World Data Center for Soils

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ISRIC obtained the status of ICSU World Data Centre in 1989, initially named WDC for Soil Geography and Classification, later WDC for Soils. 

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).  An important aspect is the WDC data rescue program, safeguarding older data sets which may be at risk of loss or deterioration, and digitizing old data sets. In this context, ISRIC is welcoming additional soil maps and reports for possible inclusion in the WDC for Soils holdings  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.

Besides through metadata-based searches, our on-line data sets can also be accessed through tabular HTML lists that provide direct access to the data, documentation and project-related webpages.

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.

Following the ICSU General Assembly in Maputo, Mozambique (Nov. 2008), the World Data Centre (WDC) sytem will be incorporated into the new ICSU World Data System (WDS) in 2009. more ...



►   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: 

• New development - Transition to ICSU-World Data System
• Functions and responsibilities
• List of WDCs 
• Contact a WDC 
• Related WDCs  

 
Further information: Niels H. Batjes