We are excited to announce that LandPKS Soil ID now enables you to collect soil observations and identify soils anywhere in the world.

Download the app on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. This update expands upon our original app release, which worked only in the United States and U.S. Territories. LandPKS Soil ID now uses Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD 2.0) soil maps for all sites outside of the United States. HWSD is the result of harmonizing numerous soil maps focused on a 1 km resolution. For sites outside the U.S., we’ve included a new “Management” section that describes how soils can be maintained. LandPKS Soil ID is available in English and Spanish, and we are interested in partnering to offer more languages.

A global soil map, various regions covered in different colors
LandPKS Soil ID now uses Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD 2.0) soil maps for all sites outside of the United States.

While our reach is now global, the core functionalities of LandPKS Soil ID remain the same. Simply drop a pin and LandPKS Soil ID to look up soils near you according to soil maps. Then, gather observations about the soil and the landscape, including slope, texture, color, rock fragments, and the presence of surface cracks. LandPKS will compare your gathered soil properties with possible soils near you, and suggest a match. Learn more about how the Soil ID algorithm works.

We’d like to thank a few of our many partners who have adopted LandPKS into their workflows. Highlights include the team at SENA, who conducted a feasibility study for LandPKS adoption in La Plata, Colombia, and Podilla State University in Ukraine, which developed a Ukrainian-language manual for LandPKS. We are partnering with both these groups to support Soil ID in Spanish and Ukrainian, expanding its utility. Learn more about our partnership with Podilla State University in Ukraine to help restore Ukrainian soils.

Three different screenshots of a soils app

Roadmap

Over the next year we expect to add the following to LandPKS Soil ID:

    • Offline site creation, soil selection, and site notes
    • Project data download
    • Data visualization enhancements
    • Additional observations, such as soil limitations

Help us improve LandPKS

We would love your help in making LandPKS more useful. If you have feature requests, comments, or simply wish to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you encounter a problem while using LandPKS Soil ID, please share the issue with us. 

The LandPKS app is now available in four different languages: French, Swahili, Spanish, and English!  The LandPKS team recently released LandPKS version 3.2.1 which contains all four languages. Please do visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download the latest version.

Screenshot of LandPKS language options

How to change your language in the LandPKS app:

  1. Go to Application Settings.
  2. On the Language dropdown, select your preferred language.

Having the LandPKS app translated into different languages helps improve access to the app for non-English speakers globally.  We do not want language to be a barrier to use and adoption. Including these three additional languages will significantly help our users in Europe (French and Spanish), Africa (French and Swahili), and North and South America (Spanish).

The LandPKS app is free and available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The LandPKS app was developed by the LandPKS Team for the Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) with support largely from USAID and USDA-ARS. Please contact us with any questions, comments, or feedback.