Metadata for SSURGO Soils Web Service (Web Mercator) Metadata for SSURGO Soils Web Service (Web Mercator)

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Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator:

U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Publication date: 2024

Title: SSURGO Soils Web Service (Web Mercator)

Publication place: Helena, MT
Publisher: Montana State Library

Online linkage: https://gisservicemt.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MSDI_Framework/Soils/MapServer

Larger Work Citation:

Title: Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Data for Montana
Online linkage: https://mslservices.mt.gov/Geographic_Information/Data/DataList/datalist_Details.aspx?did={812622e9-3e92-4d74-b84b-33e5b74f6a65}

Abstract:

The soils web service contains the Soils Surveys, Soil Line Features, Soil Point Features, Soil Map Units, ESP Zones, Major Land Resource Areas, and Rangeland Resource Units. The web service is in the Web Mercator projection. The SSURGO database contains information about soil as collected by the National Cooperative Soil Survey over the course of a century. The information was gathered by walking over the land and observing the soil. Many soil samples were analyzed in laboratories. The maps outline areas called map units. The map units describe soils and other components that have unique properties, interpretations, and productivity. The information was collected at scales ranging from 1:12,000 to 1:63,360. The mapping is intended for natural resource planning and management by landowners, townships, and counties. Some knowledge of soils data and map scale is necessary to avoid misunderstandings.

Purpose:

SSURGO depicts information about the kinds and distribution of soils on the landscape. The soil map and data used in the SSURGO product were prepared by soil scientists as part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Supplemental information:

Digital versions of hydrography, cultural features, and other associated layers that are not part of the SSURGO data set may be available from the primary organization listed in the Point of Contact.

Time period of content:

Calendar date: 01/18/2024
Currentness reference: publication date

Status:

Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

Access constraints: None

Use constraints:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data.

This data set is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool in permitting or citing decisions, but may be used as a reference source. This is public information and may be interpreted by organizations, agencies, units of government, or others based on needs; however, they are responsible for the appropriate application. Federal, State, or local regulatory bodies are not to reassign to the Natural Resources Conservation Service any authority for the decisions that they make. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will not perform any evaluations of these maps for purposes related solely to State or local regulatory programs.

Photographic or digital enlargement of these maps to scales greater than at which they were originally mapped can cause misinterpretation of the data. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. The depicted soil boundaries, interpretations, and analysis derived from them do not eliminate the need for onsite sampling, testing, and detailed study of specific sites for intensive uses. Thus, these data and their interpretations are intended for planning purposes only. Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated, and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data.

Point of contact:

State Soil Scientist
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
Room 443
10 East Babcock Street
Bozeman, MT 59715-4704
Telephone: 406-587-6818
TDD/TTY telephone: 800-877-8339
Fax: 406-587-6761

Data Quality Information:

Attribute accuracy report:

Attribute accuracy is tested by manual comparison of the source with hard copy plots and/or symbolized display of the map data on an interactive computer graphic system. Selected attributes that cannot be visually verified on plots or on screen are interactively queried and verified on screen. In addition, the attributes are tested against a master set of valid attributes. All attribute data conform to the attribute codes in the signed classification and correlation document and amendment(s).

Logical consistency report:

All internal polygons are tested for closure with vendor software and are checked on hard copy plots. All data are checked for common soil lines (i.e.,adjacent polygons with the same label). Edge locations generally do not deviate from centerline to centerline by more than 0.01 inch. The quadrangles in each survey area have been edge matched to the quadrangles in adjacent soil survey areas.

Completeness report:

A map unit is a collection of areas defined and named in terms of their soil components or miscellaneous areas or both. Each map unit differs in some respect from all others in a survey area and each map unit has a symbol that uniquely identifies the map unit on a soil map. Each individual area, point, or line so identified on the map is a delineation.

Soil Scientists identify small areas of soils or miscellaneous areas that have properties and behavior significantly different than the named soils in the surrounding map unit. These minor components may be indicated as special features. If they have a minimal effect on use and management, or could not be precisely located, they may not be indicated on the map.

A map unit has specified kinds of soils or miscellaneous areas (map unit components), each with a designated range in proportionate extent. Map units include one or more kinds of soil or miscellaneous area. Miscellaneous areas are areas that have little or no recognizable soil.

Specific National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and procedures were used in the classification of soils, design and name of map units, and location of special soil features. These standards are outlined in Agricultural Handbook 18, Soil Survey Manual, 1993, USDA, NRCS; Agricultural Handbook 436, Soil Taxonomy, 1995, USDA, NRCS; and all Amendments; Keys to Soil Taxonomy, (current issue) USDA, NRCS; National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI,(current issue) USDA, NRCS.

The actual composition and interpretive purity of the map unit delineations were based on data collected by scientists during the course of preparing the soil maps. Adherence to National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and procedures is based on peer review, quality control, and quality assurance. Quality control is outlined in the memorandum of understanding for the soil survey area and in documents that reside with the Natural Resources Conservation Service state soil scientist. Four kinds of map units are used in soil surveys: consociations, complexes, associations, and undifferentiated groups.

