Applications & Services - ESDAC - European Commission

A number of mapping services have been developed in order to serve the public user. One Important component of European Soil Data Centre is the Map Viewer which is a web-based application that allows the user to navigate the European Soil Database and other data layers hosted in the European Soil Data Center(ESDAC).

The Map viewer has also been configured as a Web Map Service (WMS), which allows WMS clients to request map layerst which then can be combined with layers coming from other WMS servers, located in other parts of the world. To guarantee interoperability, these services are based on international standards, as promoted by the INSPIRE initiative.

Web mapping applications that give access to data and information for specific soil themes (such as erosion, organic carbon content, pH, Compaction, Salinization) and to european Soil Datbase Attributes.

The ESDAC Map Viewer: allows the user to navigate soil data layers for Europe. It provides access to most attributes of the European Soil Database and some additional data layers, e.g. related to main soil threats. The ESDAC Map Viewer is developed according to standards (OGC WMS).

The Viewer integrates:

70 layers derived from the European Soil Database;
Many soil threat data Layers

Interoperability and Web Mapping Service (WMS) :

In ESDAC, WMS services have been developed in the context of INSPIRE , compliant with INSPIRE principles and Open GIS Consortium standards. In practice, this means that many soil layers can be viewed through any Web Mapping Service Client (WMS Standalone or Web viewer, ESRI ArcGIS).

(June 2020) The Viewer and map services are temporarily out of order until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope to restore the functionality soon, but are unable to tell when that will be.

17 Dec 2021	The JRC Soil Team developed a new online course on soil biodiversity, available on the EU academy platform. It aims at raising awareness and increasing knowledge of the secret life beneath our feet. It also allows you to familiarise with European Union initiatives for soil (biodiversity) protection.
15 Nov 2021	Manure and soil biodiversity. Data on annual manure production in the European Union plus the Database of articles reviewed to find the links between manure and soil biodiversity (described in this research study)
10 Nov 2021	Soil microbial biomass and respiration: Using the LUCAS soil biodiversity samples in EU, we developed datasets predicting potential soil basal respiration at 20°C, soil microbial biomass as estimated by substrate-induced respiration, and soil microbial respiratory quotient across Europe.
5 Oct 2021	Two new positions are available at the JRC, in relation to soil and the EU Soil Observatory. One is on the development of the Integrated Soil Monitoring System. The other on the development of indicators of soil organic carbon.
20 Sep 2021	EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) Forum takes place 19-21 October 2021. Preliminary agenda includes a high level meeting, Integrated monitoring, WGs, Young Soil Forum. Register here.