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 The Web Soil Survey is a Natural Resources Conservation Service national web site that allows online viewing of soil survey maps and reports.
Customers can select geographic areas of interest (AOI), view soil and thematic maps online, interact with official soil data on Soil Data Mart, access data across SSA boundaries, link to related NRCS information and resource data, download data and print.
The Soil Data Mart provides an internet-based mechanism to access soils data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It does not physically store the pre-packaged datasets, but instead generates them in real-time as a request is made from a customer.
The ODNR Geographic Information System (GIS) web site not only allows users to download soils information but gives them a multitude of other county and statewide spatial information. Where data cannot be directly downloaded, the metadata report gives transfer instructions and contacts for alternative ways to acquire the data. Many other types of spatial data can be accessed here.
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Who uses soil information?
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County auditors use the data to update the Current Agricultural Use Value database |
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Health departments use the information to assess the suitability of lots for developments |
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County engineers use the information in their long-range planning |
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Planning commissions use the survey to identify sensitive land that needs careful management or protection |
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Homeowners find the soil survey CD helpful in identifying sites for household sewage treatment systems |
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Farmers use the soil survey CDs to help them evaluate their manure storage and application practices |
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Watershed groups use the survey to protect watersheds |
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Developers can calulate the impact of economic development projects such as highways, water systems and sewers |
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Emergency agencies find the data helpful in handling environmental threats such as chemical spills |
The Digital Soil Survey (DSS) contains the county soil survey on a CD. This information was traditionally found in the large county soil survey books. All the software necessary to view the soil survey and the map is on the CD. Due to the large amount of data on the DSS it is not feasible to provide it via the internet.
The Digital Soil Information(DSI) contains county soil information on a CD. This information is similar to the data available from the Soil Data Mart. Note: the information on a DSI CD may not be as current as the information downloaded from the Soil Data Mart.
County Soil Survey and Supplements are downloadable files (.pdf formats) from the most current county soil survey manuscripts available. For most counties this means the text is at least 10 years old. Supplements are county soil survey texts that have been updated to include new mapping units, new text, and new tables addressing new land use concerns. Soil survey supplements do not include updated maps. Any soil survey is only as current as its published date.
Soils information is the most robust land use planning tool available
Soils have been mapped for every acre in Ohio. They were mapped over the past 60 years from about 200 soil scientists investigating every landscape across the state. Soils information is continuously being updated to address new land use concerns. Each soil mapping unit has many soil properties and hundreds of interpretations that can be made from these properties.
Newly digitized soils information can be used in conjunction with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to aid in land use planning decisions.
In the past, soils information has been used to make broad land use planning decisions but now more than ever maps can be easily produced showing priority areas.
Soil properties and interpretations can be used individually or in combination to produce priority areas for conservation improvements or best management practices for implementation.
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