Soil bodies can be characterized not only by profile properties, but also by a natural drainage index, a soil body pattern index, and a landscape position. The average drainage index is simply a value expressing the average wetness or dryness of the soil on the terrain. One such expression is drainage class described in lecture and used in the field exercise at Heiberg Forest. The pattern index is simply a ratio of the soil body circumference to that of a circle having the same area. The pattern index is related to the drainage patterns of the terrain surface.
Patterns are different between glaciated terrain and terrain controlled by bedrock structure.
In regions where relief is great, there are more soilscape positions than in regions with low relief. The greater the relief in a soilscape, the greater the differences among different slope aspects, and the more the distribution of soil bodies is related to this feature. A particular kind of soil will occur wherever the factors of soil formation provide the requisite state, and this may be in more than one niche. Because of natural variability, the soil within the boundaries of a soil body are not purely the one designated on the map. These inclusions should not exceed 15 percent of the area within the boundary, but often exceed this proportion.