-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.12 (2017-09-19) ----------------------------
* bug fix in fetchHenry(), it is now possible to qwuery just sensor metadata

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.11 (2017-08-17) ----------------------------
* temporary bug-fix related to SCAN data (https://github.com/ncss-tech/soilDB/issues/26)

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.10 (2017-08-10) ----------------------------
* re-write of mix_and_clean_colors() so that color mixing happens in CIE LAB space

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.5 (2017-05-24) ----------------------------
* re-write of SDA_query(), better error handling, support for multi-part result sets

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.2 (2017-03-24) ----------------------------
* fetchHenry() can now access water level data, see manual page

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8.1 (2017-01-23) ----------------------------
* new function: get_comonth_from_NASIS_db() see manual page for details

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8-10 (2016-12-27) ----------------------------
* converting all URLs to 'HTTPS', addressing bugs with fetchSCAN() and associated functions

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8-7 (2016-11-16) ----------------------------
* sanity checks for fetchHenry()
* SCAN_sensor_metadata() vectorized and documented
* unique row names in SPDF returned by seriesExtent()

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8-6 (2016-11-04) ----------------------------
* converted all links to SoilWeb servers to HTTPS
* converted all NRCS web-service links to HTTPS

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8-4 (2016-10-07) ----------------------------
* fetchOSD() now returns dry colors and the source "narrative" for each horizon; function gains an argument
* fetchOSD() now returns texture class, coarse fragment modifier, pH, and pH class
* fetchSCAN() re-written, see manual pages and http://ncss-tech.github.io/AQP/soilDB/fetchSCAN-demo.html 

-------------------------- soilDB 1.8 (2016-04-29) ----------------------------
* fetchKSSL() can now query basic morphologic data with the argument "returnMorphologicData"
* two new functions for simplifying NASIS color and fragment data:
 + simplifyFragmentData()
 + simplifyColorData()
* ^^^ these new functions are now used by fetchNASIS() to summarize color and fragment data (vs. SQL)
* NOTE: soilDB now uses reshape2::dcast() instead of reshape::cast()

-------------------------- soilDB 1.7 (2016-04-18) ----------------------------
* bug fix in colors returned by fetchNASIS(), reported by Andy Paolucci
* bug fix in SDA_query(), due to changes in httr::content. Thanks Kyle Bocinsky for the fix!
* SDA_query() now returns SQL errors generated by SDA
* new columns from NASIS site table returned by fetchNASIS()
* NASIS pedon ecosite data now returned by fetchNASIS() (c/o J. Skovlin)

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.9 (2015-12-28) ----------------------------
* clean-up in local NASIS queries, removed extra parens
* NASIS component query function overhaul: previous code may be broken, details pending

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.8 (2015-12-22) ----------------------------
* added temperature class (temp_class) field from the pedon taxonomic history table (NASIS) [addition suggested by J. Baker]

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.7 (2015-12-16) ----------------------------
* experimental function for processing SDA queries that return geometry: processSDA_WKT()

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.5 (2015-12-03) ----------------------------
* bug fix for poorly specified gemomorphic descriptions, caused fetchNASIS() to barf
* fetchKSSL() gains new query filters, see man page

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.4 (2015-11-27) ----------------------------
* package re-org, getting ready for soilDB 2.0:
 + dropping use of `RCurl` functions in favor of `httr` alternatives (done)
 + switch from `reshape` to `reshape2` (pending)
 + possibly move some packages from SUGGESTS to IMPORTS

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6.3 (2015-11-20) ----------------------------
* new spatial query helper functions for SDA
* re-named SSURGO_spatial_query() to SoilWeb_spatial_query(), this function may be phased-out due to spatial support now available in SDA
* removed MUKEYS_by_ll_bbox() function, no longer needed and web-service may be disabled at any time
* mapunit_geom_by_ll_bbox() will probably be removed in the near future with an SDA-based alternative
* KSSL data updated (server-side) to June 2015 snapshot, "site_id" column removed from fetchKSSL() results

-------------------------- soilDB 1.6 (2015-08-19) ----------------------------
* soilDB now imports from the `reshape` package, will transition to `reshape2` with soilDB 2.0
* fetchHenry() officially added, complete with documentation
* SDA_query() undergoing some upgrades, no longer requies SSOAP / XMLSchema packages
* SSOAP / XMLSchema packages no longer in 'suggests' list

-------------------------- soilDB 1.5-8 (2015-08-13) ----------------------------
* fetchKSSL() gets an argument for downloading data by MLRA

-------------------------- soilDB 1.5-7 (2015-03-10) ----------------------------
* updated the `loafercreek` and `gopheridge` sample datasets

