Web Soil Survey (WSS), the internet program developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide soil maps, properties and usage, is now better than ever. The web site launched in August 2005 has been improved and enhanced to meet the demands of its growing customer base. The newest version of WSS (2.0) appeared online May 29, 2007 and can be accessed at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
The first and most noticed change is to the WSS homepage. It’s been redesigned to make navigation easier and more intuitive for the visitor, and to conform to new USDA standards. Another major addition is a new shopping cart feature that enables the customer to accumulate content, then download and/or print one composite PDF file with selected thematic maps and soil reports, basic soil maps, map unit legends and map unit descriptions. This file is referred to as a Custom Soil Resource Report.
In addition, the Public Land Survey System section data layer has been added to aide customers in navigating to their area of interest. Federal land ownership boundaries for United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Defense have also been added.
A point marker has been added to mark the designated address and latitude/longitude location. The shifted or “tilted” Area of Interest (AOI) boundary problem has been corrected. The new version also provides the customer with the option to print using a nationally unique map unit symbol instead of the traditional map unit symbol. This is useful when the AOI crosses soil survey area boundaries.
On the Soil Map tab the customer can access a new pop-up map unit description. Another valuable feature provides customers a link to all previously published and archived soil survey reports. Also the customer can now use scanned USGS topographical maps as an optional backdrop. The legend and layer tabs have been combined in to a single tab. On this tab the user can access with layer properties and display options.
These are only a sampling of the enhancements included in the latest version of WSS. A large number of minor enhancements have also been added. Overall the 2.0 version has made changes and/or improvements to more than 21 categories impacting subject areas that range from browser support to custom soil resources reports. More enhancements are planned for future releases.
Since its beginning the Web Soil Survey has attracted a wide array of online visitors from all over the world. During the first few months of its existence, the site averaged about 1000 users per day. Currently, we are averaging about 5000 users per day.
Today, soil surveys have become critical information for land use, both on the farm and in the city. Whether a developer is looking to build on or purchase land, or a farmer is considering alternative crops, soil survey data is a critical element in the equation that produces profits. This is essential to rural America and the need for producers and ranchers to maximize productivity without harming natural resources.
Making soils information available on the web has been a major achievement for NRCS and with the agency’s ongoing commitment to make the process better and easier for the customer, the important information can find its way into the hands of those making natural resource decisions. NRCS is a science based USDA federal agency committed to the preservation of the nation’s natural resources through the use of conservation.