Journal of Geographic Information System, 2011, 3, 211-216
doi:10.4236/jgis.2011.33017 Published Online July 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/jgis)
Soil Database Management Software Development for
Optimizing Land Resource Information Utilization to
Support National Food Security
Rizatus Shofiyati, Saefoel Bachri, Muhrizal Sarwani
Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development,
Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, Bogor, Indonesia
Received April 10, 2011; revised May 13, 2011; accepted May 26, 2011
Abstract
Since land resource database development in 1987/1988, a large amount of digital data in spatial, tabular and
metadata format has been collected and generated. There are some application softwares of soil database to
manage such a large amount of data, i.e.: Side & Horizon (SHDE4), Soil Sample Analysis (SSA), and Land
Unit in dbf file, while Site and Horizon is in DataEase formats. The database contains soil physics and
chemical property data of each soil horizon from surface to effective soil depth, climate, land surface condi-
tions, and other parameters required for soil classification. Currently, database management software for land
resources is still based on DOS and is stand alone. The system is not efficient and effectively used as Agri-
cultural Land Resource Information System. At present, as a key component of this system requires review
and development of new database software is compatible with the development of information technology.
This paper explains about development of interactive agricultural land resources information system for op-
timizing land resources data utilization. Hopefully, the software can give contributions in national Agricul-
tural Land Resources System Information development for supporting food security.
Keywords: Soil Database, Software Development, Land Resources Information, Food Security
1. Introduction
Indonesian soil data collection and mapping have been
carried out since around 106 years ago. However, a digi-
tal soil database management (SDBM) system of Indo-
nesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Re-
search and Development (ICALRD) was just started
around the 80’s. Since then, a large amount of digital
data in spatial, tabular and metadata formats have been
collected and generated [1]. The large number of soil
data can be utilized to support agricultural development
planning.
There are some application softwares of soil database
to manage such a large amount of data, i.e.: Side & Ho-
rizon (SHDE4), Soil Sample Analysis (SSA), and Land
Unit in dbf file, while Site and Horizon is in DataEase
formats. The softwares being integrated each other. Mean-
while, those soil database management software are still
DOS-based and stand alone.
Soil Sample Analysis (SSA) version 2.1, an improve-
ment from the previous version (1.0), is a computerized
database of land specifically designed for storing, re-
trieval and displays the characteristics of the soil result-
ing from various types of methods and procedures analy-
sis [2]. While the Site and Horizon as soil computerized
database designed specifically to store and retrieve the
pedon data results of the Land Resources Evaluation and
Planning (LREP) I Project activities [3]. These softwares
are always being improved so that in 1995 created the
latest version with the name SHDE4 [4], which is a
software package that linked database management sys-
tem with DataEase [5]. SHDE4 is capable of storing and
retrieving data group, i.e. description of the site and ho-
rizons, the reference soil series description, description
of map units, monthly climate data records, data dic-
tionary, and polygon attribute file. Further, the SSA and
SHDE4 data records can be used for preparing and proc-
essing of land evaluation model on ALES (Automated
Land Evaluation System), it called as SDPLE (Soil Data
Preparation fo r Land Ev aluatio n) [6]. The softwares have

