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Detailed soil maps are required for land evaluation and subsequent comprehensive land-use planning of the Jordanian and to semi-arid area. The purity and the details of a suitability map are improved when a detailed soil map is used to produce it. This paper investigates the use of Landsat TM images and topographic data to assist in differentiating areas which represent soil-mapping units, at a detailed level. A 3-D view of Landsat TM image data using an air photo-derived DEM proved the best method to assist in this differentiation. Overlaying the soil observation points enhances this view, and provides a tool to validate the delineation. Further research is needed to investigate the interactive use of air photo or satellite image-derived DEMs and satellite data, with more focus on-site-specific planning and field verification of the technique. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd.