Putting SSURGO to work Developing meaningful Soil Data with ArcGIS & Microsoft Access 2005 Users Conference

Understanding the SSURGO Database Structure of the SSURGO Database Simple Joins & Relates in ArcGIS Developing Queries in Access The New Soil Data Viewer

The SSURGO Database Access Database Template with Customized Tables, Queries, Reports & Forms Soil Property Data Soil Interpretive Reports Generated from Property Data Product of the National Soil Information System (NASIS)

Database Structure Series of Related Tables legend Legend Key mapunit Related by Columns in Table Mapunit Key component Component Key chorizon Chorizon Key co#### mu#### ch#### chtexturegrp chtexture chtexturemod Chorizon Texture Group Key Chorizon Texture Key

Database Structure

Simple Joins & Relates in ArcGIS Start: SSURGO Download with Completed Database Imported & Empty Personal Geodatabase Add soil polygons (soil_nd###\spatial\soilmu_a_nd###.shp) to an Arc Map Session Add mapunit aggregate attributes table (soil_nd###\tabular\soil_d_nd###.mdb\mapunit) Right-click on soilmu_a_nd###.shp  Joins and Relates  Join1. Join will be based on MUKEY 2. Table to join to muaggatt 3. Field to base the join on mukey. Click OK Right-click on soilmu_a_nd###.shp  Open Attribute Table Several Columns to represent Soil Properties (To Understand See SSURGO Metadata Table Columns Report & Description in.mdb) Right-click on soilmu_a_nd###.shp  Data  Export Data Export: All Features  PGsoil_nd###.mdb ( a geodatabase previously created) End: Personal Geodatabase Feature Class with Soil Polygons and Aggregated Mapunit Attributes (Some Basic Property & Interpretive Values) DEMO Adding Mapunit Attributes to Soil Polygon Shapefile

Simple Joins & Relates in ArcGIS Start: SSURGO Download, Soil Polygons in Personal Geodatabase Feature Class In ArcCatalog navigate to the tables within the Access Database (soil_nd###\tabular\soil_d_nd###.mdb). Highlight both files. Right Click  Copy Find PGsoil_nd###.mdb in ArcCatalog. Right Click  Paste In ArcMap add your soil polygon feature class and tables from your personal geodatabase Right-click on soilmu_a_nd###.shp  Joins and Relates  Relate1. Relate will be based on MUKEY 2. Table to relate to component 3. Field to base the relate on mukey. Name relate mu to comp. Click OK Right-click on component table  Joins and Relates  Relate1. Relate will be based on COKEY 2. Table to relate to component 3. Field to base the relate on cokey. Name relate comp to chorizon. Click OK End: Two one-to-many relates relating Soil Polygons to Component Table to Horizon (chorizon) Table More Relating Component & Horizon Data to Soils Polygons

Simple Joins & Relates in ArcGIS Task: Find areas of high alkalinity in the rooting zone. Query for Soil Mapunits where a major component has a pH of greater than to 8.0 in the top 40 cm. In ArcMap open chorizon table. Options  Select by Attributes  Create New Selection WHERE [hzdept_r] = 8.5 Options  Related Tables  comp to chorizon In component table. Options  Select by Attributes  Select from Current Selection WHERE [majorcompflag] = “Yes” Options  Related Tables  mu to comp Soil Polygons Meeting this criteria will now be selected Right Click on soil_mu_a_nd###  Data  Export Data  Selected Features  PGsoil_nd###.mdb Result: Personal Geodatabase Feature Class indicating soils where high alkalinity may occur regularly DEMO Querying for Soils Properties & Relating to Polygons

Creating Custom Tables in Access Query Component Table to ensure Components are in correct order Using Highest Percent Composition for Mapunit Level Component Data Querying for Datasets of Interest Design View Datasheet View Query Can be Exported into DBIV file and joined with Shapefile or Personal Geodatabase mukey ascending comppct_r descending = highest percent composition in mapunit

Creating Custom Tables in Access Query Specific Soil Properties that occur at or near the soil surface Querying for Datasets of Interest Design View hzdept_r = 0 for surface 0 centimeters deep highest percent composition in mapunit organic matter pH Design View Datasheet View Query Can be also be exported into DBIV

October 17, 2005 – NRCS releases Soil Data Viewer 5.0 Aggregation of Soil Property Data Aggregation of Property Data into Interpretive Values Analyze Data Create Thematic Maps

For use with ArcGIS (9.1 TBA) or standalone Compute a single value for a map unit and display results, No need to query the database and join to the spatial data. Basic Mode - Interpretations Only (eg. Paths, Trails & Golf Fairways) Advanced Mode - Interpretations & Properties (Cation Exchange Capacity, Salinity)

Steps required to use Soil Data Viewer Go to and download Soil Data Viewer Complete a new SSURGO download (v. 32 Access Database) Follow steps to extract tabular data into access database Add a soil polygon shapefile into ArcMap session (no coverages or geodatabases) Tools  Customize  Toolbars: Check On - Soil Data Viewer Click SDV Button in ArcMap Returns Temporary Shapefiles

56 Interpretive Classes As Many as 15 Categories Basic Mode - Default Aggregation Minimal Criteria Set Advanced Mode Define Aggregation

SDV Demonstration Questions, Comments, Assistance & Ideas Contact: USDA-NRCS North Dakota Soils Staff (701)