R. SHOFIYATI ET AL. 212
been designed based on geodatabase. Hence, it is
relevant to GIS software platform. This database soft-
ware is a tool for resource data processing and ma-
nagement that support the making of soil or land unit
map.
The SSA and SHDE4, which are stand alone and DOS
based, are still used as the main supporter of agricultural
land resources information systems, especially in
ICALRD. Currently, the development of a network sys-
tem in which several computers work together in a sys-
tem of either an intranet, internet, or LAN [7-9]. The
consequences, stand-alone softwares are less supported
by this system and need to be replaced by client-server
and graphic user interface (GUI) based software on win-
dows environment.
With the rapid development of information technology
and community needs, the software needs to be deve-
loped to support the trend of network system, user
friendly, and can be used by the wider society. Therefore,
it is necessary to develop client-server application for
data processing of land resources information systems.
The use of compatible software that are widely used to-
day, the soil database can be utilized more effectively
and efficiently. Currently, web is an effective way to
convey information that is widely available for users via
internet. In future prospect, the softwares can be devel-
oped for Web-based service information systems that
allow to improve the access to information in a more
efficient way.
This paper explains software development of agricul-
tural land resources information management of ICALRD
to support the utilization of land resources information.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Tool Development
Development of this application using a PC computer
environment with operating system Windows XP, Win-
dows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000 Service
Pack 3 or higher, with specifications of RAM 64 MB
(128 MB or higher recommended) and a Pentium pro-
cessor. Hard disk space 120 MB minimum required.
Programming language used was Visual Foxpro Version
9.0, and is a Foxpro database (xBase format). These
specifications will be the minimum needs to be able to
operate the software. For now, the installation on Win-
dows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition can not be done.
The main source in the development system is soft-
ware applications of SHDE4 and SSA DOS, especially
technical documents and user manuals. Software develop-
ment has been considered a migration of operating sys-
tems with various necessary adjustments.
2.2. Software Development
The approach has been used for software development is
the SDLC (System Development Life Cycle), based on
waterfall model. This model must be done sequentially,
where the next step can be done after the previous step is
completed. Steps are preparation, design, implementation
(verification and maintenance), and socialization. Steps
of procedure are presented in Figure 1.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Soil Database Software Migration
The Powerful computer programs can help manage and
accelerate the process of providing data accurately. The
computer applications that have been developed are not
enough to handle the needs of current data management.
Migration of those tailored software (those we already
made) for land resource database management needs to
be done to optimize the utilization of land resources data.
Mig ration of SSA and SHDE4 (DOS Version) to W in-
dows-based software required in order to facilitate proc-
essing and data management systems and its compatibil-
ity to the current trend. Software migration has been
made with reference to existing tables, which have been
built on the system of naming and defining fields/ vari-
ables. Some adjustments have been made for compatibil-
ity to other related systems. The software migration has
considered some aspects, such as: availability and conti-
nuity of programs, reliability program and database sys-
tem, the ease of writing and programming, compatibility
database format to the other.
The differences of SSA and SHDE4 software migra-
tion which is operated under Windows and the previous
software under DOS explained in Table 1.
3.2. Soil Database Management System
Relationship of SH and SSA softwares with other appli-
cation software described in Figure 2. Data flow dia-
gram in Figure 2 describes a series of processes, data
and related parties (external agent) that took place in the
system. Descriptions of soil profile have been collected
and recorded in special form during soil survey. Soil
sample was taken from the field will be analyzed in la-
boratories to complete data for land resources informa-
tion. The SH and SSA data are inputted, stored, pro-
cessed, and updated in SH and SSA softwares [10].
SH and SSA can be integrated with other existing sys-
tems, include GIS (Geographic Information System) and
SDPLE (Site Data Processing for Land Evaluation). The
SH and SSA data can be extracted for cartographic map-

R. SHOFIYATI ET AL. 213
Figure 1. Steps of soil database software de velopment.
ping purposes in GIS. The items selected can also be
used for land evaluation, or calculation of soil carbon,
soil nutrient status, and others. The SH and SSA are data
source for proc e ss in g in t hes e sys tems.
In this case, extracted representative data have been
used to improve land units information. Representative
of data (observation) used as input for SDPLE associated
with ALES (as land evaluation applicatio n) in the mode-
ling process in order to obtain land suitability classes.
Furthermore, the evaluation class can be processed to get
information for the use of agricultu ral land recommenda-
tions. The information can be used for government to

