Landcare Research New Zealand has launched a new national soils database, known as S-map Online, which aims to help decision makers understand New Zealand’s land use and ecology.
Landcare Research is a government-owned corporation overseeing the sustainable development and the management of land-based natural resources.
The online map service uses high-quality base maps, including ones based on the Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) topographic data, combined with soil information derived from a digital soil spatial information system that is being populated with data to provide consistent and comprehensive national soil data layers.
Additionally, S-map Online allows users to explore interactive maps of soil properties, learn about soil in their backyard or paddock, view detailed information about soil classes or attributes, and download soil factsheets for more detailed knowledge on soil properties.
According to David Medyckyj-Scott, Landcare Research’s informatics team manager, the launch of S-map Online is a “further step towards meeting the New Zealand Governments Declaration on Open and Transparent Government and the requirement that data and information should be open and readily available”.
Scott added that there is sufficient coverage to make the service a useful resource for many people, even though S-map doesn’t yet cover all of New Zealand.
“Work continues to extend S-map to the Environment Waikato and Environment Canterbury territorial areas, the soft-rock hill country in the central North Island and parts of Northland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Golden Bay and the West Coast,” he said
“We also have plans to further develop S-map Online so users can develop their soil knowledge and ultimately make better informed and more reliable land use decisions and we’ll keep users informed of these developments.”
You can learn more about S-map Online at http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/databases/smap.asp
Or access the map directly at http://smap.landcareresearch.co.nz/
