UCB Libraries

Map Library

• Boulder, City of
  Downloadable GIS Data from the Planning & Public Works Department
• Boulder County GIS
  An overview of how GIS technology is being used by the county, including current projects, some production maps and system configuration. Downloadable data.
• BLM Colorado
  Datasets for Colorado from the Bureau of Land Management-Colorado.
• CDOT
  GIS datasets for the whole state and broken up by county from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
• Colorado's Decision Support Systems
  A water management system developed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Site includes downloadable data and a map viewer.
• Colorado Department of Local Affairs
  GIS data from the Cartography/GIS Section
• Colorado Division of Water Resources
• Colorado Geological Survey Downloadable Data: Various data sets from mountain summits to geologic quads.
• Colorado Division of Wildlife's Natural Diversity Information Source FTP Server
  Species maps, vegetation, hydrography, and CDOW boundary data. Also see the Natural Diversity Information Source for interactive maps and data such as land use, development, hunting, and more.
• Colorado's Geography: Mapping Our Past
  This project, from the University of Northern Colorado, provides a set of activities for elementary- and middle-grades students to explore Colorado's historical geography. Includes downloadable data on historical railroads, roads, ghost towns and more.
• DRCOG: Denver Regional Council of Governments.
  Regional Data & Maps
• Colorado compressed county mosaics of the USDA's National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) photograhy: generously served out by the USGS.
  - The compression ratio is 15:1.
  - The imagery is natural color, one meter GSD to NAIP specs.
  - The files are less than 4GB
  - The zip files are named by county
  - These can take a while to download. Also available for use or download on the Map Library GIS computer.
• CORRD: Colorado Renewable Resource Database
  An interactive map of wind classes, transmission lines, and federal lands in Colorado. Click on "download maps" to download datasets, including wind speed. (Works best in Internet Explorer.)
• National Park Service
  GIS data for National Parks in Colorado.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  Spatial Datasets for Colorado, plus a good list of links to other data providers.
• Digital Geologic Map of Colorado in ARC/INFO format
  Digital version of Open File Report 92-507-A. This link takes you to the metadata for the report. You'll see the URL to the downloadable files in the first paragraph of the report.
• Another version of GIS data for the Geologic Map of Colorado: Preliminary integrated geologic map databases for the United States. Includes Arc Export and Shapefiles of separate layers (geology, faults, dikes, features, and points) from the geologic map, as well as attribute tables.
• Federal GIS Coordination Committee of Colorado
  The Federal GIS Coordination Committee is composed of representatives from the various federal agencies in the Denver/Front Range area with an interest in sharing information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) related activities.
• Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research Site
  Downloadable GIS data for Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley.
• Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley high resolution orthoimagery and DEMs
• Southwest Data Center, Inc.
  Goal is to provide a neutral source of information for southwest Colorado, with a primary focus to create and provide GIS data over the Internet. Site includes maps, GIS links, regional GIS database, Make a Map, Metadata Clearinghouse, etc.
• Colorado Spatial Reference Network
  Information about continuously operating Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations and networks located throughout the state.
• US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region GIS Data Library
  Data files are in compressed KML (KMZ) format.

• ASTER GDEM
  30m DEMs for the world. Downloadable, but a bit hard to navigate. Main site: http://www.gdem.aster.ersdac.or.jp/index.jsp. Easiest download: WIST. More explanation, including link to a tutorial: https://wist.echo.nasa.gov/~wist/api/imswelcome/
• Berkeley/Penn Urban and Environmental Modelers Datakit
  Viewable and downloadableGIS data "describing many of the physical, administrative, transportation, demographic, economic, land use and land cover, and environmental characteristics of the 48 contiguous United States."
• Bureau of Land Management GIS Data sites
  List of various federal-level BLM GIS data sites and data sites by state.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Administrative boundaries for all seven continents.
  Links to demographic, health, and environmental data.
• Federal Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
  A collection of over 250 spatial data servers, that have digital geographic data primarily for use in a GIS.
• FSGeodata Clearinghouse
  The FSGeodata Clearinghouse provides searching, viewing and downloading of geospatial datasets and metadata created and maintained by the USDA Forest Service over lands of the National Forest System.
• Global Change Master Directory
  A directory of earth science data and services (from NASA). May not link directly to data.
• Global Land Cover Facility Earth Science Data Interface
  MODIS, IUCN/UNEP World Database on Protected Areas, AVHRR, and Landsat data.
• Global Ecosystems Database
  A joint project with NOAA and the EPA to provide datasets for use in a GIS via the web or ftp. See Summary of Contents for information on what datasets are available.
• LandScan™ worldwide population database
  A worldwide population database compiled on a 30" X 30" latitude/longitude grid. From the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  
• LIDAR Data
  From the USGS. Includes elevation data.
• National Geodetic Survey, Remote Sensing Division
  Includes the Aeronautical Survey Program and the Coastal Mapping Program, as well as Notable Photography and Special Projects.
  
