GIS, Maps, Geo and Location Technology by @gletham
Looks like the US Census Bureau has just updated their data holdings and is making available the 2009 TIGER/Line files in SHP format via FTP download. The data include spatial data for geographic features such as roads, railroads, rivers, and lakes, as well as legal and statistical geographic areas – See Details and grab the data HERE
You may have heard about the recently launched data.gov web portal – a resource from the Feds designed to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets. Data.gov increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use datasets that are generated and typically held by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets.
The site has a noticeable web2.0 flavor with numerous tools designed to help users share and communicate with others, for example, you’ll notice the AddThis tool is used, providing a quick way for users to share details of data they find via many social networks and social bookmarking tools. Additionally, links to share via facebook, Twitter, and via email are also provided. [Read more…] about Openness via Data.gov – Access A Wealth of Geospatial Data and a Cool ESRI SHP file Viewing Tool
Most users know about it (or should know about it), therefore, as a result it sometimes gets forgotten. Think of the seamless data distribution system as the grand-daddy of the USGS geospatial repositories… and then some! This site has complete coverage of the National Elevation Dataset that supercedes Digital Elevation Models, complete DOQQ coverage, over 30 TB of urban imagery, one-time coverage of full resolution Landsat imagery, and much more. Also, the data are seamless, so you can put a box around the data without having to figure out quadrangles and then having to assemble them all. Free downloads are available – up to 1.6 Gbytes of data in 100 MB files in one user request. Users have unlimited access to the interactive map and can make unlimited requests.The amount of coverage area depends on the number of products selected for download. For example, if NED 1 Arc Second is selected as the only product a user can download up to a 30 square degree area. Most recently Additional data formats are now available for all High Resolution Orthoimagery products See http://seamless.usgs.gov/
One of the most valuable Geo tools available to those that need to work with USGS data products (thinks topos, DEMs, etc…) is a decent quad grid… worry no more! Thanks to Scott and the crew at DDS in Lakewood, CO for making available this sweet USGS quad index, easily used within Google Earth or Google Maps. Simply browse around, locate your quad, click on the bubble icon, then download the free TIF or purchase a high-res digital version or paper map from DDS… awesome! Here’s the KML file — Note, the file is large and takes some time to draw fully in G. Maps!
Via my contacts at NRCAn, here’s details of CanTopo – a new generation of topographic maps being produced by NRCan. This digital cartographic product originates from the best available data sources covering the Canadian territory and offers a quality cartographic product in vector and raster format that complies with international geomatics standards. CanTopo digital maps are multipurpose and can be utilized in a multitude of scenarios ranging from emergency response and natural resource management, to geographical education and planning a safe backcountry camping expedition. CanTopo map files are available on-line from the GeoGratis web site (http://GeoGratis.gc.ca) in print ready formats. See more info here
Data.Gov [ think Geo Data.gov!]… Improving access to Federal Geospatial data – A great, new geospatial resource is available from Data.gov – in a nutshell… the purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Users can browse data and tools (click view entire Catalog) or simply use the handy pull-down on the main page to search for data by agency (EPA, CDC, FEMA, USGS etc…) very nice! Check it out at http://www.data.gov/
From the Google Earth Library, the site is now making available USGS topo (quads) for use in Google earth. From the site… “hese maps are intended to provide a free alternative to expensive commercial products that often cost $80 or more per state or charge monthly access fees. Plus you get the benefit of using the topo maps with Google Earth. The Topo maps are saved as individual KMZ files which must be downloaded in their entirety before they will be visible in Google Earth.” See HERE
Thos of you who have followed me over the past 10 years or so know that I love to share data pointers and GIS data resources. We currently have about 150 resource articles in our GIS Data spotlights and GIS Data articles sections on GISuser. Well now, finally, I’m pleased to have updated the State Nodes collection and created this 2009 State GIS Clearinghouse Directory. It still may require a little polishing and a few more resources but its likely THE best collection of State nodes you’ll find. Enjoy and bookmark this this resource for your collection – comments and tips for additions are welcome – check it out here
This is a VERY common landing page when conducting Google searches for State GIS data links! – No more Error 404 messages please!!
We often take for granted the National Atlas and the online webmapping services provided – like the recently launched National Environmental Atlas. But did you also know that there’s a wealth of freely downloadable GIS data layers available from the site as well? Suitable as basemapping layers for apps at the National level, layers like county boundaries, time zones, congressional districts, Federal lands and many others (climate, environmental, Geology, Transport, Water) are found right here in the Raw Data download Section
Ah yes, free GIS data… you know how much I love it and you likely know how I hate seeing people get ripped off buying it from data repositories (aka, data whores…) To continue my free data love today’s State spotlight gets turned onto Alaska. Check out this piece for a newly updated piece on State resources for free Alaska GIS data. I’m updating the list and going through state by state so in a couple of months the BIG, FREE data resource will be complete… think of it as a whackin pantload of data for the taking!
