4 axes, two of them are mainly methodological, one is mainly cognitive, and the last one is mainly operational:

● A first axis deals with the in-situ characterization of functional soil properties (infiltrability, erodibility, useful reserve, sorption coefficient). The main objective is to develop rapid and inexpensive approaches to multiply the characterization of these properties in space or time. They are based on pedological expertise in the field and participatory approaches, associated with tools such as photogrammetry, Visible Near Infrared Spectrometry, geophysics and Very High Spatial Resolution imagery.

● The second axis focuses on mapping and monitoring of soil properties. Based on approaches combining remote sensing of soil properties and development of digital soil mapping models, the objectives are to (i) refine these approaches and manage uncertainty from input data to mapping products delivered to users, (ii) move from primary property mapping to functional property mapping, and (iii) address soil property monitoring using time series remote sensing images (multispectral, hyperspectral, digital surface models).

● The third axis focuses on the study of factors and mechanisms of spatiotemporal evolution of soil resources which, in the Mediterranean environment, are mainly related to water erosion. Work is being carried out on the interactions and synergies between elementary processes (disintegration and splash, gully and ravine erosion) and their relative importance, as well as on the effect of structures and interfaces modulating sedimentary connectivity. Work is also being carried out on the role and fate of organic matter or other molecules that are strongly adsorbed under the effect of water erosion. In addition, the team is also studying the morphogenesis and pedogenesis processes of soil located in particular but strategic positions with respect to water and contaminant flows (e.g., soils under ditches, under gullies).

● The fourth axis concerns the study of landscape managments (bench, terrace, ditch, reservoir, etc.) and cultural practices (e.g. no-till, intercropping) and their anti-erosion efficiency with a view to sustainable landscape management. The aim is to study I) the effectiveness of these practices and developments through experimental approaches and feedback on long-established managed catchments, and ii) their socio-economic acceptability. Modeling work to simulate the impact of these landscape managments (e.g. LANDSOIL, MHYDAS_Erosion, SWAT...) is carried out under the constraint of global changes, in order to study the "off-site" effects (e.g. water turbidity, filling of dams).