Southern Ontario
Land Resource
Information
System
Update & Quick Facts
What is SOLRIS?
The Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System (SOLRIS) 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.
SOLRIS version 1.2 maps the following features:
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Open Cliff and Talus
Alvar
Open Shoreline
Open Bluff
Open Sand Barren and Dune
Treed Sand Barren and Dune
Open Tallgrass Prairie
Tallgrass Savannah
Tallgrass Woodland
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Forest
Coniferous Forest
Mixed Forest
Deciduous Forest
Plantations - Tree Cultivated
Hedge Rows
Transportation
Extraction
Built-up Area Pervious
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Built-up Area Impervious
Swamp
Fen
Bog
Marsh
Open Water
Undifferentiated
For detailed technical information on mapping scale, source data and limitations refer to the SOLRIS
Data Specifications 2007, Version 1.2, which will accompany the release of this data.
What is the extent
of SOLRIS?
The extent of the SOLRIS
data covers all of Ecoregions
6E and 7E.
When will SOLRIS data be made available?
The first release of SOLRIS, Version 1.1 (Greater Toronto Area), was released in November, 2006.
An initial installment of SOLRIS, Version 1.2 (Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario) was
released in November, 2007. The final installment of SOLRIS Version 1.2 which provides complete
coverage of the SOLRIS project area has now been released (April 2008).
SOLRIS data is distributed through Land Information Ontario.
Contact at [email protected] or (705) 755-1878 for specific data requests.
Why was SOLRIS created?
SOLRIS was developed to support landscape-scale planning initiatives in southern Ontario such as Source Water
Protection, Biodiversity Conservation, Natural Heritage
Planning, and State of Resources Reporting.
How was SOLRIS created?
The SOLRIS inventory is a compilation of data from various sources including topographic maps, aerial photos
and satellite imagery. Computer modelling, visual interpretation and field validation were used to create a
seamless inventory for Southern Ontario.
How to Use SOLRIS:
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.
Changes to Version 1.1
Change highlights for
Version 1.2:
The following changes in methodology were incorporated
into the initial release of SOLRIS Version 1.2 (November
2007) in order to maintain a consistent classification for
the entire project area. These changes persist in the
final release of SOLRIS Version 1.2 (April 2008).
 Agricultural sub-classes - not mapped – deferred to a future release (Annual Crop
Agriculture, Mixed Crop Agriculture,
Perennial Crop Agriculture and Idle Land)
are now grouped into one class called
undifferentiated.
 Shallow Water - not mapped - merged with
open water or marsh
 Orchard and Vineyards - not mapped –
deferred to a future release
 The classification of Forest features into
Coniferous, Mixed or Deciduous sub-classes
is restricted to those features with an area of
at least 1/2 hectare and meeting minimum
width criteria.
 Update to Greater Toronto Area (Figure 1 Version 1.1).
The SOLRIS product and method have evolved over the
past few years based on changing needs, available resources and new science and technology. Each release of
SOLRIS includes a comprehensive metadata record that
describes classification system, accuracy, and data
sources.
More Information
Technical Questions:
Ian Smyth, Remote Sensing Specialist,
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources,
Science & Information Branch,
300 Water St,
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5
[email protected]
Availability and Applications:
James McHattie, IM Specialist
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Southern Science and Information Section
300 Water St.
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5
[email protected]