GIS Data Resources

ArcExplorer -A free, lightweight GIS data viewer with limited functionality to view and query geographic data.

ArcReader -  Free, easy-to-use mapping application that allows users to view, explore, and print maps.

CrimeStat - Free software package that complements statistical/centrality metrics from ArcGIS 9.x statistical software package.

Note: GIS data come in a variety of formats and projections. While data formats (coverages, shape files, CADD files, interchange, personal geo-databases, DLG) can easily be converted from one format to the next, doing so may compromise its  topology, locational or attribute data.  In addition, some state agencies publish their data using a statewide projection such as state plane coordinate system.  Be sure to consult the metadata or the publisher regarding the projection information and previous processing if it is not declared.  Updated as of 3/14/2010.

Nationwide Data Resources -  Contact me if have other useful state GIS data resources.  

DLG Data - Digital vector data derived from USGS maps and related sources.  Based on the line, polygon and point work for 1:24,000 USGS quadrangles.  Availability changes from quadrangle to quadrangle.  DLG data are stored in SDTS (Spatial Data Transfer System).  The goal of SDTS is to serve as a happy medium for storing and expressing data between dissimilar computer systems.  Refer to the SDTS Web site for converting between SDTS native format and your specific GIS format.   

Environmental Protection Agency - EPA -related data available in a variety of different formats, including KML (the one used for Google Earth).

GIS Data Depot - A variety of free GIS data produced in a variety of different formats.  Some data sets and imagery require a subscription. 

National Atlas - Interesting geological, climatic, environmental and other data at a relatively low scale.

Seamless USGS Web Site - USGS Web site where mainly raster data can be updated.  Has a lot of DOQ imagery and 10 meter DEM imagery. 

National Land Cover Data - National Land Cover imagery saved as 30 x 30 meter pixels.  Based primarily on 1992 Landsat data and updated accordingly.

TIGER 2000 Data - Free GIS data organized by state produced by the U.S. Census Bureau in shape file format.  Contains a lot of census data and low scale utility and infrastructure data. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

North Carolina GIS Resources

          North Carolina One Map - Excellent resources for North Carolina GIS data and software resources.  Directed by the NCGICC.

          North Carolina Arc Users Group- Working group dedicated towards sharing information about ESRI software and data. 

Winston-Salem GIS Data - GIS Data for the city of Winston-Salem

Department of Transportation - NC GIS data provided by Department of Transportation.  Include contours. 

Flood Maps - Flood maps and applicable GIS data for flood assessment.

Statewide Data Resources

Alabama - Geological Survey of Alabama.

Alaska - Alaska GeoSpatial Clearninghouse.

Arizona - Arizona GeoData Portal

Arizona - Arizona Regional Image Archive.

Arkansas - Excellent resource hosted by the University of Arkansas, including 1999 and 2000 Landsat Data.

Colorado - Hosted by Colorado Department of Transportation.

Connecticut - Connecticut GIS data hosted by UCONN. 

Delaware - GIS Data through the Delaware Geologic Survey.

Florida - Florida Geographic Data Library.

Florida - Department of Environmental Protection.

Florida - Central Florida GIS.

Florida - Department of Transportation.

Florida - Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Georgia - Georgia GIS Clearinghouse.

Idaho - GIS data repository hosted by the University of Idaho. Some of these files come in interchange (.e00) format.  ArcGIS and ArcView have utilities to convert these data into shape files or other GIS data format.  Most data are in IDTM (Idaho Transverse Mercator) projection.

Illinois - Illinois Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.

Indiana - Digital Atlas for Central Indiana.

Indiana - Hosted by Indiana University.  2005 Imagery now available.

Iowa - Department of Transportation.

Kansas - Kansas Geospatial Commons.

Kentucky - Kentucky Division of Geographic Information

Kentucky - Kentucky Geological Survey

Louisiana - GIS and imagery data hosted by LSU.

Maine - Free Maine GIS data.  Excellent 1 and 2 foot color imagery recently added.

Maryland - Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Michigan - Michigan Center for Geographic Information.

Minnesota - Department of Natural Resources.

Mississippi - Mississippi Automated Resource Information System.

Missouri - Missouri Spatial Data Information Service.

Montana - Montana Natural Resource GIS Data Bundler

Nebraska - School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Nevada - Virtual Clearinghouse.

Nevada - Landsat Image Archive.

New Hampshire - Geographically Referenced Analysis and Information Transfer System (NH GRANIT)

New Jersey - NJ Geographic Information Network.

New Mexico - Some data may not be available, but a lot of imagery.  Need special locator map to reference some imagery quads.

New York - Excellent 6 inch ortho-imagery now available. 

North Dakota - Imagery and other data are available.

Ohio - Downloadable data by county

Ohio - Downloadable data by county

Oklahoma - Oklahoma Center for Geospatial Information.

Oklahoma - Oklahoma University.

Oregon - Map and Aerial Photography collection through the University of Oregon.

Oregon - Hosted by Oregon State University.

Pennsylvania - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access.

Rhode Island - Rhode Island Geographic Information System.

South Carolina - Through Department of Natural Resources.

South Carolina - University of South Carolina.

South Dakota - South Dakota Geologic Survey Program.

Tennessee - Tennessee Spatial Data Server.

Texas - Texas Natural Resource Information System.

Utah - Limited data access through Utah State University.

Utah - Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC).

Utah - Utah Coalition for Geographic Information Systems Education.

Virginia - Fisher Library at the University of Virginia has an exhaustive GIS data warehouse.  The Virginia Gazetteer has many GIS data layers and imagery.  DRG and DOQQ imagery also provided for the entire state of Virginia.  

Vermont  - Free GIS Data.

Washington - University of Washington Geomorphologic Research Group.

Washington - Washington State Geospatial Data Archive.

Washington - Department of Ecology data sets.

West Virginia - Hosted by West Virginia University.

Wisconsin - Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility.

Wyoming - Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center.

Regional Data Sets

Bay Area - GIS Data provided by Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Great Basin - Data from Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming.

Great Lakes - Great Lakes regional GIS data sets.

DLG Attribute Codes - When DLG data are converted, this document is needed to discern different attribute features within each layer.

ESRI Support Page - Answers any question revolving around ERSI software or GIS techniques.

ESRI Developer Network - Extent the capabilities of Desktop ArcGIS with simple tools or make your own using snippets of code.

STDS Documentation - DLG (Digital Line Graph) is the preferred format used the by USGS to express and store the features on its 1:24,000 USGS scanned DRG (Digital Raster Graphic) quadrangles.

TIGER Data Documentation - TIGER data documentation and coding schemes.

Metadata Resources

GIS Metadata Documentation

FGDC GIS Metadata Standards - Federal Geographic Data Committee GIS Metadata Standards

ISO Standards - International Standards Organization GIS Metadata Standards

JISC Standards - Joint Information Systems Committee

Metadata Documentation

Dublin Core - Popular Metadata Standards for Software Applications and other Electronic Resources

Library of Congress - LOC Core Metadata Elements

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions - IFLA Digital Libraries and Metadata Content Standards

GIS Metadata Software

CorpsMet- Metadata Editor Created by the Army Corps of Engineers

ISO Metadata Editor - Contains extensions for Remotely Sensed data.

This is a personal web page. Opinions or views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the official views of Winston-Salem State University.