Soil Surveys

We may take soil for granted as we walk on it each day, but what lies beneath the ground can tell us a lot about our Earth - ranging from what crops can grow through to the stability of the land for construction. Soil surveys are one way of mapping the properties of soil around the world.

What are they?

Soil surveys are the process by which the properties and types of soil in a particular area of landscape are mapped. Soil surveys can include a variety of data, some much more detailed than others. They can look at vegetation and land use patterns as well as detailed analyses of soil types.

This type of survey can also refer to the published results of a survey. Most governments have an agency that collects and controls soil survey data, such as the NRCS Web Soil Survey of the USA.

What are they used for?

They serve a variety of purposes and the data included in them is very beneficial. Farmers and other agricultural workers rely on soil surveys to be able to determine which types of soil types are best for their crops as well as to decide on a method of soil management.

Engineers and architects use these surveys to determine whether a particular area has a suitable soil type for the construction they wish to design. Some soil types can indicate that the land is not very stable or is prone to erosion or flooding.

On a smaller scale, home owners may use a survey to choose what plants to put in their gardens. Different soil types are more suitable for different plants.

What does it include?

Oftentimes it can be large documents that contain a variety of data and information that can help you to understand the properties of land in a particular area.

Generally there are six components to it. The first component is a brief overview of the geography of the land that has been surveyed, followed by a general soil map that describes the major soil types and their characteristics. Next are aerial photographs of the area, which also outline the different major soil types and these are each indexed. There may also be close-up photographs of the major soil types from the area.

The final two sections are usually a variety of tables, some of which may include detailed information about the soil such as the soil texture, particle size, plasticity, permeability, corrosion properties and erodibility. There will also be a more general range of tables with information about the total area of different soil types and land use planning suggestions.

Where to find?

In the past, these surveys in the USA were always published in a book that could be viewed publicly at a local library. This book was called the National Cooperative Soil Survey, and each county had their own soil survey.

These days soil surveys are now entirely published on the internet and are accessible by the public. They have also made available current soil survey data for GIS users to download.

The move to the internet has meant that soil survey data is much more easily accessible and any changes to the soil survey can be instantly updated online, rather than having to publish a new book with the changes.

Homeowners and other members of the public can now view customized surveys for their local area, which is very useful for those interested in designing their gardens to suit the soil type and characteristics.

To learn more about land surveys and to find a professional land surveyor in your area, be sure to visit the Land Surveyor website for all your land surveying needs.