Cranfield University released the UK's national soil database as free, publicly accessible data. The Land Information System (LandISPortal) includes the National Soil Map of England and Wales (NATMAP) and provides detailed information about land across both regions. Developed with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the portal fulfills the government's Land Use Framework commitment to open soil data to everyone.
The release removes barriers to information that farmers, environmental planners, researchers, and policymakers need. Soil data informs decisions about agriculture, flood management, conservation, and urban development. Public access accelerates research and allows communities to understand their local land conditions without requesting data from government agencies.
The platform maps soil properties, composition, and characteristics across England and Wales. This detailed geographic information helps stakeholders make evidence-based decisions about land use. Next steps include expanding the database's capabilities and potentially widening coverage to other UK regions. The initiative demonstrates how governments can democratize environmental data to support better land management.