File GDBs - Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database – Kentucky NRCS Oct. 4, 2010
The KY NRCS soils staff has recently updated all soils data statewide - most of the significant changes in
to the data involved updates to ‘Hydric’ ratings and ‘Hydrologic Group’ ratings; and a ‘Parent Material’
attribute has been added.
County-level Soil Survey Area SSURGO GIS files have been aggregated into 4 File Geodatabase layers
(Statewide & by USDA-NRCS Administrative Area boundaries), and are current as of October 4, 2010:
1. KY_SSURGO_GDB: (Statewide Dataset) ~477 MB
2. KY_SSURGO_Area1_GDB: ~171 MB
3. KY_SSURGO_Area2_GDB: ~185 MB
4. KY_SSURGO_Area3_GDB: ~129 MB
All GIS Files are ArcGIS version 9.2 File Geodatabase format (compressed), and are in UTM projection,
nad83 horizontal datum. The Statewide, Area1, & Area2 files are in UTM Zone 16; the Area3 files are in
UTM Zone 17. Note: files have been corrected for Topology errors (fixed gaps/overlays along survey
borders), and include attributes for a basic set of common soil characteristics.
The intent is to provide NRCS SSURGO Soils Data in a ‘ready to go – easy to use format’
ArcGIS Version 9.2 ‘Layer’ files are provided for the datasets. By adding the available ‘Group’ layer files,
the complete data packages will be displayed with pre-set symbology to display soils data, numerous
thematic soils maps, along with legends, labels, county and area boundaries, etc.
To utilize pre-set symbology in ArcMap – ‘Add Data’ and select desired ‘LYR’ file(s):
“Soils - Statewide Group.lyr”
“Soils - Area 1 Group.lyr”
“Soils - Area 2 Group.lyr”
“Soils - Area 3 Group.lyr”
Included in the Group Layer files are separate individual Layer files which provide the capability to display
the Soils datasets through a variety of Thematic Maps:
- Soils – Mapunit polygon outlines, with mapunit symbol labels
- Soils Thematic Map – Depth to Fragipan
- Soils Thematic Map – Depth to Lithic Rock
- Soils Thematic Map – Depth to Paralithic Rock
- Soils Thematic Map – Drainage Class
- Soils Thematic Map – Farmland Classification
- Soils Thematic Map – Flooding Frequency
- Soils Thematic Map – Highly Erodible Land
- Soils Thematic Map – Hydric Classification (updated summer, 2010)
- Soils Thematic Map – Hydrologic Group (updated Sept, 2010)
- Soils Thematic Map – Land Capability Class
- Soils Thematic Map – Parent Material (new)
- Soils Thematic Map – Pasture Hay Suitability Group
- Soils Thematic Map – Septic Tank Absorption Suitability
- Soils – Special Features (points)
SSURGO Website: http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/ssurgo/
Questions?: steve.crabtree@ky.usda.gov ph. 859.224.7400
Attribute Information
The associated GIS attribute database for the SSURGO datasets include attributes for a basic set of
common soil characteristics. Numerous soil attributes were revised in 2010, and are current as of October
4, 2010. The following attribute fields are included:
Field Name Description
AREASYMBOL SSURGO Area code
MUKEY Mapunit Key code (unique for/by each corresponding SSURGO AREASYMBOL)
MUNAME Mapunit Name
MUSYM Mapunit Symbol
DRAINAGEDC Drainage class, dominant condition
HYDGROUPDC Hydrologic Group, dominant condition
FLDFRQCLDS Flooding Frequency Class, dominant condition
NIRRCLDC Non-Irrigated Capability Class, dominant condition
FARMCLAC Farmland Classification, all components
HYDRICAP Hydric rating, absence/presence
HELWATAC Highly Erodible Land rating, by water, all components
SEPTICDC Septic Tank Absorption Fields rating, dominant condition
H_ROCK_IN Depth to Lithic (Hard) Rock, inches
S_ROCK_IN Depth to Paralithic (Soft) Rock, inches
FRAGIP_IN Depth to Fragipan zone, inches
NRCS_AREA KY NRCS Administrative Area
PHG Pasture and Hayland Suitability Group
PHG_DESCR Pasture and Hayland Suitability Group, brief description
PHG_TEXT Pasture and Hayland Suitability Group, complete description
ParMatNm Parent Material Name
Acres
10-4-2010 “README SSURGO – File GDBs.doc”