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Soils data online
About SPADE NRAtlas
The Soil Profile Attribute Data Environment in NRAtlas (SPADE NRAtlas) provides public access via the Internet to the substantial soil and land data set held for NSW by the Department.
The soil profile information displayed in SPADE NRAtlas comes from the Soil And Land Information System (SALIS), NSW’s foundation land and soil database. In SPADE NRAtlas the soil information is displayed as one of three text-based reports that include various levels of physical and chemical information for each profile.
For more information on how to use SPADE NRAtlas, click on the Help link beneath the map in the viewer window.
The reports available through SPADE NRAtlas
Using SPADE NRAtlas, you have access to one of three reports of differing levels of detail, so that you can find a description of the soil and the landscape that best suits you. Once you have clicked on your chosen site, SPADE NRAtlas will display its Report chooser page, allowing you to select the report you wish to generate for the selected point.
Soil essentials report: this provides a summary of the key soil and land characteristics at any one site, plus (where recorded) a series of basic soil laboratory test results. Like the Soil profile report, this displays the information in a flowing, easy–to–read paragraph style.
Soil profile report: this provides a virtually complete record of all soil and land attributes recorded at a site, plus (where recorded) a complete listing of any soil laboratory test results. Like the Soil essentials report, this displays the information in a flowing, easy–to–read paragraph style.
Soil technical report: this provides a complete record of all soil and land attributes recorded at a site in a structured tabular form, plus (where recorded) a complete listing of any soil laboratory test results.
For more information, click on the Help link below the viewer window.
Soil data collection standards
The soil profile data accessible via SPADE NRAtlas was collected in the field by soil scientists using SALIS Soil Data Cards. These media are electronically scannable, allowing the data recorded on them to be entered into the SALIS database quickly and easily.
SALIS data cards have been designed around the national standards for soil and land description as laid out in the 2nd edition of the Australian soil and land survey field handbook (McDonald et al. 1990 ), otherwise known as the ‘yellow book’. The Soil data entry handbook explains the use of the SALIS data card, and the meaning of attributes. It, and its supplements, are available online in PDF format. See ‘SALIS documentation’ on the About SALIS page.
Contact us
If you have any comments or inquiries about any aspect of SPADE NRAtlas, please email the SALIS Team.