Consociations - Consociations are named for the dominant soil. In a consociation, delineated areas use a single name from the dominant component in the map unit. Dissimilar components are minor in extent. The soil component in a consociation may be identified at any taxonomic level. Soil series is the lowest taxonomic level. A consociation that is named as a miscellaneous area is dominantly that kind of area and minor components do not significantly affect the use of the map unit. The total amount of dissimilar inclusions of other components in a map unit generally does not exceed about 15 percent if limiting and 25 percent if nonlimiting. A single component of a dissimilar limiting inclusion generally does not exceed 10 percent if very contrasting.

Complexes and associations - Complexes and associations consist of two or more dissimilar components that occur in a regularly repeating pattern. The total amount of other dissimilar components is minor extent. The following arbitrary rule determines whether complex or association is used in the name. The major components of an association can be separated at the scale of mapping. In either case, because the major components are sufficiently different in morphology or behavior, the map unit cannot be called a consociation. In each delineation of a complex or an association, each major component is normally present though their proportions may vary appreciably from one delineation to another. The total amount of inclusions in a map unit that are dissimilar to any of the major components does not exceed 15 percent if limiting and 25 percent if nonlimiting. A single kind of dissimilar limiting inclusion usually does not exceed 10 percent.

Undifferentiated groups - Undifferentiated groups consist of two or more components that are not consistently associated geographically and, therefore, do not always occur together in the same map delineation. These components are included in the same named map unit because their use and management are the same or very similar for common uses. Generally they are grouped together because some common feature, such as steepness, stoniness, or flooding, determines their use and management. If two or more additional map units would serve no useful purpose, they may be included in the same unit. Each delineation has at least one of the major components, and some may have all of them. The same principles regarding the proportion of minor components that apply to consociations also apply to undifferentiated groups. The same principles regarding proportion of inclusion apply to undifferentiated groups as to consociations.

Minimum documentation consists of three complete soil profile descriptions that are collected for each soil added to the legend, one additional per 3,000 acres mapped; three 10 observation transects for each map unit, one additional 10 point transect per 3,000 acres.

A defined standard or level of confidence in the interpretive purity of the map unit delineations is attained by adjusting the kind and intensity of field investigations. Field investigations and data collection are carried out in sufficient detail to name map units and to identify accurately and consistently areas of about 5 acres.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:

The accuracy of these digital data is based upon their compilation to base maps that meet National Map Accuracy Standards at a scale of 1 inch equals 1,000 feet. The difference in positional accuracy between the soil boundaries and special soil features locations in the field and their digitized map locations is unknown. The locational accuracy of soil delineations on the ground varies with the transition between map units.

For example, on long gently sloping landscapes the transition occurs gradually over many feet. Where landscapes change abruptly from steep to level, the transition will be very narrow. Soil delineation boundaries and special soil features generally were digitized within 0.01 inch of their locations on the digitizing source. The digital map elements are edge matched between data sets. The data along each quadrangle edge are matched against the data for the adjacent quadrangle. Edge locations generally do not deviate from centerline to centerline by more than 0.01 inch.

Lineage:

Source information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication date: 1972-1991
Title: multiple 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: paper
Source contribution:: base maps for compilation of soils, special features and as reference in compilation of cultural features
Beginning date: 1975
Ending date: 1992

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Soil Conservation Service
Publication date: 1975
Title: multiple photographs
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: paper
Source contribution:: base materials (stereo pairs) for field mapping and development of a special features layer
Beginning date: 1975
Ending date: 1990

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Soil Conservation Service
Publication date: 1984
Title: quad centered imagery
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: stable-base material
Source contribution: compilation base
Beginning date: 1984
Ending date: 1991

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: unpublished material
Title: annotation overlay
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: stable-base material
Source contribution: scan source
Beginning date: 1991
Ending date: 1992

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 1998
Title:: Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data base for Carter County, Montana
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: source used for digital revisions
Calendar date: 2002

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: unpublished material
Title: revised DLG-3
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: magnetic tape
Calendar date: 2000

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Title: Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO)for Montana
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: county wide SHAPE files used as source for digital revision

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Title: National Soil Information System (NASIS) data base
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: database
Source contribution: attribute (tabular) information

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Title:: National Soil Information System (NASIS) database for Montana
Type of source media: online
Source contribution:: map unit legend used for comparison to spatial map unit labels

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: unpublished material
Title: ArcGIS geodatabase files for the soil surveys of Montana
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution:: digital information containing area and special soil features for evaluation

Source information:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 2011
Title:: National Soil Information System (NASIS) database for Montana
Type of source media: online
Source contribution:: map unit legend used for comparison to spatial map unit labels

Process step:

Field procedures for the second order soil survey included plotting of soil boundaries determined by field observation and by interpretation of remotely sensed data. Boundaries were verified at closely spaced intervals, and the soils in each delineation were identified by traversing and transecting the landscape. Soil scientists described and sampled the soils, analyzed samples in the laboratory, and statistically analyzed the data. The classification and map unit names were finalized for specific dates given in the metadata for each survey area.

