What data do I need?

Map data: NATMAP (The National Soil Map)

NATMAP datasets are the authoritative digital soil map for use in GIS work in England and Wales. There are various levels of detail, and the different products are suitable for different tasks. These are outlined below.

NATMAP vector

If you are looking for the best quality available map data with national coverage, we recommend NATMAP vector. This is the dataset you want if you want to do any serious modelling with spatial soil property (SOILSERIES) data.

• Number of soil classes: ~ 300;
• Scale: 1:250K;
• Map units: Soil Associations.

NATMAP soilscapes

NATMAP soilscapes is ideal for people who want a simple description of the soils and soil landscapes and the relationship between soil and the environment.

• Number of soil classes: ~ 30;
• Scale: 1:250K;
• Map Units: Soilscape Units.

NATMAP 1000, 2000 & 5000

These are gridded vector versions of the National Soil Map, where the squares represent 1 km, 2 km and 5km respectively. These are suitable for modelling situations, but do not give the detail of NATMAP vector.

• Map Units: Soil Series % within polygon;
• Resolution: 1 km, 2 km or 5 km.

Soil Attribute Data : SOILSERIES and HORIZON

SOILSERIES attribute datasets have been developed to link to the NATMAP datasets (except NATMAP soilscapes) to provide more detailed soil information specific to the users needs. These are outlined below.

SOILSERIES info

This includes basic soil information including the modern definition of soil series.

SOILSERIES pesticides

This dataset is useful for modelling and predicting the movement and attenuation (fate and behaviour) of pesticides in soil, based on leaching and runoff classes.

SOILSERIES hydrology

This detailed dataset contains hydrological properties of the soil and associated rivers. It is useful for many types of hydrological models.

SOILSERIES agronomy

This provides information on the available soil water for mainstream crops for the different soil types across England and Wales.

SOILSERIES leacs

The Leacs data product is used by almost all the major water companies as part of their pipe replacement programme as part of their strategic Asset Management Plans (AMPs). Because soils are variably aggressive to pipes, knowing which pipes will need replacing first can save significant sums of money.

HORIZON fundamentals

These data detail the properties of each of the soil horizons (layers) from the topsoil to the parent material. Information includes textural propterties along with layer thicknesses. It provides different information for the same soil series under different land uses.

HORIZON hydraulics

These data detail the properties of each of the soil horizons (layers) from the topsoil to the parent material. Information includes hydraulic propterties along with layer thicknesses. It provides different information for the same soil series under different land uses.

The National Soil Inventory of Soil Quality Monitoring Data: NSI

NSI covers England and Wales on a 5x5 km grid and provides detailed information for each intersect on that grid. Collectively, NSI data are statistically representative of English and Welsh soils and they offer a valuable foundation for the future monitoring of soil quality.

NSI site

Describes the site of the point, including landuse and lithological information.

NSI profile

Gives a very detailed description of each soil horizon (layer) in the soil profile.

NSI topsoil

Gives detailed measurements from a bulked sample of the topsoil, of pH, organic carbon and over 20 elements (total and available) by a variety of laboratory methods.

NSI textures

Describes the soil texture, providing % information for the texture grades (i.e. sand (4 grades), silt & clay)

NSI features

This provides depth information to the various diagnostic layers within the soil profile.

Other soil data sets

LandIS contains a wide range of other data and you are encouraged to make contact with our help desk for more details.

To find out more about how our data might be of use to you, please have a look through these pages. You can even obtain a price for the data you need within an area.

Alternatively, you can e-mail nsridata@cranfield.ac.uk or call the LandIS Information Services Manager on (01234) 75 29 78.