Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System

Created by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System (SOLRIS) version 1.2 is a landscape-level inventory of natural, rural and urban areas. SOLRIS follows a standardized approach for ecosystem description, inventory and interpretation known as the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) for southern Ontario.

Generally, SOLRIS should be used at the landscape level and not for local or site specific needs. Features in SOLRIS are mapped at various resolutions due to different sources of data. The resolution and feature type should be carefully considered when determining appropriate use. The data specifications documentation and accuracy reports provide further details. A map has been created to indicate coverage area.

Coordinate system: UTM - NAD 83
Source format: ESRI Shapefiles and ESRI Grid (ArcGIS/ArcInfo)
Pixel Size: 15 metres
Released: November 2007 (version 1.2)
Base Data: 2000 to 2002

Land Cover Classes

Restrictions on Access

This resource is available to University of Western Ontario students, faculty and staff for academic, research or personal reasons.   Patrons will be required to present a valid UWO ID card and sign a release form when requesting the data. Data must be requested in person at the Map and Data Centre Reference desk.  SOLRIS can also be requested from the Equinox Data Delivery System (IDLS). Search by "Advanced File Search" and set the File Type to "Map".

Data Manipulation / Usage

The Map and Data Centre has 2 GIS workstations equipped with ArcGIS 10.0 and other software to explore/manipulate the data.  UWO users may also copy requested resources to a data storage device (ex. USB flash drive, CD-R) for research or teaching use outside of the library. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources should be cited in any maps or graphics generated.

Sample View of the Data

SOLRIS Land Cover Raster in the London, Ontario area

Sample Citation

Southern Ontario Land Resources Information System (SOLRIS) Data 2000-2002 [computer file].  Peterborough, Ontario: The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2007.