-------------------------- soilDB 1.5-3 (2015-03-10) ----------------------------
* nullFragsAreZero argument to fetchNASIS() reset to TRUE, new documentation pending
* consolidate of messages printed when running fetchNASIS()
* introduction of new option "soilDB.verbose" (default is FALSE) for increasing the level of QC information printed
* new tutorial on fetchNASIS()

-------------------------- soilDB 1.5-2 (2015-02-24) ----------------------------
* RODBC temporarily moved from "suggested" package to "imported" package... not a good idea, reverted to "suggested"

-------------------------- soilDB 1.4-5 (2015-01-20) ----------------------------
* mix_and_clean_colors() now returns back-transformed, mixed, munsell colors
* added psctopdepth and pscbotdepth back to extended NASIS query (particle size control section depths)

-------------------------- soilDB 1.4-3 (2015-01-12) ----------------------------
* get_hz_data_from_NASIS_db() no longer assumes fragment volume of NULL = 0
* get_extended_data_from_NASIS_db() no longer assumes fragment volume of NULL = 0
* fetchNASIS() has a new argument, nullFragsAreZero=FALSE; set to TRUE for past NULL -> 0 conversion

-------------------------- soilDB 1.4-2 (2014-12-23) ----------------------------
* new internally-used function .formatLandformString() for flattening NASIS/PedonPC "landform" records
* new internally-used function .formatParentMaterialString() for flattening NASIS/PedonPC "parent material" records
* fetchNASIS() incorporates the results of these two new functions
* new function SSURGO_spatial_query() queries SSURGO data from SoilWeb (see manual page for details)

-------------------------- soilDB 1.4 (2014-11-13) ----------------------------
* moving most of the hard-to-install packages into `suggests`, and checking for package availability at function runtime. this will make soilDB more portable, as not every user will want or need all functionality.

-------------------------- soilDB 1.3-6 (2014-10-27) ----------------------------
* fetchNASIS() gains argument rmHzErrors to optionally retain pedons with horizonation errors. use with caution.

-------------------------- soilDB 1.3-5 (2014-09-25) ----------------------------
* loafercreek sample dataset re-created from new data
* seriesExtent() now utilizes pre-cached GeoJSON files from [http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/]

-------------------------- soilDB 1.3 (2014-02-26) ----------------------------
* Changes made to fetch functions to accommodate changes implemented in the NASIS 6.3 data structure
* get_site_data_from_NASIS_db(): in cases where multiple records in site-bedrock exist, retain only the most shallow
* fetchRaCA() has a new argument for querying data by rcasiteid

-------------------------- soilDB 1.2-9 (2014-01-06) ----------------------------
* SOC concentration and stock values are temporarily disabled in fetchRaCA() 
  - waiting for new estimates from the Soil Survey Center...

-------------------------- soilDB 1.2-6 (2013-12-05) ----------------------------
* added new function contributed by J.M. Skovlin: get_veg_from_NPS_PLOTS_db()
* bugfixes in get_extended_data_from_NASIS_db(): results from geomorph tables are now returned

-------------------------- soilDB 1.2-3 (2013-10-25) ----------------------------
* added new function fetchSCAN() for downloading soil/climate data from USDA-NRCS SCAN stations (still experimental!)

-------------------------- soilDB 1.2-1 (2013-09-12) ----------------------------
* bug fixing in fetchRaCA(): 
  - "#" characters no longer cause errors
  - duplicate IDs in source data have been fixed

-------------------------- soilDB 1.2 (2013-08-13) ----------------------------
* fetchRaCA() function now stable, ready for general usage
* fixed bug in fetchRaCA() function where the presence of single-quote character in horizon designation would throw and error

-------------------------- soilDB 1.1-3 (2013-07-30) ----------------------------
* new function get_copedon_from_NASIS_db(): returns basic information associated with pedons linked to component data in NASIS
* new function fetchRaCA(): gets data from the Rapid Carbon Assessment project [work in progress]

-------------------------- soilDB 1.1 (2013-06-27) ----------------------------
* get_site_data_from_NASIS_db() no longer has problems when more than 1 site bedrock kind is defined; only the shallowest row is returned

-------------------------- soilDB 1.0 (2013-04-04) ----------------------------
* fetchNASIS() is now much more efficient: faster / less memory used
* new function! fetchKSSL(): experimental interface to (most of) the KSSL data
	- queries can be performed by series name or GCS bounding box
	- data are delivered via CA Soil Resource Lab server

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-8 (2013-04-03) ----------------------------
* fetchOSD() now immune to queries for non-soils
* improved efficiency in fetch* functions
* NASIS-DMU fetching functions now return more information, still not as complete as pedon-queries

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-7 (2013-03-01) ----------------------------
* NASIS query functions now return only records from the selected set, please test older code!

