Canada’s Forest Soil Database Schema and Structure (No Data Included)

Introduction

This repository provides the code and documentation used to generate the structure of Canada’s Forest Soil Database, developed by the Canadian Forest Service. The database structure was designed to support the organization, integration, and long-term management of forest soil data collected across Canada.

By defining a standardized and flexible data model, this repository helps address the diversity and fragmentation of existing soil datasets and provides a foundation for compiling legacy data, supporting future data collection, improving data accessibility in alignment with FAIR data principles and supporting data integration with related databases and data compilations efforts.

Repository content and related tools

This repository contains the SQL code and Docker configuration required to generate and deploy the database structure.

More technical documentation available soon.

Data model origin

The database structure is built on a flexible data model adapted from the ISO 28258 and OGC Observations and Measurements conceptual model. It is organized around three core categories: Features of Interest, Observations, and Results.

This approach provides a consistent framework for representing the objects being described, the measurements or descriptions associated with them, and the resulting values or information produced by those observations.

Model adaptations

Several adaptations were made to better support the needs of Canada’s Forest Soil Database.

Features of Interest derived from ___ ISO 28258___ are represented as separate elements. The data model created for Canada’s Forest Soil Database provides a unified way to manage these elements within a single table.

Similarly, specific Observations made on specialized Features of Interest ___ are handled within a unified Observations___ table.

In addition, the Feature of Interest context and Observation context ___ concepts from the OGC Observations and Measurements___ conceptual model are implemented through a many-to-many relationship, allowing the database to capture complex links between features and their observational context.

Design rationale

These design choices were made to streamline data processing and improve the long-term flexibility of the database.

By using a common structure for different types of Features of Interest, Observations, and Results, the database is not limited to soil and can accommodate a wider variety of above and below-ground forest data without requiring changes to the underlying database schema each time new data types are introduced.

This makes the model better suited for integrating legacy datasets, supporting future data collection, and maintaining consistency across diverse sources of information.

Related Resources

Canada’s forest soils: the establishment of a nationwide network of long-term sites to examine soil carbon persistence and soil indicators

Post-Disturbance Soil Monitoring in Forests using Remote Sensing: An Evidence Map

Understanding forest soil degradation in Canada: threats, indicators and knowledge gaps

Collecting, analysing and storing forest soil data and samples in the age of big data: A guide for Researchers and Filed Practitioners.

A guide to collecting forest soil samples

A guide to soil preparation for bulk density and chemical analysis

Citation

Please cite this code repository as:

Natural Resources of Canada – Canadian Forest Service, Norris, C., Paré, D., Laganière, J., Webster, K., Malet, X., & Dallaire, C. (2026). « Canada’s Forest Soil Database Schema and Structure » (Version 1.0.0) [Database]