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Project title

Digital soil information system for Ireland ? Scoping Study

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

Karen Daly

Project Abstract

Soil is a multifunctional and complex medium providing ecosystem services such as the production of food fibre and fuel; provision of habitat; nutrient cycling; contaminant transformation; water cycling and climate regulation. A number of policy and legislative developments at European level (Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection(COM(2006) 231) proposed SFD (COM(2006) 232)) have led to the requirement for harmonisation and coordination of soil data across Europe. In light of the demands for soil protection on a regional basis there is a need to support policy with a harmonised soil information system in order to maintain a sustainable agro-environmental economy and fulfil policy requirements at national and European level.In Ireland soil data exist in variable forms and complete coverage at 1:250000 - the target scale identified at European level - does not exist. The terms of reference for this scoping study were to investigate the feasibility of producing a 1:250000 digital soil map and to consider a specification for a digital soil information system which would serve as the framework technology underpinning the 1:250000 map.The approach included reviewing procedures and mapping methods proposed at European level; a review of soil information systems from around the world; a review of existing Irish soil data and an expert consultation exercise with national and international soil experts.An inventory of Irish soil data was compiled to assess their utility and application. This survey of scientists and users of soil data confirmed that most soil data are held by Teagasc. The National Soil Survey (NSS) was based in An Foras Talintais (forerunner organisation to Teagasc) from which the main outputs were: mapping at 1:127560 scale for 44% of the country; General Soil Map of Ireland and National Peatland map both at 1:575000 scale. More recently Teagasc has produced Indicative Soil and Subsoil mapping with national coverage and the National Soil Database comprising of 1310 soil samples of the upper 10 cm based on a sampling grid of 10 x 10 km.Soil is a multifunctional and complex medium providing ecosystem services such as the production of food fibre and fuel; provision of habitat; nutrient cycling; contaminant transformation; water cycling and climate regulation. A number of policy and legislative developments at European level (Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection(COM(2006) 231) proposed SFD (COM(2006) 232)) have led to the requirement for harmonisation and coordination of soil data across Europe. In light of the demands for soil protection on a regional basis there is a need to support policy with a harmonised soil information system in order to maintain a sustainable agro-environmental economy and fulfil policy requirements at national and European level.In Ireland soil data exist in variable forms and complete coverage at 1:250000 - the target scale identified at European level - does not exist. The terms of reference for this scoping study were to investigate the feasibility of producing a 1:250000 digital soil map and to consider a specification for a digital soil information system which would serve as the framework technology underpinning the 1:250000 map.The approach included reviewing procedures and mapping methods proposed at European level; a review of soil information systems from around the world; a review of existing Irish soil data and an expert consultation exercise with national and international soil experts.An inventory of Irish soil data was compiled to assess their utility and application. This survey of scientists and users of soil data confirmed that most soil data are held by Teagasc. The National Soil Survey (NSS) was based in An Foras Talintais (forerunner organisation to Teagasc) from which the main outputs were: mapping at 1:127560 scale for 44% of the country; General Soil Map of Ireland and National Peatland map both at 1:575000 scale. More recently Teagasc has produced Indicative Soil and Subsoil mapping with national coverage and the National Soil Database comprising of 1310 soil samples of the upper 10 cm based on a sampling grid of 10 x 10 km.

Grant Approved

�60,000.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Soils and Land-Use

Start Date

n/a

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a