Scientists working with the British Geological Survey and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have produced a free smartphone app, mapping the soils of the United Kingdom.

The developers hope the mySoil app will allow the effective sharing and collection of information, increasing knowledge of Britain’s soil. Users of the app can upload information, thereby improving localised data on soil types and the vegetation habitats they provide. The interactive soil map offers information on the geological formations underlying the soil, its depth, texture, pH balance and organic matter content.

Scientists working for the British Geological Survey, who unveiled the app at the Times Cheltnam Science Festival, being held today, said it would prove of use to gardeners, horticulturists, farmers, environmentalists and agriculturalists.

BGS executive director John Ludden commented on the app’s release, “Mobile technologies are opening up exciting new ways to share environmental information. We hope this will begin a new form of dialogue with the public and other users, where we can together improve our environmental information and knowledge.”

More information on the app can be found here. 

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