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World Soil Survey Archive and Catalogue (British-sourced materials) www.wossac.com. Launch. WOSSAC. Dr Stephen Hallett Professor Peter Bullock Dr Ian Baillie Dr James Hunt. Background.
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World Soil SurveyArchive and Catalogue(British-sourced materials)www.wossac.com Launch WOSSAC Dr Stephen Hallett Professor Peter Bullock Dr Ian Baillie Dr James Hunt
Background • Substantial numbers of soil surveys were made worldwide by British companies over the past 80 years, and 250 countries represented • Funded by development assistance donors & government departments • Estimated to be many thousands of survey volumes • At today’s prices would have cost well over £200 million • Soil surveys not likely to be repeated • Extremely valuable bank of international data about soils, their nature, properties and potential use • Current volumes may represent only existing information about the soils in many of the countries of the world • Materials in danger of beingdestroyed and lost
Applications • WOSSAC will play a role in a range of contemporary environmental issues • UN Millennium Development Goals • regional appraisal • disaster relief and aid planning • soil management • optimal land use suitability and food security • combating desertification • water use planning • identifying runoff • infiltration and water storage zones • waste management
British Society of Soil Science (BS3) funded 2 pilot projects at Cranfield, backing University investment Project commenced January 2004 Recruited dedicatedstaff as well as bodyof existing volunteerand paid workers
HTSPE Ltd. • Major development is theinclusion of HTSPE Collection • 5,000 Reports and associated maps • 2,000 Individual maps • Extensive Map albums • 7,000 Satellite Images • Extensive GIS datasets
Existing Holdings Soil Survey Land Use Natural Resource Topographical Socio-economic Maps Surveys Reports Books
Work Programme • On-line holdings catalogue published • Physical archive established of materials needing preservation; these being made available for consultation • Interfacing with regional and national databases to create a global network • Linking with stakeholders and users
Archive holdings 8,000 items now catalogued 12,000 itemsawaiting cataloguing Representing itemsfrom 1925 to-date 250 countries
Archive Web Access Archive items now recorded in central catalogue database made available on web Key dissemination www.wossac.com Journal articles Mailshots Word of mouth
The Future • Secure this precious collection of maps and reports • Many other UK sources yet to contact • Establish means to access and disseminate information in collection • Undertake research to improve ability to access and apply collection remotely • Establish linkages to other major holders of similar information, establishing a truly global catalogue of information