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
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• 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 - 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