R. SHOFIYATI ET AL. 214
Table 1. Comparison of DOS versus Windows versions of SSA and SHDE4 data.
No Description SSA & SHDE4 (DOS Version) SSAFOX & SHFOX (Windows Version)
1. User interface
Text-based and command-line operating system; not
fully compatible with GUI operating system (Win-
dows) and relatively not effective.
Windows display is easier in operation, graphi-
cal operating mode, so that it looks more attrac-
tive, and compatible on almost all types of ap-
plication programs.
2. Compatibility
Need longer steps for data conversion to another
format Compatible with other formats, making it more practical and quick
3. Network system
Stand alone; difficult to support trend of networked
systems Compatible to network systems
4. Processing
Take longer for processing; the list option is dis-
played in the page side, not entry data field box,
need >1 page for each theme of data entry di splays
Faster and easier, list of field selection directly
displayed on entry data field box, theme can be
displays in 1 page.
5. Development Out of date Easier and up to date
6. Management
Complicated & difficult to store large amounts of
data (max 10,000 records) More effective & efficient, can store large amounts of data (>10,000 records)
Figure 2. Flow diagram of land resources data of ICALRD.
support agricultural development in agriculture planning
and recommendation, especially national food security
and safety.
3.3. Practical Implication
SSAFOX and SHFOX system can be used in a variety of
stakeholders engaged in agricultural land resources, spe-
cifically for the purpose of inventory and management
control of research and land mapping data. Application
programs can be used in field and post field work. Utili-
zation of the program during the last observation allows
researchers and surveyors to perform data correlation and
correction. While the use of post field survey or research,

R. SHOFIYATI ET AL. 215
in addition to entry, updating, also can be done to syn-
chronize the data on the results of laboratory data.
The system maintenance is suitable sustainable to mo-
nitor of error during their use, adding features and appli-
cation development in accordance with user needs and
development of information technology. SSAFOX and
SHFOX application Version 1.0 have been designed to
serve the various needs of land resource data manage-
ment based on results of soil mapping. The features avai-
lable on the program include: data entry, editing, and
preparing reports in the form of a description of the pro-
file and other reports. Special procedures of land evalua-
tion data preparation are also provided to allow users to
do land evaluation.
3.4. Soil Database Utilization for Food Security
Food security model can be built by using soil database.
It is also required other inputs, such as legal aspect, socio
economic, and institutional. An enormous leap in tech-
nologies that allows for accurate collection and predic-
tion of soil properties is needed for pressing issues such
as food security. The end user, such as modeling com-
munities, farmers, land users, and policy and decision
makers need accurate, up-to-date and spatially referenced
soil information. This need coincides with major ad-
vances in technologies for the prediction of soil proper-
ties. Soil data utilization to su pport natio n al food security
is shown in Figure 3.
SSAFOX and SHFOX were designed for persons or
institution who involved in land mapping and land eva-
luation, and considered for other purposes. Each insti-
tution can use it in accordance with available data. The
software can accommodate large amounts of data so that
in this way has contributed to the development of na-
tional land resources system information. The need of
spatial information software can be fulfilled in the so il of
this database system. Its ability to connect automatically
with GIS software can optimize utilization of soil data
collected for modeling of agricultural Land Resources.
Recommendations can be obtained by combining with
the legal aspects, socio-economic and institutional as-
pect.
4. Conclusions
 Land resources data is very important to support agri-
cultural development. The data can be used both for
technological innovation development and land capa-
bility assessment aspects.
 Management of land resource database needs to be
optimized its utilization by developing a software
xBase-formatted database system that has high com-
patibility with other database systems, as well as hav-
ing data storage capabilities in a very large size and
easy to manage. In addition, the software for SDBMS
must be able and easily to be developed by connect-
ing with other application softwares to meet the de-
velopment needs of the application of land re-
sources.
 By using software that has been developed its capa-
bilities and can be operated in environments with
Windows operating system, use of land resources da-
tabase can be optimized utilization to support food
security.
5. Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the ICALRD for providing
facilities, data and encouragemen t for this study. Authors
Figure 3. The utilization of soil database for supporting food security.

R. SHOFIYATI ET AL. 216
are also thankful to State Ministry for Research and
Technology for pr oviding funds for t hi s rese arch activit y .
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