Streaming Soil Survey Data in Google Earth (updates)

Submitted by dylan on Thu, 2008-04-17 00:55.

STATSGO KML sample imageSTATSGO KML thumbnail

SSURGO KML ThumbnailSSURGO KML Thumbnail

A short update to a previous post on the visualization of NCSS/USDA soil survey data in Google Earth. The use of the NetworkLink construct, combined with the spatial indexing present in PostGIS, allows for very rapid lookup and presentation of this massive database. Scale-dependant switching between the detailed (SSURGO) and generalized (STATSGO) databases is done through simple area calculation in PostGIS.

Here is the link to the KMZ file. Here is a link to our conventional viewer application, based on Ka-Map / Mapserver, using the same PostGIS back-end (previous post on this). This PLSS KML file is very useful along-side soil survey information.

 
Feedback is always welcome!

 
Updates:

  • added link to download-able KMZ file, no longer need to manually create a network link
  • KMZ (compressed KML) is now used to for streaming soil survey data (5x-10x smaller files)
  • graphical component summaries are presented in the map unit info "bubble"

Soil-Web Graphical Component ListSoil-Web Graphical Component List

‹ SoilWeb Usage StatisticsupThree New Soils-Related KMZ Demos ›
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Soil Dtail Info

Submitted by Jay (not verified) on Thu, 2013-03-28 10:37.

Am i doing something wrong? Over the past 2-3 weeks the function that allows you to click on a polygon does not appear to be working consistently. I'm guessing its a bug that needs fixing. Wanted to call it to you attention.

Site Index

Submitted by Tim Culbreth (not verified) on Thu, 2012-03-29 13:12.

Really enjoy the Google Earth extension. Is there anyway to access Site Index?

More Data

Submitted by dylan on Sun, 2013-02-24 22:29.

Hi Tim,

Click on a polygon to get more information on the selected map unit. Clicking on the component names will take you to a new page with details on that component.

Amazing!

Submitted by steve (not verified) on Fri, 2012-02-10 16:41.

Great resource! I have had this app on my iphone for a few months and it works great. I just added the layer in kzm Google earth, which is also working great. Question: Where are you getting the vegetation from? Does it relate to the soil type or area? Thanks.

Vegetation Data

Submitted by dylan on Wed, 2012-02-22 17:24.

Those data come right out of the SSURGO database. All we do is format and link them to the USDA Plants database.

whole country?

Submitted by Anna (not verified) on Wed, 2008-06-18 22:44.

This is awesome. Do you know whether anyone has done all the lower 48 states?

RE:

Submitted by dylan on Fri, 2010-02-26 17:42.

Yes. We are slowly adding all of the lower 48.

Couldn't find soils KMZ file

Submitted by SB (not verified) on Mon, 2008-06-16 20:11.

Your soils layer for Google Earth looks very useful. However, the link to the KMZ file didn't work for me--it just redirects to a webpage. Am I missing the download? Can you help me get it? Thanks!

fixed

Submitted by dylan on Tue, 2008-06-17 15:06.

Thanks for the note. The link is now fixed.