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-6 (2013-02-26) ----------------------------
* new function get_text_notes_from_NASIS_db() -- still needs proper documentation
* bug fixes to PedonPC and NASIS queries, new data elements returned by extended query functions
* SoilWeb queries via URL are now URL-encoded to allow for spaces in soil series names

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-4 (2013-01-31) ----------------------------
* new function: fetchOSD() returns basic OSD data as a SoilProfileCollection

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-3 (2013-01-08) ----------------------------
* speed-bump in color-fetching functions from NASIS/pedonPC
* fetchNASIS() now attempts to correct for >1 pedon/site by appending peiid to pedon_id

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-2 (2012-12-18) ----------------------------
* new functions for getting / plotting the geographic extent of a soil series, using the SoilWeb query service:
  -seriesExtent() : fetches extent as a SpatialPolygonDataFrame
  -seriesExtentAsGmap() : fetches extent and plots on Google Maps (requires dismo package)

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9-1 (2012-11-27) ----------------------------
* updated functionality in fetchNASIS_component_data() pulls mapunit-level data as well as component-level data
* Munsell 'value' is now returned from PedonPC/NASIS fetching functions

-------------------------- soilDB 0.9 (2012-10-24) ----------------------------
* added a surface fragment summary "surf_frag_summary" to the results of get_extended_data_from_NASIS()
  - note: this has not been ported to the related PedonPC queries
* integrated surf_frag_summary data into data returned from fetchNASIS(), stored in @site
  - note: this has not been ported to the related PedonPC queries
* minor bug-fix in horizon-level rock fragment summary SQL which previously mis-classified BD as ST in some, rare cases
  - note: this has not been ported to the related PedonPC queries

-------------------------- soilDB 0.8-3 (2012-09-28) ----------------------------
* site-level data: {elev, slope, aspect} are now named {elev_field, slope_field, aspect_field}
  - this affects the data returned by fetchNASIS() and fetchPedonPC()

-------------------------- soilDB 0.8-2 (2012-08-23) ----------------------------
* compatible with NASIS 6.2
* bug fixes
* taxhistory selection method is preserved in the results
* 'taxonname' is used instead of 'sampled_as' / 'correlated_as'
	! seems to work, but needs further testing

-------------------------- soilDB 0.8 (2012-08-20) ----------------------------
* updating for PedonPC 5.0 and NASIS 6.2
  - site data contains the best-guessed corresponding row from the taxhistory table, based on:
		1) most recent record, or 2) record with the least amount of missing data
  - taxhistory data are now included in the output from get_extended_data_from_pedon_db()
* package is now partially compatible with NASIS 6.2

-------------------------- soilDB 0.6 (2012-06-19) ----------------------------
* tidying up documentation, package dependencies, and NAMESPACE

-------------------------- soilDB 0.5-6 (2012-04-16) ----------------------------
* adding preimlinary functions for querying component data from local NASIS
* fixed minor bug in SDA_query() and added some links to related documentation

-------------------------- soilDB 0.5-1 (2012-02-22) ----------------------------
* fetchNASIS() and fetchPedonPC() now integrate `extended' data
* warning and error messages cleaned-up
* multiple textures no longer cause duplicate HZ rows (NASIS only)
* exteded queries now split frags/para-frags
* silt fraction is estimated from 100-(sand+clay) when possible
* added local NASIS ODBC connection vignette (thanks JMS)
* removed dsn argument from NASIS functions as it should always be 'nasis_local'
* new wide-formatted, boolean representation of diagnostic horizon data
* queries standardized between NASIS/PedonPC
* new fetchNASIS() function for 1-line access to local NASIS data
* new sample data set 'loafercreek'
* basic vignette added, switching to knitr-style vignettes

-------------------------- soilDB 0.3-3 (2012-01-10) --------------------------
* SDA_query() now functional on MacOS/UNIX-like OSes with (SSOAP 0.8-1, XMLSchema 0.6-0, and XML 3.7-1)
  - thanks to D.T. Lang for the updates!
* moving hard to find packages to 'suggested' status: SSOAP, RCurl, XML, rgdal
* new wrapper function fetchPedonPC() for typical site/pedon/hz queries
* new function getHzErrorsPedonPC() for ID-ing pedons with problem horizonation
* NOTE: hz data queries will return 2 rows/hz (error) when multiple texture 
  classes are assigned to a single horizon- this is a bug, not a feature!

-------------------------- soilDB 0.3-2 (2011-12-30) --------------------------
* NASIS/pedonPC queries synced
* minor bug fixes and documentation updates
* updated query structure, switching over to native NASIS/PedonPC IDs
* extended summaries added: NASIS only

-------------------------- soilDB 0.2 (2011-12-27) --------------------------
* moved functions out of aqp package
* basic query functionality from local NASIS DB (Jay)

-------------------------- soilDB 0.1 (2011-12-23) --------------------------
* initial version on r-forge
* functions still exist in aqp package... need to move over completely
