NASIS NATIONAL SOIL INFORMATION

SYSTEM --

AN OVERVIEW

WHAT IS NASIS?• NASIS is the NRCS’

National Soil Information System• NASIS is one part of NRCS resource

information system• NASIS is a set of soil survey concepts• NASIS is a data management system

(software)• NASIS is a user interface software

NASIS IS THE NRCS’ NATIONAL SOIL INFORMATION SYSTEM

Pedon

Lab

Range

Forest

SoilMap

Manuscripttext

NASIS

PlantData

SoilData

ClimateData

DOQs

Soil SurveyReport

CST

FOTG

CustomReports

SSURGO

Field Data CollectionPublic Data Custome

rProductsManage

Soil Data

Analyze/Summarize

Crops

WHY NASIS ?

• The need to be able to deliver data in a timely manner

• The need to improve data integrity, quality, and consistency

• The need to modify the data base as new soil properties become a priority

NASIS Concepts“National Soil Information System”

NASISNASIS

Map Unit Data(aggregated data)

Map Unit Data(aggregated data)

Point Data --Lab Data

Pedon Desc.

Point Data --Lab Data

Pedon Desc.

Concepts --Soil Tax., Interps

NSSH, SSM,

Concepts --Soil Tax., Interps

NSSH, SSM,Spatial DatabaseSpatial Database

NASIS IS ONE PART OF NRCS RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM

NRCS Information System

NASIS PLANTSEcological

SitesClimate

Data

DOQs Other

NASIS IS A SET OF SOIL SURVEY CONCEPTS

NASIS• Captures point data• Aggregates point data to component data• Interprets components• Captures a map unit concept• Manages Projects• Publishes Legends• Schedules and manages soil survey

activities

NASIS Pedon Concepts• Input - NASIS provides capability to enter

pedon descriptions, transect data, field notes and observations

• Import - import data from PedonPC and previously PDP 3.x data were converted into NASIS (~ 95K pedons 11/00) (~420K 1/12)

• Import – ability to append selected pedon data using spreadsheets

NASIS Pedon Concepts• Report - available to generate pedon

descriptions• Analysis - reports to summarize data• Consistency – Site/Pedon tables use

same choice lists as Map Unit/Component tables

• Pedons are linked to Components (Component Pedon) and Sites are linked to Map units (Site Map unit overlap)

NASIS Area/Legend Concepts

• A survey area is independent of its legend• Geographical area overlaps of soil survey

areas of areas can be recorded and map units assigned to those areas

• Historical soil survey information - area, legend, and map unit - are recorded

NASIS Map Unit Concepts

• Map units can have unlimited components• Components can have unlimited horizons• Soil property ranges are not limited to

series – but its RV values are.• Components are either “major” or “minor”

NASIS Map Unit Concepts

• Map Unit “Component” –

the lowest level spatial entity for which a range of soil property data is stored. It has known extent, but unknown spatial location, except by its relative topographic position within the map unit.

NASIS Map Unit Concepts

• Flooding, ponding, and soil moisture are annual events in which data are recorded by month in which it commonly occurs

NASIS Component Concepts

• Horizons can be identified by horizon nomenclature -- Ap, Bt1, etc.

• Representative values can be designated for many soil properties, as well as high and low values.

• Interpretation criteria can be developed to meet local needs

NASIS Concepts

• Component or pedon level data can be run through the interpretation generator to get interpretive results.

NASIS Security Concepts• Tables – organization of data elements

pertinent to one object• Objects – grouping of tables in a parent-

child relationship with similar data needs• Users are assigned to security Groups • Data objects can be owned and managed

by the Groups to protect data and restricts edit privileges

NASIS IS A DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SOFTWARE)

NASIS - data management

• NASIS is aimed at soil scientists who develop and manage soil data, not for public access to data

• NASIS national database exists on a central data server – software resides on the local computer– all users login to the same location (KC)– facilitates sharing of data

NASIS - data management• NASIS contains data for soil map units

and components, pedon descriptions, Soil Survey Schedule, and STATSGO

• NASIS includes the capability to generate interpretations on data using a new process -- fuzzy logic

• Exports data to Soil Data Warehouse and Soil Data Mart

NASIS - data management• NASIS provides capability to :

– add/delete data– search database– interpret data– report data and interpretation results– edit data– calculate and validate data– ensure data integrity– export data

NASIS - data management

• NASIS software does not enforce program policy or procedures

• NASIS software does not make correlation decisions - humans do

• NASIS software is a data management tool

Site

Lab dataPedon

DescriptionsVeg data -

range, crop,forest

Soil temp &moisture

Photos Other

Observ. date

Transects

NASIS Transaction Database

Soil Staging Server

Soil Data Warehouse

Soil Data Mart(s)

eFOTG

Resource Data ViewerSoil Data Viewer

Web Soil Data Viewer

On-line Soil SurveysElectronic Soil Surveys

Resource Data Gateway

NRI Models & Applications --

RUSLE2, WinPST, WEPS, etc

Pedon LIMS

Web Services/API

Spatial Data (Dig

Units)

Soil Data Warehouse and

Data Mart

WHO USES NASIS?

• Soil scientists at all levels of soil survey– Survey staff- legends and map unit data,

manuscripts, documentation– State office - providing data to users --

FOTG, SSURGO, interpretations, etc.– MLRA Regional staff - quality assurance,

correlation process– National office - tracking of progress,

national data queries

NASIS IS A USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE

START NASIS