Geospatial data
If your data is geospatial (vector, raster)
The Map Librarian is here to help you with your geospatial data questions! Additionally, the computers in the library are equipped with ArcGIS and available for use.
How GIS works
ArcGIS Pro uses the concept of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to build maps in which each category of spatial feature is a separate layer. The layers are spatially "georeferenced" so when the user overlays them the program can line them up correctly to build and symbolize a map or analyze relationships between them.
The first three types of layers listed below are called "vector layers" or "feature layers" and contain individual features that the program can distinguish.
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Point (e.g., landmarks, cities on a small-scale map). Zero-dimensional.
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Line, or arc (e.g., roads, streams, railroads, power lines). One-dimensional.
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Polygon (e.g., political entities, census geographies such as tracts). Two-dimensional.
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Raster images (e.g., an aerial photograph, scanned topographic map, or remote sensing imagery such as elevation data). Contrasting with feature-based vector layer, these are images based on an X by Y grid of cells, each of which has a value that represents something like elevation, land use classification, or color value.
Data is associated with the spatial features, and can be mapped or analyzed:
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There can be attributes, or tabular data, associated with each feature in a layer (e.g., demographic data for each Census Tract).
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Join your own data: Data tables (e.g., database or spreadsheet files) can be added ("joined") to a layer if there is a field with common values (e.g., census tract number).
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Plot XY data: The program can also map data files in some spreadsheet and database formats if some fields contain geographic coordinates).
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Geocode addresses: Tables that contain address data can be "geocoded" to map the locations address locator reference files.
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Georeference images: Users can open a non-referenced raster image and georeference it in ArcGIS Pro, and sometimes can vectorize features from a raster image.
You can also add your own information to a map with drawing and writing tools.
Online tools
- Data Ferrett
This tool allows the user to create custom maps using data from the U.S. Census. Datasets date primarily from 2005-present. This tool requires Java to run, and will only run in Internet Explorer or Firefox when pop-ups are enabled.
- Google My Maps
Allows users to upload Excel data into a Google Maps template. Spreadsheets cannot exceed 2,000 rows.
- Mapbox
Mapbox allows the user to create custom-designed maps using demographic and spatial data. This open-source tool requires you to download software to your desktop.
- Social Explorer
Create maps using Census data and a variety of other types of included survey data.
- StatPlanet
Create custom-designed maps using demographic data. StatPlanet includes software that must be downloaded to your desktop and requires the use of Microsoft Excel.
Creating timelines and interactive geo-based exhibits
- Neatline
Neatline is a "geotemporal exhibit-builder that allows you to create complex maps, image annotations, and narrative sequences and to connect your maps and narratives with timelines... Neatline lets you make hand-crafted, interactive stories as interpretive expressions of a single document or a whole archival or cultural heritage collection."
- StoryMaps
StoryMaps allows the user to create "custom maps to enhance [their] digital storytelling."
- Tiki-Toki
An interactive timeline creation tool for in-browser viewing. With the free account, you can create a single timeline, limited to a maximum of 200 events.
- Timeline JS
A freely-available, interactive timeline creation tool. Timeline JS requires the use of Google Sheets.
GIS & Geospatial Data
Economy
- American FactFinder
(Public) A comprehensive search interface for data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau including demographics, housing, business, and industry. Data is provided as text files, but they will need joined to census-level geographic regions to be used in a GIS.
- IPUMS - Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
(Public) Current and historical (1850) demographic and health data out of the University of Minnesota Population Center for the USA and international populations. Includes the NHGIS.
- U.S. Census Bureau GIS Data
(Public) Download center for U.S. Census Bureau geographic data and products. Data includes official cartographic boundary files, geographic relationship files, and reference and thematic maps.
- CrimeReports
(Public) Search over 1000 departments by name, region, or zip code. CrimeReports is the nation's largest collection of law enforcement agencies committed to transparency, public access, and citizen engagement.
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples. Includes geospatial applications CropScape, VegScape and other data, statistics, reports & visualization tools.
Environment
- NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway
(Public) Provides search and download capabilities for high-resolution environmental and natural resource data held in the national Geospatial Data Warehouse.
- The Nature Conservancy Data and Reports
(Public) Access GIS data including freshwater assessments, natural infrastructure, ecoregional assessments (North America), biotic communities (southwest), and grasslands assessments.
- Nature Conservancy - Core Datasets
(Public) National and international datasets for lands and waters; terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecoregions; and their ecoregional portfolio.
- The National Map (USGS)
(Public) Provides data download, web products and services, and web access to orthoimagery, elevation, hydrography, boundaries, transportation, structures, and land cover covering the entire nation.
- National Weather Service - GIS
(Public) Landing page for the national weather service. Provides visualization, downloads, and web services for NWS products
- Wildfire Info - Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GeoMAC) (United States)
(Public) Access online maps showing locations and perimeters of fires across the United States from 2002 to present. Data downloads available in KML and shapefile formats.
- WorldClim - Global Climate Data
WorldClim is a set of global climate layers (gridded climate data) with a spatial resolution of about 1 km2. These data can be used for mapping and spatial modeling.
- OBIS - Ocean Biogeographic Information System
OBIS is a global open-access data and information clearing-house on marine biodiversity for science, conservation and sustainable development
Society
- American FactFinder
(Public) A comprehensive search interface for data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau including demographics, housing, business, and industry. Data is provided as text files, but they will need joined to census-level geographic regions to be used in a GIS.
- Food Access Research Atlas (USDA)
(Public) Visualize data depicting access to healthy food by census tract with comparisons against income level, vehicles access, and household size. Data can be downloaded as Excel files.
- IPUMS - Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
(Public) Current and historical (1850) demographic and health data out of the University of Minnesota Population Center for the USA and international populations. Includes the NHGIS.
- School Attendance Boundary System (SABINS) (United States)
(Public) "Aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for school attendance areas, or school catchment areas, for selected areas in the United States for the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years." Downloads available through NHGIS.
- SocioEconomic Data and Application Center (SEDAC) (National)
(Public) A comprehensive data center providing reports, data, and maps pertaining subject including to Agriculture, Conservation, Governance, Populations, Infrastructure, and Poverty.
- U.S. Census Bureau GIS Data
(Public) Download center for U.S. Census Bureau geographic data and products. Data includes official cartographic boundary files, geographic relationship files, and reference and thematic maps.
- World Gapminder
(Public) Visualizations for statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels. Provides CSV download capabilities.
Sources
The Geo-Spacial section of this LibGuide was adapted from: