This dataset is a 30-meter resolution national-scale raster of estimated subsurface tile drainage extent based on early 1990s county areas of subsurface tile drains and geospatial datasets of cropland and poorly drained soil. Specifically, it was developed using 1) county-level acres of subsurface tile drain extents from Sugg (2007); 2) the extent of cultivated cropland from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2011; 3) the extent of poorly drained soil from the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) database Version 2; 4) the extent of federally-owned land, and 5) county administrative boundaries. Sugg's (2007) area of subsurface tile drains within each county was evenly allocated to potentially drained land -- cropland with poorly drained soil. The estimated area of subsurface tile drains in each cell is expressed in square meters. In most cases, the estimated subsurface drainage extent in each cell is less than the actual area of the cell in the raster. Sugg, Zachary, 2007, Assessing U.S. farm drainage: can GIS lead to better estimates of subsurface drainage extent?: World Resources Institute, Washington D.C., accessed December 2013, at http://www.wri.org/publication/assessing-us-farm-drainage.

The 30-m Gridded Tile Drainage Data for the Contiguous United StatesCite this data:Valayamkunnath, P., Barlage, M., Chen, F. et al. Mapping of 30-meter resolution tile-drained croplands using a geospatial modeling approach. Sci Data 7, 257 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00596-xDownload citation

This dataset is a 30-meter resolution raster of estimated extent of subsurface tile drains, developed from tabular data of state-level estimates of agricultural land drained by tiles combined with geospatial cropland and soils in 12 Midwest States (SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, OH, and KY). This dataset was created from the following four sources: 1) state-level acreages of agricultural "land drained by tiles" from the 2012 Census of Agriculture; 2) the extent of cultivated cropland from the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) 2011; 3) the extent of poorly and moderately drained soils from the State Soil Geographic Database (STATSGO) database Version 2; and 4) state administrative boundaries. The area of drained land was evenly allocated to potentially drained land for agriculture - cropland with poorly drained soil - except in Iowa. For Iowa, because the reported area of land drained by tiles exceeded the area of cropland on poorly drained soils, the additional area of subsurface tile drains greater than the area of cropland on poorly drained soils was assigned to land characterized as cropland with moderately drained soil. The estimated extent of subsurface tile drains in each cell is expressed in square meters.

Licensed agricultural tile drainage contractors create plans for numerous agricultural tile drainage systems and install thousands of feet of agricultural drainage tile each year. As a requirement of their license, each contractor must report to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) the location of the area where they installed drainage tile. These areas are represented as polygon features.Legislated or Legal Authority for Collection: Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act (Regulation 18)Additional Time Period Information: The legislation was official as of 1983 but some the data holding may contain data that was installed prior to 1983. The legislation is still in effect therefore the data holding is still currently receiving information.Additional Metadata Location: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs website This class has related tables. Tile Drainage Area related tables Additional DocumentationTile Drainage Area - Data Description (PDF)Tile Drainage Area - Documentation (Word) Status On going: data is being continually updated Maintenance and Update Frequency Irregular: data is updated in intervals that are uneven in duration Contact Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, omafra.gis@ontario.ca

Image library of (1) tile-drained landscapes and (2) tile-drain types used for training a machine-learning model that identifies (1) tile-drained landscapes and (2) differentiates two types of tile-drained areas visible in satellite imagery. These images were sourced from WorldView, Quickbird, and GeoEye satellite imagery (copyright DigitalGlobe) and cropped to features of interest. Imagery has a ground resolution of 0.34 - 0.65 m.

The source is a repository of Spatially Explicit Estimate of Tile Drainage (SEETileDrain) products across the US Midwest in 2017 at a 30-m resolution. It includes the binary classification map (tile and non-tile), tile probability (how likely a grid cell is tile-drained). The Python scripts to generate the PAW layers and the R scripts (see also: https://github.com/LuwenWan/SEETileDrain_MidWest) to select variables, implement the random forest model and visualize the figures, are also available.

In this work, we developed a machine learning model using 31 satellite-derived and environmental variables and trained with 60,938 tile and non-tile ground truth points within the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. The results show that our model achieved good accuracy, with 96 % of the points correctly classified and an F1 score of 0.90. When the tile drainage areas are aggregated to the county scale, it agrees well (R-squared = 0.68) with the reported area from the 2017 Ag Census. The product, SEETileDrain (Spatially Explicit Estimate of Tile Drainage), is described in full detail in the manuscript and the supporting information of Wan et al. (2024). If needed, copies of the tile drainage product can be requested from the corresponding author at luven.wan@gmail.com.

