Instant information on soil quality anywhere in the Netherlands

Anyone performing earthworks in the Netherlands is legally obliged to investigate whether an environmental offence may arise in the process. This seems like a difficult task. How do you investigate whether soil activities might lead to health problems, damage to utilities or the environment? Yet this is surprisingly easy.

Nazca Solutions manages a database containing all information about soil quality in the Netherlands. The database is the largest in the Netherlands and contains all soil data ever collected in the Netherlands. This makes underground information such as soil quality, archaeology, the presence of cables, pipes and more readily available. Anyone who wants to make use of this source of information simply submits a request via the Nazca Solutions website, marks on a map which area he wants to receive information about and has it in his hands three minutes later, exactly according to CROW guidelines.

Triple task

The initial impetus for building the database was in 1995, when municipalities were required to make soil data available to earth, road and water construction companies, grid operators, real estate companies and more. For several years now, applicants have been able to use this digitally. In managing the database, Nazca Solutions takes on a threefold task. It monitors the quality of the data. In doing so, it follows the law and keeps the reports in line with government criteria.

Real time information

In doing so, Nazca Solutions has since become a genius at developing tools. "For example, we use the Internet of Things (IoT)," says Nus Jurgens, director/owner of Nazca Solutions. "We deploy sensors that observe the current situation. If someone inquires about the groundwater level in an area, he wants to know if he will be able to dig with dry feet next week. Thanks to these sensors, he gets real-time information. In this context, we are also always looking for parties who want to tell us what they encounter in practice. Where can we make improvements using IoT and serve them even better? We would love to get in touch with them!"

Augmented reality

For visual representation, Nazca Solutions uses augmented reality. "With this technique, you can add something to reality," says Jurgens. "Our users can then use their smartphone or tablet to virtually see the soil conditions of the location they are at, complete with data from our database."

By using Nazca Solutions' database, users do more than meet their legal obligations. They save time when laying cables and pipes and prevent emergencies, health problems and environmental crimes.