Welcome to Soil_grids_downloader’s documentation!
The Soil Grids Downloader is a QGIS plugin designed to streamline the process of downloading and visualizing soil properties data derived from soilgrids.org . Users can extract soil attributes such as clay, sand, silt, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen content, for specific points or shapefile datasets. The plugin supports multiple functionalities including coordinate selection, property filtering, and shapefile generation.
This is the first demo version of the QGIS plugin, and currently, only a limited number of soil properties are available for use. These properties are applicable to a specific depth range of 5 to 15 centimeters.
Key Features:
Soil properties for shapefile of points
Accessing Test Data
On the fly - soil properties
Installation
Regarding installation instructions you just need to download then install the plugin from QGIS repository for free. There is no need to install anything more than that
Soil properties for shapefile of points
This functionality enables users to select an already existing shapefile with point geometry whose projection is epsg: 4326 (WGS 84) and update it with the soil properties of the points. Users can specify which soil properties to include in the output, such as clay, sand, and silt, as clay, sand, and silt, SOC, adn nitrogen. When generating the output file, users can define the save location and if teh output shapefile will be loaded on QGIS canvas. The output file will include additional fields reflecting the selected soil properties.
Fair Use Policy - Limitations
The plugin relies on the SoilGrids REST API to retrieve soil data. The API is subject to a Fair Use Policy, allowing a maximum of 5 calls per minute. Exceeding this limit may cause processing delays or temporary errors. Users should be mindful of this constraint, particularly when handling large datasets or performing multiple queries in quick succession. As the plugin and the SoilGrids REST API are both under active development in their beta stage, users may encounter occasional issues, including downtime or delays. Compatibility with future versions of the API or plugin cannot be guaranteed at this time. Despite these limitations, the plugin provides a robust foundation for exploring and analyzing soil data, with continuous improvements expected in subsequent updates.
Accessing Test Data
To facilitate a seamless introduction and quick walkthrough of the plugin, preloaded test data is made available for users. This data enables users to familiarize themselves with the plugin’s features and functionality without requiring immediate external data input.
On the fly - soil properties
The application allows users to interact with a map interface to select specific geographical locations. Upon selection, relevant soil properties are automatically populated in designated fields within the application. The interface displays the geographical latitude and longitude of the selected location and enforces strict adherence to the EPSG:4326 coordinate reference system (CRS). If the selected projection does not match EPSG:4326, an error message will alert the user.
Another functionality is that the user may quickly copy the selected data to the clipboard we’re pressing the corresponding button
Developmenet - Maintenance
Ilias Machairas iliasmacheiras@outlook.com