Experience in creating an information system for the rational use of soil resources

Abstract

The structure and functions of the “SoilGeographical Database of Russia Information System” (ISSGDBR) implemented on the platform of the Soil Science Faculty of the Lomonosov Moscow State University are considered. The current state of national soil databases and developing on that base international soil information systems are described. The created information system consists of three sections. The first section includes soil maps of different scales and maps of the natural conditions of the territory of the Russian Federation. The second section is represented by a naturalattribute database, which is based on a soil profile with associated analytical characteristics. In the third section, with the help of software tools, the collected varied information about the soil cover becomes the basis for modeling the spatial distribution of various indicators, performing calculations in applied projects for a wide range of users. The ISSGDBR is considered as an expert and analytical center, which acts as a coordinator and supports the functioning of a distributed network, as well as the development and distributing of internationally relevant standards for description, storage, presentation of soil information and data exchange through the use of specialized programs adapted to regional features. In addition, the purpose of the center is the implementation of communication between primary digital resources of natural and soil information localized in various organizations, agrochemicalservice regional centers, and federal agencies accumulating information necessary for making managerial decisions.