Soil surveys typically contain information related to soil genesis, classification, interpretation, and mapping. Ideally the information would be in a consistent form and format across the province of Ontario. However, in some cases the available soil surveys are dated or may be in a form that is not well suited to use by clients such as land use planners and resource managers. The soil maps in this case are presented at a very detailed scale of 1:20,000 (or 1 centimeter on the map equal to approximately 200 metres on the ground) on an unregistered photo mosaic base. Combined, the maps contain approximately 50,000 individual soil map units. The purpose of this project was to generate a new generalized and digitized soil map, consistent with current soil survey conventions and compatible in content and format with recently published soil survey reports in southern Ontario. An initial pilot study had been conducted in Wilmot Township, in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (Ecologistics Limited, 1994), for the purpose of developing a methodology for grouping soil polygons on the detailed soil maps. Grouped soil polygons were created by combining soils of comparable parent material. In the current project, this soil grouping methodology was extended to the Region as a whole but using the GIS to automate the process.

In Ontario, municipalities are categorized into three types based on their government structure: upper-tier, lower-tier, and single-tier municipalities. Waterloo region is a two-tier municipality.An upper-tier municipality operates within a two-tier government structure.It provides services to multiple lower-tier municipalities within its geographical area.A lower-tier municipality is part of a two-tier structure.It receives services from an upper-tier municipality and may include cities, towns, or smaller communities.Upper-Tier Municipality: The Region of WaterlooLower Tier Municipalities: Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo