ASRIS
Australian Soil Resource Information System
Maps
Themes - National Soil Grids

National Soil Grids

Overview
Methods
Data products
Licensing
References
Downloads

Overview

The Australian Soil Resource Information System (ASRIS) is underpinned by a collation of the best available nationally consistent soils data and information.

A recent ASRIS user needs review showed that users want access to consistent data sets across the nation. Grid/raster data provides suitable inputs for many modelling applications and suits a wide range of users. 250m resolution grid/raster data is commensurate with the bulk of broad scale data currently within ASRIS. This resolution is appropriate for national and some regional level modelling and is achievable in terms of current data processing and delivery mechanisms.

ACLEP has used  the primary soil data (site and map based), provided by the jurisdictions to comply with standard ASRIS data models, to create a nationally consistent set of the best available soil data for Australia, drawing on ASRIS level 3, 4, and 5 data sets and the Digital Atlas of Australian Soils.

Methods

An initial set of ‘standard national soil data products’ for specific soil attributes (such as soil carbon or pH in the top 30cm) have been produced as gridded/raster surfaces (250m) across continental Australia. An initial process has been developed to calculate depth weighted averages for each mapped polygon as required for each product by proportioning or aggregating relevant depth layers for each component soil represented. Raster cell values are assigned from the best available data layer (priority order level 5, 4, 3, Atlas) from that polygon falling in the centre of each raster cell.

poly_raster

This approach is considered to be the first stage of an evolving process aimed at developing and releasing nationally consistent data sets. Improvements will include better spatial disaggregation of un-mapped components and therefore better allocation of values to grid cells; better processes for estimating average cell values using multiple contributing polygon/component values or spatial interpolation methods; better resolution data sets (90m to match GlobalSoilMap.net and TERN Soil and Landscape Facility expectations); implementation of digital soil mapping techniques to improve estimates based on available covariate layers and new methods (e.g. incorporation of spectral reflectance data and improved field calibration and validation data); estimations of temporal variation.

Data products

The initial national data products have been reviewed and endorsed by jurisdictions through their members of the National Committee on Soil and Terrain (NCST), with approval from the NCST for publication and distribution of the data sets through ASRIS. ‘Standard national soil data products’ are ACLEP products (acknowledging all jurisdictions), endorsed by the NCST as authoritative representations of the best available national data.

The current standard national soil data products are:

  • Clay content percentage 0-30 cm
  • Bulk density 0-30 cm
  • pH (Calcium Chloride 1:5) 0-30cm
  • Plant available water capacity 0-1 m
  • Australian Soil Classification

Profile available water capacity

Example standard national soil data product (PAWC 0-1 m)

Licensing

The standard national soil data products are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licensing.

Acknowledgement

You must acknowledge the work in the following manner (but not in any way that suggests that ACLEP endorse you or your use of the work).

“National soil data provided by the Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program ACLEP, endorsed through the National Committee on Soil and Terrain NCST (www.clw.csiro.au/aclep).”

Downloads

Clay content percentage 0-30 cm (13MB - ESRI Grid)

Bulk density 0-30 cm (13MB - ESRI Grid)

pH CaCL2 0-30 cm (48MB - ESRI Grid)

Plant available water capacity 0-1 m (12MB - ESRI Grid)

Australian Soil Classification (6MB - ESRI Grid)

Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Site Credits
Last updated: February 14, 2014