Public soil-data source catalog¶
The catalog separates underlying databases from interfaces and derivative products. It also separates mapped survey information, laboratory observations, sensors, models, research releases, and regulatory site context.
Integration status¶
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
supported |
Deployed adapter, routine mocked tests, and optional live integration test |
experimental |
Working adapter with known operational gaps |
planned |
Prioritized for an adapter; not queryable through OpenSoil yet |
researching |
Access, terms, model, or reliability still being evaluated |
temporarily_unavailable |
Adapter exists but is disabled due to provider or safety conditions |
deprecated |
Adapter remains documented for migration but should not be used |
Current provider state is available from GET /v1/providers.
Priority sequence¶
- USDA Soil Data Access / SSURGO — supported for bounded point queries.
- NCSS Lab Data Mart — planned for measured pedon and horizon data.
- Official Soil Series Descriptions and classification — planned taxonomy context.
- SCAN — planned soil-moisture and temperature time series.
- USGS Geochemical Data Portal — planned trace-element observations.
- gNATSGO and SOLUS, followed by RaCA, NEON, FIADB, and separately labeled EPA cleanup context.
Duplication to avoid¶
- Web Soil Survey, Soil Data Access, SoilWeb, and many state viewers primarily expose or reinterpret SSURGO/STATSGO2.
- gSSURGO derives from SSURGO; gNATSGO combines SSURGO, STATSGO2, and Raster Soil Survey products.
- NASIS is NRCS's authoring system; published soil survey data are a public output.
- NCSS Lab Data Mart contains measured pedons and is fundamentally different from representative SSURGO map-unit values.
- EPA cleanup systems provide site-management and contamination context, not a nationwide clean-soil measurement collection.
Catalog maintenance rule¶
Rate limits, authentication, licenses, and endpoints can change. When a field has not been verified against the current provider publication, the catalog says so instead of guessing. A source remains planned or researching until a working adapter and tests justify a stronger status.