Process step:

Map compilation was initiated by soil survey staff by transferring soil delineations, labels, and special features from the field sheets to the quad centered 1/3 quad format imagery. This was accomplished by overlaying the quad centered imagery with the field sheets, adjusting the images, and transferring the data.

Process step:

The final compilation procedure was to transfer the soils layer to an annotated overlay. This was accomplished by adjusting the quad centered imagery to their corresponding 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle and transferring the soils and special features to the punch registered to stable-base overlays for scanning.

Process step:

The soils layers for each survey area were digitally produced using the processing steps described in the metadata for each survey area.

Process step:

The Map Unit Interpretations Record data base was developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientists according to national standards and updated to reflect changes in interpretations.

Process step:

The National Soil Information System data base was developed by Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientists according to national standards.

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, upon completion of data quality verification, determined that the tabular data should be released for official use. A selected set of map units and components in the soil survey legend was copied to a staging database, and rating values for selected interpretations were generated. The list of selected interpretations is stored in the database table named sainterp.

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate verified that the labels on the digitized soil map units link to map units in the tabular database, and certified the joined data sets for release to the Soil Data Warehouse. A system assigned version number and date stamp were added and the data were copied to the data warehouse. The tabular data for the map units and components were extracted from the data warehouse and reformatted into the soil data delivery data model, then stored in the Soil Data Mart. The spatial data were copied to the Soil Data Mart without change.

Process step:

Process step:

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, upon completion of data quality verification, determined that the tabular data for each survey area should be released for official use. A selected set of map units and components in the soil survey legend was copied to a staging database, and rating values for selected interpretations were generated. The list of selected interpretations is stored in the database table named sainterp.

Process step:

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, generated new rating values for selected interpretations using current interpretation rules from the NASIS database. The National Non-tech (generated) has been added along with the full set of Department of Homeland Security and Military interpretations.

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, generated new rating values for selected interpretations using current interpretation rules from the NASIS database to include refreshed modeled crop yields, addition of MT springler irrigation interpretation.

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, generated new rating values for selected interpretations using current interpretation rules from the NASIS database to reflect adding/refreshing 11 national BLM interpretations.

Process step:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate, generated new rating values for selected interpretations using current interpretation rules from the NASIS database to reflect addition of BLM-Reclamation suitability (MT) interpretations.

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Map projection:

Map projection name: WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere
Map projection parameters:

Planar distance units: meter

Geodetic model:

Horizontal datum name: D WGS 1984
Ellipsoid name: WGS 1984
Semi-major axis: 6378137.0
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257223563

Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: Special Soil Features

Entity type definition:

Special Soil Features represent soil, miscellaneous area, or landform features that are too small to be digitized as soil delineations (area features).

Attribute label: Special Soil Features Codes

Attribute definition:: Special Soil Features labels represent specific Special Soil Features. These features are identified with a descriptive label. The label is assigned to the point or line assigned to represent the feature on maps.

Entity and attribute overview:

Map Unit Delineations are closed polygons that may be dominated by a single soil or miscellaneous area component plus allowable similar or dissimilar soils, or they can be geographic mixtures of groups of soils or soils and miscellaneous areas.

The map unit symbol uniquely identifies each closed map unit delineation. Each symbol corresponds to a map unit name. The map unit key is used to link to information in the National Soil Information System tables.

Map Unit Delineations are described by the National Soil Information System database. This attribute database gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and the properties for each soil. The database contains both estimated and measured data on the physical and chemical soil properties and soil interpretations for engineering, water management, recreation, agronomic, woodland, range, and wildlife uses of the soil.

The National Soil Information System database contains static metadata. It documents the data structure and includes such information as what tables, columns, indexes, and relationships are defined as well as a variety of attributes of each of these database objects. Attributes include table and column descriptions and detailed domain information.

The National Soil Information System database also contains a distribution metadata. It records the criteria used for selecting map units and components for inclusion in the set of distributed data.

Special features are described in the feature table. It includes an area symbol, feature label, feature name, and feature description for each special and ad hoc feature in the survey area.

Entity and attribute detail citation:

Soil Taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Agricultural Handbook 436, 1999, USDA, SCS.

Keys to Soil Taxonomy (current issue), USDA, SCS.

National Soil Survey Handbook, Title 430-VI, part 647 (current
issue), USDA, NRCS.

Agricultural Handbook 18, Soil Survey Manual, 1993, USDA, SCS.

Distribution Information:

Distributor:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Cartography and Geospatial Center
501 West Felix Street, Building 23, P.O. Box 6567
Fort Worth, Texas 76115
Telephone: 800 672 5559
Telephone: 800 672 5559
TDD/TTY telephone: 202 720 2600
Fax: 817 509 3469

Resource description: Live Data and Maps

Distribution liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the Agency regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

The Montana State Library Geographic Information Services provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 01/22/2024

Metadata contact:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov