Understanding the composition and characteristics of soil is crucial for a variety of purposes, from agriculture and construction to environmental planning and conservation. Fortunately, accessing comprehensive soil data has never been easier thanks to online resources like the Web Soil Survey (WSS). This powerful Online Map tool, provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), offers a wealth of soil information right at your fingertips.
Web Soil Survey stands as the world’s largest publicly available natural resource information system. It’s the digital gateway to the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS), providing soil maps and data for over 95 percent of United States counties, with the goal of reaching 100 percent coverage soon. As the official source for soil survey information, WSS is continuously updated, ensuring you have access to the most current and authoritative data.
Soil surveys are invaluable for informed decision-making in land management and planning at various scales – from individual farms to regional projects. While Web Soil Survey provides extensive data, it’s important to remember that for specific applications like detailed soil quality assessments or complex engineering projects, on-site investigation may still be necessary. For localized guidance, you can easily connect with your local USDA Service Center or your NRCS State Soil Scientist through the provided links.
Navigating Web Soil Survey to find the soil map information you need is straightforward, broken down into four basic steps:
1. Define Your Area of Interest (AOI): Start by using the “Area of Interest” tab. This feature allows you to specify the exact location you’re interested in. You can define your AOI by address, coordinates, or by drawing shapes directly on the online map.
2. Explore the Soil Map: Once your AOI is defined, click on the “Soil Map” tab. Here, you can view a detailed soil map of your selected area. This tab provides not only a visual representation of soil types but also detailed descriptions of each soil type present within your AOI. You can also print the soil map for offline use.
3. Delve into Soil Data Explorer: For in-depth analysis, the “Soil Data Explorer” tab is your key resource. This section allows you to access a wide range of soil data and interpretations for your AOI. You can explore soil properties, assess soil suitability for various uses, and even customize reports to focus on the specific information you need. Items for your custom report can be added to your “shopping cart” for easy access.
4. Utilize the Shopping Cart for Reports: Finally, the “Shopping Cart” tab lets you compile and retrieve your customized soil data report. You can generate a printable report immediately or save it for later download. This feature provides a convenient way to consolidate all the soil information you’ve gathered into a single document.
Beyond these core steps, Web Soil Survey offers a range of additional resources and functionalities under the “I Want To…” section, including:
- Launching Web Soil Survey: Direct link to start using the application.
- System Requirements: Information on the technical requirements to run WSS effectively.
- Operational Hours: Details on the service availability schedule.
- Data Availability Maps: Online maps showing the extent of soil data coverage across the U.S.
- Topic-Based Information Guides: Resources to help you find specific types of soil information within WSS.
- Hyperlinking Instructions: Guidance on linking to Web Soil Survey from other documents.
- SSURGO Data Structure Information: Details about the structure of the underlying soil data.
- Mobile Device Access: Information on using Web Soil Survey on mobile platforms.
Stay informed about the latest updates and features of Web Soil Survey through the “Announcements/Events” section, and consider signing up for email updates to receive notifications directly.
If you need assistance using Web Soil Survey, the “I Want Help With…” section provides valuable resources such as:
- Getting Started Guides: Tutorials and introductory materials for new users.
- Online Help Documentation: Comprehensive help resources for navigating and using WSS.
- Known Issues and Solutions: Information on common problems and workarounds.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Answers to common user inquiries.
- Citation Guidance: Instructions on properly citing Web Soil Survey as a data source.
Web Soil Survey empowers users to explore and understand soil resources through an intuitive online map interface. Whether you are a farmer, engineer, researcher, or simply curious about the ground beneath your feet, WSS provides the soil data and mapping tools you need. Start exploring today and unlock the wealth of information contained within this invaluable resource.
