Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Geospatial data are electronic data that include some kind of location information, which could be latitude longitude coordinates, an address, a zip code or a county. These data are generally used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cartography, and remote sensing software packages. Data can be obtained from central clearinghouses (listed below), local organizations, and/or generated by researchers in the field.
From the interesting GIS Lounge portal: There is a distinct difference between GIS and Geospatial data, in that GIS refers more narrowly to the traditional definition of using layers of geographic data to produce spatial analysis and derivative maps. Geospatial is more broadly used to refer to all technologies and applications of geographic data. For example, popular social media sites such as Foursquare and Facebook use “check-ins” that allow their users the ability to geographically tag their statuses. While those applications are considered to be geospatial, they don’t fall underneath the stricter definition of what makes up a geographic information system.
NATIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- The National Map
Provides applications and web map services for "Topographic Information for the Nation". This information includes topographic maps and geographic information system (GIS) data for elevation, hydrography, watersheds, geographic names, orthoimagery, governmental units/boundaries, transportation, and land cover.
- IPUMS NHGIS
The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides population, housing, agricultural, and economic data, along with GIS-compatible boundary files, for geographic units in the United States from 1790 to the present.
- GEO-DATA Explorer (GEODE)
Use GEODE to access, view, and download information from geo-spatial databases containing a broad spectrum of data produced by the USGS and other governmental agencies.
- US Census Bureau -- maps and data
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Basic information about GIS from US Geological Survey (USGS).
- FGDC Geospatial Metadata
Develops procedures and assist in the implementation of a distributed discovery mechanism for national digital geospatial data. Geospatial metadata are critical to data discovery and serves as the fuel for the NSDI Clearinghouse.
- National Cancer Institute
Resources for interactive mapping, exploring, and downloading, geographically based cancer related information.
- Harvard Tutorials on GIS and YouTube GIS channel
Suite of videos demonstrating GIS capabilities.
LOCAL INFORMATION
- Illinois Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
Access Illinois GIS data sets and documentation (metadata) for ArcIMS Interactive Map Services, USGS digital topographic maps, aerial photography, orthoimagery, orthophotography, geology, land use, natural resources, and infrastructure. Illinois data sets and map data layers are available for download free of charge.
- Illinois GIS Association (ILGISA)
A large selection of agencies and bodies providing local data.
- Illinois Free GIS Data
Free Geographic Information System (GIS) Data: This service is for GIS professionals to accompany our imagery offerings. You must have the appropriate GIS software and experience in order to utilize this data. We recommend ESRI ArcView to utilize data with different formats and projections.
- Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) GIS Clearinghouse
The mission of GLIN Maps and GIS is to provide a centralized location to discover, publish, and acquire geospatial data for areas within the Great Lakes region. The site has four major components: 1) a portal for viewing and exploring the Great Lakes and associated data layers, 2) a data portal (GLIN GIS) through which GIS and geospatial data for the Great Lakes can be published and acquired, 3) a gallery of downloadable images depicting Great Lakes geophysical data, and 4) a collection of links and tools intended to connect users to additional resources relating to Great Lakes datasets.
- Illinois GIS Association Board
ILGISA brings together the GIS community of the State of Illinois through biannual conferences and the publication of Illinois GIS Notes.
- journal article containing a locally developed map of parakeet distributions (Minor, E.S., Appelt, C.W., Grabiner, S., Ward, L., Moreno, A., Pruett-Jones, S. Distribution of exotic monk parakeets across an urban landscape. Urban Ecosystems, Volume 15, Issue 4, November 2012, Pages 979-991.)
Some Helpful Tools:
Scribble Maps
Scribble Maps allows you to create quick maps with pins, highlighting, and annotations. It also allows you to use lines to calculate distances. This sample map that highlights a few locations took only a few minutes to create ... and can be inserted into web pages, blogs, or paper documents.
Zee Maps
Zee Maps allows you to create quick maps with pins, highlighting, and annotations. It allows you to highlight specific states, counties, and zip code areas.
QGIS
QGIS -- a free (open source) software product providing web-based GIS capabilities. A tool that requires a less intensive learning curve than the more powerful ESRI suite of GIS software. This tool is powerful, if used to its fullest capability, but it does not have the large support structure of advanced scripts and applications or the same size cooperative user base as the commercial ESRI product.
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
- ESRI ArcGIS Explorer Desktop - a free GIS viewer that gives you an easy way to explore, visualize, and share GIS information.
- ESRI ARCGIS full list of products.
- ERDAS Remote Sensing Materials
- ARCGIS Living Atlas offers a curated collection of maps, apps, and data layers that have been contributed by Esri partners and users. Visitors can search the Living Atlas by keyword, or they can browse the collection by content themes such as basemaps, boundaries, people, and environment.