Preferred citation: L. Wan, A.D. Kendall, J. Rapp, D.W. Hyndman. 2024. Mapping agricultural tile drainage in the US Midwest using explainable random forest machine learning and satellite imagery, Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175283

Get the locations of drainage tiles installed by licenced agricultural drainage contractors. As a requirement of the license, each contractor must report the location of new drainage tile areas to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness.

Compressed GIS files used in PhaseIIITask4 to create ditch and tile drain layers.

Spatial data files specifying the areas with ditch and tile drainage were developed in 2004 by the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS; Resource Conservationist, John Gillies, and Agricultural Engineer, Dean Renner). Drainage coefficients from NRCS technical guides are shown in Table 2. The drained areas were estimated using a geographic information system (GIS) to identify hydric soils on agricultural land use areas, based on the assumption that if a hydric soil was cleared and in agricultural use, then there was a drainage system in place to manage water using sub-surface (tile) and surface (open ditch) practices. For the Lower Nooksack Water Budget these are areas used to determine the tile drained and ditch drained fraction of each drainage model element as well as to assign drainage coefficients.

This resource is a subset of the LNWB Ch09 Artificial Drainage Collection Resource.

This coverage is a raster representing soil that requires tile drainage to achieve optimal agronomic yields for row crops and was classified as corn, soybeans or cut hay in the 2009 HRLC.

This data set is a polygon feature that can be used to identify the location of licensed agricultural tile drainage areas.

Licensed agricultural tile drainage contractors create plans for numerous agricultural tile drainage systems and install thousands of feet of agricultural drainage tile each year. As a requirement of their license, each contractor must report to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) the location of the area where they installed drainage tile.

Please note that this data was created using the sketches provided by contractors in their tile drainage reports. The sketches are rough estimates of the real world locations of these features. Please use caution when interpreting data and results.

Supplementary tables can be used and are available for download from the additional documentation section.

This dataset contains research data compiled by the “Managing Water for Increased Resiliency of Drained Agricultural Landscapes” project a.k.a. Transforming Drainage. This project was funded from 2015-2021 by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA, Award No. 2015-68007-23193). Data are also available from a separate web-accessible application (drainagedata.org). At drainagedata.org, users can visualize the data with customized tools, query based on specific sites and measurements of interest, and access site photographs, maps, summaries, and publications. Additional data or edits made following the publication of this data here at USDA NAL Ag Data Commons will be posted under the Versions tab on drainagedata.org. These data began in 1996 and include plot- and field-level measurements for 39 experiments across the Midwest and North Carolina. Practices studied include controlled drainage, drainage water recycling, and saturated buffers. In total, 219 variables are reported and span 207 site-years for tile drainage, 154 for nitrate-N load, 181 for water quality, 92 for water table, and 201 for crop yield. The Transforming Drainage Project worked to advance the process of designing and implementing agricultural drainage systems for storing water in the landscape to improve the resiliency and productivity of agricultural systems. At each site, a control plot was paired with a plot with one of the following three practices to assess impacts. Controlled Drainage (CD) is the practice of using a water control structure to raise the depth of the drainage outlet, holding water in the field during periods when drainage is not needed. Drainage Water Recycling (DWR) diverts subsurface drainage water into on-farm ponds or reservoirs, where it is stored until it can be used by the crop later in the season through supplemental irrigation. Saturated Buffers (SB) remove nitrate from subsurface drainage water by diverting it into the buffer where it can be taken up by growing vegetation or removed by denitrification. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Field management - tillage. File Name: mngt_tillage_data.csvResource Description: Information about tillage operations performed in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – notes. File Name: mngt_notes_data.csvResource Description: General information about field conditions during the study periodResource Title: Field management – residue. File Name: mngt_residue_data.csvResource Description: Information about residue management in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – fertilizing. File Name: mngt_fertilizing_data.csvResource Description: Information about fertilizer application and soil amendments performed in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – harvesting. File Name: mngt_harvesting_data.csvResource Description: Information about harvesting operations performed in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – planting. File Name: mngt_planting_data.csvResource Description: Information about planting operations performed in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – irrigation. File Name: mngt_irrigation_data.csvResource Description: Information about irrigation operations performed in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Field management – drainage water management. File Name: mngt_dwm_data.csvResource Description: Information about drainage water management in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Weather data. File Name: weather_data.csvResource Description: On-site weather data collected in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Soil physicochemical properties data. File Name: soil_properties_data.csvResource Description: Soil physicochemical measurements collected in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Soil moisture data. File Name: soil_moisture_data.csvResource Description: Soil moisture, temperature and bulk EC measurements collected in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Irrigation data. File Name: irrigation_data.csvResource Description: Amount of irrigation water applied to the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Stage data. File Name: water_stage_data.csvResource Description: Stage measurements in the wetlands during the study periodResource Title: Water table data. File Name: water_table_data.csvResource Description: Water table measurements collected in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Water quality data. File Name: water_quality_data.csvResource Description: Water quality measurements collected from the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Methodology. File Name: meta_methods.csvResource Description: Description of the drainage system set up, sampling procedures, and other protocols used at each research site during the study periodResource Title: Plot treatment. File Name: meta_treatment_identifier.csvResource Description: List of treatments used across the research sites during the study periodResource Title: Plot description. File Name: meta_plot_characteristics.csvResource Description: Description of plots and corresponding drainage systems for each research siteResource Title: Agronomic data. File Name: agronomic_data.csvResource Description: Agronomic measurements collected in the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Site description. File Name: meta_site_characteristics.csvResource Description: Description of the research sitesResource Title: Drainage data. File Name: drain_flow_and_N_loads_data.csvResource Description: Drain flow and nitrate load measurements collected from the research fields during the study periodResource Title: Data dictionary. File Name: data_dictionary.csv

Throughout increased expansion of farmland in Sweden, drainage have been an important part for land acquisition to keep soil moisture levels sufficient for land accessibility and crop production. Increased magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events such as high precipitation events and hydrological floods have already been seen affecting crop production in recent years. Hence putting pressure on increasing demand for thorough drainage systems.

While data on open ditch- and regional drainage systems is readily available, data on subsurface drainage is scarce. Hence, this dataset presents the first spatial location of estimated tile-drained fields in Southern-central Sweden, based on county-wise statistics at 50*50 m resolution.

This dataset show spatial coverage of probable subsurface drained agricultural area in central to southern Sweden. The dataset is created by combining slope and soil drainage class based on clay content, and the area limited by statistics from 2016 over county wise determined area of subsurface drainage.

The documentation contains: README: Description of maps and references on which the dataset is based; which files are included and their contents; references to method description and compiled results from the dataset.

SubsurfaceDrainage_Dataset-description_2025-06-23: Describes the purpose of the dataset's origin, method and validation of results.

CountywiseTileDrainArea_Code: R-code used for the creation of the tile drainage maps per county included in this dataset.

This dataset contains a list of licensed tile drainage contractors in Ontario who design and install agricultural tile drainage systems. These contractors hold a valid business license under the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act, 1990 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). Contractors with a business license must employ a licensed Class “A” machine operator and have licensed tile drainage machinery. Licenses are renewed annually (expire March 31), and the list is updated annually. The list is maintained by OMAFA and includes company names, contact names, addresses, telephone numbers, and emails.

The use of tile drainage is documented as far back as 200 B. C. and continues to be used in poorly drained agricultural regions throughout the world. Recent increases in annual precipitation throughout the mid-western United States, the potential for future regulation of tile, and more efficient installation methods for plastic tile have accelerated tile installation across the region. While good for crop production, the eco-hydrologic impacts of this modification have been shown to adversely affect natural drainage networks. Knowing the location of tile drain networks is essential to developing groundwater and surface water models. The geometry of tile networks installed decades ago has often been lost with time or was never well documented in the first place. Previous work has recognized that tiles can be observed for certain soil types in visible remote sensing data due to changes in soil albedo. The soil surface directly above the tile appears to have a lower soil moisture content due to strong water table gradients adjacent to tiles, causing a detectable color contrast at the surface. In this work, small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) were used to collect high resolution visible and thermal data to map tile drain patterns. Within less than 96 hours of a 12 mm rain event, a total of approximately 60 hectares of sUAS thermal and RGB data were acquired at two different locations at the Intensively Managed Lands Critical Zone Observatory in Illinois. Selected thermal images were co-registered with RGB images at known tile locations. The thermal imagery showed limited evidence of thermal contrast related to the tile, however, it is possible that a contrast could have been detected sooner after the rain event when greater thermal contrasts due to lower soil moisture proximal to tile would be expected. The RGB data, however, elucidated the tile entirely at one site and provided traces of the tile at the other site. These results illustrate the importance of the timing of sUAS data collection with respect to the precipitation event. Ongoing related work focusing on laboratory and numerical experiments to better quantify feedbacks between albedo, soil moisture, and heat transfer will help predict the optimal timing of data collection for applications such as tile mapping.

Raw project data is available by contacting ctemps@unr.edu

The overall objective of this study is to assess the potential effects of subsurface tile drainage on the hydrology of wetlands and other aquatic resources in the PPR. This assessment will provide fundamental information to evaluate possible impacts to landscape hydrology and ecological services provided by wetlands. It also will support an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the NRCS protective setback practice for minimizing impacts to wetlands.

To accomplish this, a spatial survey of tile locations in the Dakotas will be conducted to characterize the current distribution of tile systems. Information gained from this survey, along with data on agro-economics, soils, wetlands, and crop trends, will be used to identify field-level characteristics of tile systems and to project the future distribution of tile on the landscape. Additionally, through a field study, in situ data will be collected to calibrate a catchment waterbalance model and to compare characteristics of tiled and non-tiled catchments. These field data will quantify effects of drainage tile to wetlands and to assess regional impacts to hydrology and ecological services provided by wetlands.

This tabular data set represents the estimated percent area of subsurface tile drainage extent from the early 1990's compiled for two spatial components of the NHDPlus version 2 data suite (NHDPlusv2) for the conterminous United States; 1) individual reach catchments and 2) reach catchments accumulated upstream through the river network. This dataset can be linked to the NHDPlus version 2 data suite by the unique identifier COMID. The source data are "Estimates of subsurface tile drainage extent for the conterminous United States, early 1990s" produced by the United States Geological Survey Nakagaki, 2016). Units are percent of catchment. Reach catchment information characterizes data at the local scale. Reach catchments accumulated upstream through the river network characterizes cumulative upstream conditions. Network-accumulated values are computed using two methods, 1) divergence-routed and 2) total cumulative drainage area. Both approaches use a modified routing database to navigate the NHDPlus reach network to aggregate (accumulate) the metrics derived from the reach catchment scale. (Schwarz and Wieczorek, 2016).

The rapid expansion of pattern tile drainage (PTD) to enhance agricultural production in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) has the potential to negatively impact ecosystem services provided by wetlands. To better understand and assess these impacts, a spatial database will be developed to provide a regional characterization of areas at risk to PTD. Spatial information in conjunction with existing data and models will be used to make preliminary projections on the effects of PTD on cosystem services such as duck production, water storage and water quality. Spatial information will be used to identify study sites that will be instrumented to quantify and model the effects of PTD systems on wetland hydrology; this information is critical for refinement and calibration of model projections. The spatial database developed through this project and field studies will benefit other projects addressing PTD and hydrological issues in the PPP LCC. Ultimately, this work will provide the first assessment on the impacts PTD on ecosystem services as well as provide the underpinning for future development of decision support tools for private, state, federal and NGO stakeholders.

Two seasonal wetland catchments were selected in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Study catchments at Beck WPA will be tiled, and study catchments at Roosevelt WPA will not. Roosevelt WPA will serve as the control.

Drainage Tile Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global drainage tile market size reached USD 2.1 billion in 2024, demonstrating robust growth driven by increasing demand across agricultural, residential, and commercial sectors. The market is forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 6.8% during the period of 2025 to 2033, reaching a projected value of USD 3.9 billion by 2033. This growth is underpinned by the rising awareness of efficient water management, ongoing infrastructure development, and the adoption of advanced materials in drainage solutions. As per our latest research, the market continues to benefit from technological advancements and a growing emphasis on sustainable land and water management practices.

The primary growth factor for the drainage tile market is the increasing adoption of subsurface drainage systems in agriculture. As global food demand rises and arable land becomes increasingly scarce, effective water management is essential for optimizing crop yields. Drainage tiles play a crucial role in preventing waterlogging, improving soil aeration, and maintaining optimal moisture levels, which directly impact agricultural productivity. Governments and private entities are investing in modernizing irrigation and drainage infrastructure, particularly in regions prone to heavy rainfall or poor natural drainage. The integration of advanced materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene in drainage tiles further enhances their durability and efficiency, making them a preferred choice for large-scale agricultural projects.

Another significant driver is the rapid urbanization and expansion of the construction sector. The proliferation of residential and commercial developments, especially in emerging economies, has led to increased demand for effective stormwater and wastewater management solutions. Drainage tiles are being extensively used in landscaping, foundation protection, and basement waterproofing to mitigate the risks associated with water accumulation and soil erosion. The trend towards sustainable urban planning and green infrastructure is also propelling the adoption of drainage tiles as they facilitate efficient water reuse and contribute to the overall resilience of urban environments. Additionally, stringent regulatory standards regarding water runoff and environmental protection are compelling developers to incorporate advanced drainage solutions in their projects.

