topic Re: HWSD in ArcGIS in Data Management Questions

HWSD in ArcGIS

PatrickFischer1 — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:01:40 GMT

Hey everyone,

Recently i've been working with the Harmonized World Soils Database(HWSD). I ran into some problems with getting it into ArcGIS but I have finally figured it out and i'm posting this so that anyone can use the dataset.

First step is to go to this website and download the files at this website.

http://webarchive.iiasa.ac.at/Research/LUC/External-World-soil-database/HTML/HWSD_Data.html?sb=4

After you have downloaded and unzipped these files open up arc catalog.

Follow these instructions for adding a OLE DB

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.2/index.html#//005s00000023000000

(If you have 10.0 or 10.1 the instructions are the exact same.

After you have done that open up ArcMap.

Add the raster that was provided with the HWSD

If the dataset is unprojected run Define Projection (Data Management Tools/Projections and Transformations/Define Projection) and set it to World Geodetic Systm 1984.

After that run the Build Raster Attribute Table(Data Management Tools/Raster/Raster Properties/Build Raster Attribute Table) on the raster.

Right click on the raster in the table of contents and select Joins and Relates -> Join.

Keep the dropdown as Join attributes From a table.

For the second drop down(number 1.) Choose the field Value

for number 2, click the open folder on the right side and browse to your Database Connections.

Double Click the HWSD you added earlier and Add the table HWSD_Data

For number 3's dropdown select the field MU_GLOBAL

Keep the radio button selected for Keep all recrods

You can then click validate join, currently 1 row will not be joined but the rest work perfectly fine.

Click OK.

That's it, now you have the HWSD in ArcGIS with all the attributes populated.

Re: HWSD in ArcGIS

MarleeLabroo — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 14:43:34 GMT

Hi Patrick,

This worked! Thanks. I have an additional question-- I have an imported XY data file and want to extract by sample the attribute data for it. Although I have joined the HWSD attribute data to the hwsd.bil file, when I run extract my resulting .dbf file only contains my XY data fields and the HWSD MU_Global field.

Is there a step I need to associate the XY data file and the HWSD? They use a common coordinate system etc. already.

Thank you!

Re: HWSD in ArcGIS

AkosKalman — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 12:24:20 GMT

Hi there,

In my case Build Raster Attribute Table failed, please advise how I can build it.

Many thanks,

Akos

Re: HWSD in ArcGIS

SridhanabharathiBala — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 03:34:09 GMT

Thanks for the Clarification. Can we do this in Arcgis pro? I dont't think we can access an mdb file in arcgis pro. What is the possible solution for doing this analysis in Pro?