|
March 30, 2006
SOIL SURVEY OF DELAWARE COUNTY NOW AVAILABLE ON COMPACT DISC
State-of-the-art software makes soil information easily accessible
COLUMBUS, OH -- A new digitized soil survey of Delaware County that allows for easy access to information about soils and other natural and cultural resources is now available on compact disc, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The CD’s user-friendly Geographic Information Systems software is compatible with most home or office computers.
The program, which will be particularly useful to farmers and developers, opens with a map of Delaware County. Users can simply click on the data they would like to see, including aerial photography, roads, towns, slopes, drainage, soil types, and crop yields. The program then redraws the map with the selected information.
“This tool gives a broad view of soil conditions for planning purposes,” said David Hanselmann, chief of the ODNR Division of Soil & Water Conservation. “It is a land-use planning tool so development and farming can be done in a way that is environmentally responsible.”
Hanselmann added that by 2007, the Division would like to have soil survey information available in the same format for all 88 Ohio counties. So far this information is available for 44 counties.
The soil project is part of a nationwide Soil Survey Geographic Database Initiative managed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The service, The Ohio State University School of Natural Resources, and ODNR are cooperating on the project with help from the Ohio Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, county soil & water conservation districts, and other local agencies.
Delaware County’s computerized soil survey information is certified and is available online at ohiodnr.com. The CD, which offers many advantages over printed soil surveys, is available through the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District at 740-368-1921.
|