LA-Ruston-USDA+State+Monoliths.jpg

What are urban soils?

Tatiana - overall

Rich - from pedologists perspective

Paul - from biogeochemistry perspective / rhizosphere as it relates to

add engineered technosols

placeholder text placeholder text placeholder text placeholder text placeholder text

(via USDA-NRCS | United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service)

The term urban soil refers to soils in areas of high population density in the largely built environment. These soils can be significantly changed human-transported materials, human-altered materials, or minimally altered or intact “native” soils. Soils in urban areas exhibit a wide variety of conditions and properties and may have impervious surfaces, such as buildings and pavement.

Some factors that influence the characteristics and behavior of soils in urban areas include:

  • Land use history and disturbance

  • Geography and geology

  • Extent of impervious surfaces

  • Nature of human-transported or “fill” materials

Although there are similarities in urban soils globally, the urban soil pattern is unique for every city.


Why are urban soils important?

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 81 percent of the nation’s population lives in urban areas. Natural resources in the urban setting are used intensively and, if managed properly, can provide valuable ecosystem services. The need for better understanding of urban soils is more important than ever and highlights the need for accurate and proper documentation, soil mapping, and interpretation of soil changes in the urban environment.

Detailed and up-to-date information about urban soils provides city planners with fundamental data to make important decisions about land use—how to protect, conserve, and manage natural resources, with positive impacts on public health and safety and quality of life.

NRCS soil survey information is available online at no cost.


A variety of professions require urban soils data:

  • Urban farmers

  • Engineers, architects

  • Urban and land use planners

  • Park, forest, and habitat managers

  • Stormwater and water quality managers

Urban soils surveys guide the management of major urban centers and suburban areas where most of us live, directing the best use of open space adn the optimal delivery of soil ecosystem services. Soils data can also be used to help confront climate change, coastal resiliency, estuary restorations small and large-scale watershed use planning, and environmental literacy.


Where can I find urban soils data?

Detailed soil survey data is available for urban areas, including the cities of Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis, Washington DC, and surrounding suburban areas. To learn more about soil or to access soils data, visit soils.usda.gov.