Web Soil Survey (WSS

Web Soil Survey (WSS

How to Use It How to Use It
Web Soil Survey Web Soil Survey 

— purpo

purpo

 Web application that provides Web application that provides 

customers (producers, agencies

customers (producers, agencies

Technical Service Providers, and Technical Service Providers, and others) electronic access to rele

others) electronic access to rele

soil and related information nee

soil and related information nee

to make wise land use & to make wise land use & management decisions management decisions
Web Soil Survey Web Soil Survey 

— purpo

purpo

 Provides alternative to traditiona

Provides alternative to tradition

hardcopy publication hardcopy publication

 Provides means for quicker deliv

Provides means for quicker deliv

of information of information 

 Provides access to most current 

Provides access to most current 
Web Soil Survey Web Soil Survey 

— purpo

purpo

 Allows customer to get just info

Allows customer to get just info

they want/select they want/select

 Map units for their geographic are

Map units for their geographic are

interest (AOI) interest (AOI)

 Information relevant to their land 

Information relevant to their land 

concerns concerns 

– e.g. rangeland or crop

e.g. rangeland or crop
WSS Products WSS Products

 Soil Map on color imagery or topogr

Soil Map on color imagery or topogr

map backdrop for the AOI from SSU

map backdrop for the AOI from SSU

data (where available) data (where available)

 Soil Data Mart tables by AOI Soil Data Mart tables by AOI Custom Soil Resource Report Custom Soil Resource Report Download of SSURGO data clipped t

Download of SSURGO data clipped t

limit of the defined AOI limit of the defined AOI
WSS Products WSS Products

 Custom Soil Resource Report (PDF) 

Custom Soil Resource Report (PDF) 

free Shopping Cart free Shopping Cart

 By AOI Soil map, map unit legend, map unit Soil map, map unit legend, map unit 

descriptions descriptions

 Content specifically chosen by user Content specifically chosen by user

 Thematic Maps (with tables and text) Thematic Maps (with tables and text) Tabular data tables Tabular data tables Introductory material Introductory material
Pathway through WSS Pathway through WSS

 Define area of interest Define area of interest 

– you must

specifically set the AOI before you c

specifically set the AOI before you c

view any maps or reports view any maps or reports

 View Soil Map View Soil Map 

– if available for AOI if available for AOI

 Browse/Explore soil data and related Browse/Explore soil data and related 

information information

 Generate thematic maps Generate thematic maps Access Soil Data Mart data tables Access Soil Data Mart data tables

 Build custom soil resource report in Build custom soil resource report in 

Shopping Cart Shopping Cart

 Print/download the selected map or 

Print/download the selected map or 
WSS 2.1 Homepage WSS 2.1 Homepage
View List of New Feature

View List of New Feature
New Features in WSS 2.

New Features in WSS 2.

 Search function Search function Downloadable SSURGO data now clipped 

Downloadable SSURGO data now clipped 

extent

 Improved navigational data layers Improved navigational data layers Maps can be tiled to multiple pages for p

Maps can be tiled to multiple pages for p

 Descriptions added to tabs and folders Descriptions added to tabs and folders Forest color scheme added Forest color scheme added Linear map measurement tool Linear map measurement tool Glossary of soil terms added Glossary of soil terms added Ecological Site Assessment tab visible for 

Ecological Site Assessment tab visible for 

uses

 Print individual map unit descriptions Print individual map unit descriptions
WSS Opening Screen WSS Opening Screen
Set User Preferences Set User Preferences

• View PDFs and links in the same browser window as W

and links in the same browser window as W

• Choose “Soils,

” “Windows Windows

” or “Forest

” color scheme

color scheme
View Other Geographic Ar

View Other Geographic Ar
Get Online Help Get Online Help

• Click on Help or a Click on Help or a 

“

?

” for online help. for online help.
More ways to get Help More ways to get Help

• Click on Click on 

“Contact Us Contact Us

”.
View Map at Full Screen W

View Map at Full Screen W
Floating Windows Floating Windows

• You can click and drag the Map Legend window aroun

wherever you want.
Set Viewable Map Scale Set Viewable Map Scale

• First calibrate your monitor by clicking Scale butt• Use the map scale feature to see the scale you’ve 

zoomed to and to change to a different map scale
Identify Tool Identify Tool

• 1) Highlight the desired data layer, 2) click the identify to

Marker identifies the point you clicked on. 4) See the Attfor information on the layer – e.g. date of photography.

3

4

1

2
Search Function Search Function

• Click Search title bar to open it; enter key word(s); click 

button
Search Results Search Results

• Search results 

displayed witto parts of WeSurvey where word(s) can b

• Click on a link 

to that sectio
Linear Measuring Tool Linear Measuring Tool

• C

t

• C

es

• S

cd

• C
Area of Interest (AOI) Feat

Area of Interest (AOI) Feat

 Navigate to an AOI using basic ma

Navigate to an AOI using basic ma

navigation themes navigation themes

 Transportation Transportation Ortho photo Ortho photo Hydrography Hydrography Political features Political features

 Use available zoom in/out tools Use available zoom in/out tools
Area of Interest Features Area of Interest Features, 

, 

 Navigate to an AOI using selection Navigate to an AOI using selection 

criteria: criteria: 

 Street address Street address State and County State and County Soil Survey Area Soil Survey Area Latitude and Longitude Latitude and Longitude PLSS (Township, Range and Section) PLSS (Township, Range and Section) Federal Land Boundaries Federal Land Boundaries  Hydrologic Unit Hydrologic Unit
Area of Interest Features Area of Interest Features, 

, 

 Define an AOI by Define an AOI by 

 drawing a polygon on a map drawing a polygon on a map

 expanding rectangle, or expanding rectangle, or digitize multi digitize multi

-sided polygon sided polygon

 selecting a soil survey area selecting a soil survey area

 Clear AOI Clear AOI
Area of Interest Features Area of Interest Features, 

, 

 Display data available for defined AO

Display data available for defined AO

 Soil data Soil data 

– from Soil Data Mart from Soil Data Mart

 Soil maps Soil maps 

– from Soil Data Mart from Soil Data Mart

 Name your AOI (optional) Name your AOI (optional) Choose either standard or national m

Choose either standard or national m

symbols symbols
Locate Area of Interest (A

Locate Area of Interest (A

Zoom

Draw

Select
Navigate to AOI by Street Add

Navigate to AOI by Street Add
View by Street Address View by Street Address

Loc

m
Manage Displayed Data La

Manage Displayed Data La

• Turn layers on or off by checking or unchecking box 
Navigate to AOI by Coun

Navigate to AOI by Coun
Navigate by Soil Survey A

Navigate by Soil Survey A
Navigate by Latitude and Long

Navigate by Latitude and Long

choose decimal degrees, or degrees, minutes and 

choose decimal degrees, or degrees, minutes and 

For an area For an area between 0 and between 0 and 180 degrees west 180 degrees west longitude, enter a longitude, enter a negative longitude negative longitude number. number.

Loca

m

a

r
Navigate by Public Land Survey System 

Navigate by Public Land Survey System 

(Section, Township and Range) (Section, Township and Range)
Zoom In Tool Zoom In Tool 

– expandin

expandin

rectangle rectangle
Define AOI Define AOI

 Remember Remember - you must specifically se

you must specifically se

AOI before you can view any maps 

AOI before you can view any maps 

data.

 Use one of the AOI buttons on toolbar Use one of the AOI buttons on toolbar

 Expanding rectangle Expanding rectangle Multi-sided polygon sided polygon

or

 Select the area by choosing a Soil Surv

Select the area by choosing a Soil Surv

Area, then clicking the Set AOI button. Area, then clicking the Set AOI button.
Define AOI Define AOI – draw rectan

draw rectan
Selected AOI Selected AOI
Define AOI Define AOI – multi-sided poly

sided poly
Selected AOI Selected AOI
Explicitly clear the AOI Explicitly clear the AOI
AOI Interactive Map AOI Interactive Map 

- He
View Soil Map View Soil Map

• Click Soil Map tab
Soil Map Soil Map
View/Print Map Unit Descrip

View/Print Map Unit Descrip

• Click on map unit name at left to view map unit descrip

• Click Printable Version to print
Print Options Print Options

Set map scale

Select size
Explore Soil Informatio

Explore Soil Informatio
Soil Data Explorer Feature

Soil Data Explorer Feature

 Filter the soil information by land use categ

Filter the soil information by land use categ

 Learn the terminology and concepts of soil

Learn the terminology and concepts of soil

specific land uses specific land uses

 View interpretive soil data and soil propert

View interpretive soil data and soil propert

the form of thematic maps, tables, and tex

the form of thematic maps, tables, and tex

description description

 Access ecological site information Access ecological site information Print individual maps and reports Print individual maps and reports Add content to free Shopping Cart Add content to free Shopping Cart
Soil Data Explorer Soil Data Explorer 

- Hel
Soil Data Explorer Soil Data Explorer 

- Intr
Soil Data Explorer Soil Data Explorer 

- Intr

• Check item(s) in list, then click View Selected Topics to 

display text
Filter Information by Land 

Filter Information by Land 

• Select a specific land use from drop down list to filter c

on the Soil Data Explorer tab.
Forestland Information Forestland Information

List of topics narrowed to those related to Forestland.
Shopping Cart Shopping Cart

• Any material displayed in right-hand panel (intro text, ma

etc) can be added to the free Shopping Cart for later retrieadded content is bundled into a single PDF file for downloaprinting.
Suitabilities and Limitatio

Suitabilities and Limitatio

• Display a variety of interpretations as a thematic map.• Open a category folder, then select desired interpretat

View Rating
Display Interpretive Ma

Display Interpretive Ma

• Click Legend tab to display map legend. Table below m

rating and limiting features of each soil in Summary R
Summary Report Summary Report
Interpretation Description Interpretation Description

and Rating Options Used and Rating Options Used
Soil Properties and Qualit

Soil Properties and Qualit
Select Property or Qualit

Select Property or Qualit
Display Results Display Results

Change Land Uses Change Land Uses

List changes according to land use

List changes according to land use
Ecological Site Name Ma

Ecological Site Name Ma
Ecological Site Assessme

Ecological Site Assessme
View Soil Data Reports View Soil Data Reports
Chemical Soil Properties Re

Chemical Soil Properties Re

• Report is displayed below the soil map.
Access Archived Soil Survey Public

Access Archived Soil Survey Public

• A listing of previous soil survey report publications for t

Interest is stored on an external web site. Click the higlink to go there.

Access Glossary of Term

Access Glossary of Term
Access the Free Shopping 

Access the Free Shopping 

Enter Subtitle if desired.

Table of Contents shows content of Shopping CartChoose map scale and paper size.
Table of Contents Table of Contents

Items can be deselected unchecking them on the you decide you do not wato get them. Additional items must be added in previous screens.

Soil map, map unit legenand map unit descriptionare automatically added
Preview an Item Preview an Item

Click

o

n

a

n ite

m

to

p

review it.
Check Out Check Out 

• During Check Out you can elect to get the file now or la• Then click OK.
Custom Soil Resource Report 

Custom Soil Resource Report 

generated generated
Custom Soil Resource Rep

Custom Soil Resource Rep