Harmonized World Soil Database

The Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) is an excellent tool for anyone in need of a comprehensive soil database. The latest version, 1.10, continues to build on the strong foundation laid by previous releases (1.2, 1.1, and 1.0) by offering an intuitive and effective way to access soil data effortlessly. The Harmonized World Soil Database acts as the developer behind this remarkably useful program, ensuring top-notch quality and reliability.

Available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11, this software ensures wide compatibility across different operating systems. The application file, HWSD_V.exe, is easy to locate and install. As a part of the Development Tools category and fitting into the Database Tools subcategory, this software is highly specialized for tasks involving soil data analysis and consultation.

The Harmonized World Soil Database is especially useful because it provides a straightforward tool to consult the extensive data it contains. It features a 30 arc-second (~1 km) raster image and an attribute database in Microsoft Access 2003 format. The raster image file is stored in binary format (ESRI Band Interleaved by Line - BIL), making it compatible for import or direct reading with most commercial GIS and Remote Sensing software. For those seeking more advanced consultation or data extraction capabilities, using commercial software tools is advisable.

Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Comprehensive and detailed soil database.
2. Compatibility with most major GIS and Remote Sensing software.
3. Wide OS support, ensuring usability across different platforms.
4. User-friendly interface for basic consultation of soil data.
5. The program is free to download and use.

Cons:

1. Advanced features require commercial software for full functionality.
2. The attribute database format might require Microsoft Access for optimal use.

Whether for academic, research, or professional purposes, the Harmonized World Soil Database offers a valuable resource for anyone needing detailed soil data. Its wide OS support, ease of use, and free availability make it a solid choice.

It is not possible to confirm if there is a free download for this software available on the developer's website. According to the results of the Google Safe Browsing check, the developer's site is safe. Despite this, we recommend checking the downloaded files with any free antivirus software.

You may want to check out more software, such as harmon.ie for SharePoint Notes Edition, harmon.ie for SharePoint or World Community Grid - BOINC for Windows, which might be similar to Harmonized World Soil Database.