You are here:

  

World Data Center for Soils

The World Data Center (WDC) for Soils is maintained by ISRIC - World Soil Information, Wageningen, since 1989. World Data Centers are operated for the benefit of the international scientific community. They are supported by national organizations according to the principles laid down by the Panel on World Data Centers of the International Council for Science (ICSU).  As one of more than 50 WDCs around the world that are collecting, archiving, and distributing geophysical data, the World Data Center for Soils provides a focus for soil-related collections and information services as custodian of global soil information (more).  

Both analogue and digital data are acquired, maintained and analyzed. Analogue data are held in filling cabinets and the ISRIC - World Soil Library, which focuses on country documentation (grey literature). Digital data are hosted on servers of Wageningen University and Research Centre and the Joint Research Centre of the European Communities; they are also being characterized in the World Data Centers Portal of the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) using uniform metadata protocols and standards.

Digital data are freely available, while respecting copyrights, through our website using pointers to the above servers. Our collections of soil monoliths and reference materials are stored at our premises in Wageningen; these may be studied on-site. A selection of our monoliths is on display in the World Soil Museum.

►   WDC for Soils Data Catalogue/Collections:

• Digital datasets  (on-line)
• Map Collection   (on-line)
• Books and Country Reports (on-line) 
• World Soil Reference Collection
• Reference Soil Sample Collection
• Micromorphological Collections 
• Other Soil Collections      

►   About the WDC System: 

• Functions and responsibilities
• List of WDCs 
• Contact a WDC
• Related WDCs