Technological innovation is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the drainage tile market. Manufacturers are focusing on the development of lightweight, easy-to-install, and cost-effective drainage tile systems that cater to diverse end-user requirements. The emergence of smart drainage systems integrated with sensors and remote monitoring capabilities is revolutionizing the way water management is approached, particularly in precision agriculture and urban infrastructure. These advancements not only improve operational efficiency but also reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact. Furthermore, the growing preference for eco-friendly materials and recycling initiatives in the construction and agriculture sectors is opening new avenues for market expansion.

Regionally, North America and Europe are leading the market, driven by well-established agricultural practices, advanced construction technologies, and strict environmental regulations. However, the Asia Pacific region is witnessing the fastest growth due to rapid urbanization, government initiatives to improve agricultural productivity, and increasing investments in infrastructure development. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also showing promising potential, supported by efforts to modernize irrigation systems and enhance land management practices. The regional outlook for the drainage tile market remains positive, with emerging economies expected to contribute significantly to market growth over the forecast period.

Product Type Analysis

The drainage tile market is segmented by product type into clay drainage tile, concrete drainage tile, plastic drainage tile, and others, each catering to specific applications and user preferences. Clay drainage tiles, being one of the oldest forms, are valued for their natural composition and long-lasting performance. They are particularly favored in regions where traditional agricultural practices prevail and where soil chemistry supports their usage. However, the installatio

Get the locations of drainage tiles installed by licenced agricultural drainage contractors. As a requirement of the license, each contractor must report the location of new drainage tile areas to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness.

Drainage Tile Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global drainage tile market size reached USD 2.7 billion in 2024, reflecting robust demand across both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated USD 4.7 billion by the end of the forecast period. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of advanced drainage solutions for efficient water management, particularly in agriculture and urban development. The rising awareness about soil health, climate resilience, and sustainable land management practices are further fueling the adoption of drainage tile systems globally.

The primary growth factor for the drainage tile market is the agricultural sectorÂ’s intensifying focus on maximizing crop yields and optimizing field conditions. Modern farming practices demand efficient water management, and drainage tiles play a crucial role in removing excess water from soil, thereby preventing waterlogging, enhancing soil aeration, and improving root development. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as floods and heavy rainfall, has further underscored the need for reliable subsurface drainage systems. Governments and agricultural agencies worldwide are promoting the installation of drainage tiles through subsidies and awareness programs, which is accelerating market growth. Additionally, technological advancements in drainage tile materials and installation techniques are making these systems more durable and cost-effective, further encouraging their adoption among farmers and landowners.

Another significant growth driver for the drainage tile market is the expanding application in the construction and landscaping industries. With rapid urbanization and the development of smart cities, there is a heightened need for effective stormwater management solutions to prevent urban flooding and waterlogging. Drainage tiles are increasingly being integrated into residential, commercial, and public infrastructure projects to manage surface and subsurface water efficiently. The growing trend towards green infrastructure, such as permeable pavements and sustainable landscaping, is also contributing to the demand for advanced drainage solutions. Moreover, the construction sectorÂ’s emphasis on long-term durability and reduced maintenance costs is prompting builders and developers to invest in high-quality drainage tile systems.

The market is further bolstered by the rising adoption of plastic and composite drainage tiles, which offer advantages such as lightweight construction, ease of installation, and enhanced resistance to corrosion and chemical exposure. These materials are rapidly replacing traditional clay and concrete tiles, especially in regions with challenging soil conditions or aggressive water chemistry. The availability of customized and modular drainage solutions is also enabling end-users to tailor systems according to specific site requirements, thereby improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of drainage tile installations. Furthermore, the expansion of distribution networks, including online retail channels, is making these products more accessible to a broader customer base, supporting sustained market growth.

In the realm of construction and landscaping, Perimeter Drainage Pipes play a pivotal role in safeguarding structures from water damage. These pipes are strategically installed around the perimeter of buildings to efficiently channel water away from foundations, thus preventing potential issues such as basement flooding and soil erosion. The use of perimeter drainage pipes is particularly crucial in areas prone to heavy rainfall or poor soil drainage, where water accumulation can compromise structural integrity. By directing water away from critical areas, these systems not only enhance the longevity of buildings but also contribute to sustainable water management practices. As urban areas continue to expand, the demand for effective perimeter drainage solutions is expected to rise, further driving innovation and adoption in this segment.

From a regional perspective, North America and Europe currently dominate the drainage tile market, accounting for a combined market share of over 60% in 2024. This dominance is attributed to the advanced state o