US soil survey data accessible over the web

The United States Department of Agriculture recently launched a 'Web Soil Survey' site that will provide public access to national soils information. The web site has been designed with three easy to use features - Define, View and Explore and operates much like internet sites that provide locator and directional information. When viewers visit the site, they are asked to "Define" a geographic area of interest. Once a location has been defined and projected on the screen, the viewer has the choice to print the map and related information, save it to their hard drive or download the data for use in a geographic information system. Prior to this new web site, all soil survey maps were printed and bound into soil survey books - that will slowly be phased out. Visit the web site or read the USDA news release about the new service.

Tags: agricultural information usa soils