• National Park Service: GIS Homepage
  GIS data and metadata available, NPS's use of GIS. GIS projects, GIS training, and much more.
• National Wetlands Inventory Data Download
  Includes ArcData, Megadata, and more of the nation's wetlands areas.
• NNDC Climate data online US and international data.
• NOAA's NOS Data Explorer
  A searchable portal to obtain NOS spatial data.
• NOAA/NGDC DEM Discovery Portal
  "NGDC has created a geospatial online catalog that links to web-published digital elevation models (DEMs). This 'DEM Discovery Portal' uses an ArcIMS map interface to locate, preview, and link to DEM web pages for download. DEMs may be bathymetric, topographic, or a merged combination of both."
• Orthoimagery Resources: Sources of Free Orthoimagery
  From NASA's World Wind wiki.
• SEDAC data
  From the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center, is one of the Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. SEDAC focuses on human interactions in the environment. This list is arranged with GIS-compatible datasets at the top.
• Unidata: UCAR's site for earth sciences data
  "The Unidata Program is to help researchers and educators acquire and use earth-related data." Includes remote-sensing data, modelling data, and point data.
• U.S. Bureau of the Census: Cartographic Boundary Files
  U.S. and state boundary maps (congressional districts, census tracts, etc.) available for exporting, mostly in Arc/Info format.
• ESRI's Redistricting TIGER 2000
  Now Available to Download
• USDA Data Gateway
  The "one stop source of natural resources data." Includes census data, landmarks, road and water information, aerial photography (DOQQs and other), topographic maps (DRGs), and more. Status maps.
• USGS--EROS Data Center: GISDATA Map Studio
  Links and explanations of all types of USGS GIS data and how to get it.
• USGS Digital Maps and Data
  General information about the USGS's digital data and specific information about datasets such as DRG, DEM, DLG, DOQ, the National Atlas of the United States, NHD, NED, Landcover data, and more.
• USGS Geographic data download
  Download major USGS data sets including DEMs and DLGs..
• USGS Mineral Resources Program Spatial Datasets
• USGS List of Digital State Geologic Maps, from the Mineral Resources Program.
• USGS Lists of Spatial Data Sets for Water
  Or check out list by theme.

Also see the links in the Federal Government Data and Specific Places Data lists for other international GIS data.

• Basic data, by country. From the BioGeomancer Project.
• UNEP/GRID
  United Nations Environmental Program, Global Resource Information Database. International data including Asian, African, Latin America, etc and global data sets. Includes graphic, metadata, and data download.
• Marine GIS Data Links
  Links to geology and oceanography GIS data.
• Soils: Harmonized World Soil Database
  A 30 arc-second raster database with over 15000 different soil mapping units. Soil Quality Data also available.
• Global Terrain Slope and Aspect Data
  Supplementary data to the Harmonized World Soil Database.
• Land Use and Land Cover Data
  Supplementary data to the Harmonized World Soil Database.

• Free GIS Data & Imagery GeoBlog
  A blog with links to tons of free data of all kinds.
• NCALM "The NSF supported Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) is operated jointly by the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, and the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California-Berkeley)...The state-of-the-art laser surveying instrumentation and GPS systems, which are installed in a Cessna 337 Skymaster twin-engine aircraft, collects data in areas selected through the competitive NSF grant review process."
• State Data Centers and Clearinghouses
  From the Free GIS Data & Imagery GeoBlog. From 2006, but still a great place to start looking for state resources.
• Africa:
  SAHIMS GIS library
  Downloadable GIS for many African countries provided by various United Nations, non-governmental organisations and government agencies.
  AfricaMap
  Downloadable GIS layers, hosted by Harvard University; includes base mapping, environmental, economic, historic, and various other data.
• Alaska State Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (ASGDC)
  Downloadable data for Alaska. Click here for DRGs.
• Antarctica:
  Australian Antarctic Data Centre Data Portal.
  Topographic, bathymetric, vegetation, penguin data and more. Requires registration.
  Antarctic Digital Database
  "A compilation of medium scale topographic data for the continent of Antarctica. It is derived from a wide variety of sources, and aims to provide the best currently available data in all areas. However, users should note that the resolution of the data varies widely."
• Arkansas' Official GeoData Clearinghouse: GeoStor
• GeoScience Australia
  Free data downloads of topographic data, geologic data, administrative data and more.
• Baltic GIS
  Baltic Sea Region GIS, Maps and Statistical Database to view and download.
• CaSIL
  California Spatial Information Library. Public data and software downloads.
• Centre d'information géographique et statistique (Centre Géo/Stat) of the Université Laval Library :
  Géoindex (cartographic interface)
  Data by categories
  Data for Canada, interface in French.
• China Earthquake Geospatial Research Portal
  Links to free satellite imagery, GIS layers, tabular datasets, disaster recovery policies, and related reports. Created to establish a "baseline of data about the impacts of the [May 12, 2008] earthquake on the local population."
• Digital Geoscience Maps (Canada)
  "The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has published about 400 maps digitally over the past 15 years. The geological polygons for approximately 250 of these maps are currently being made available to find, preview, and download as ESRI shape files through this map search tool."
• GeoGratis
  Geospatial data for Canada, available for download at no charge.
• GEORIA - University of Toronto
  Georeferenced Databases for Assessing the Historical Conditions of Health and Environmental Problems: various historical data, including census data, for Canada.
• Statistics Canada: Census Geography
  Maps and GIS data from the Canadian Census. Includes a very helpful citation guide.
• Indiana Orthoimagery
  Downloadable digital aerial photography for Indiana.
• INSIDE Idaho
  Interactive Numeric & Spatial Information Data Engine.
• A GIS Atlas for Indiana
  Interactive maps and downloadable data for Indiana.
• Go-Geo
  Search tool for geospatial data of the UK.
• Great Britain: MAGIC
  Downloadable GIS data and static maps of the UK.
• Japanese Census Data (in Japanese)
  Download census tract boundary data and more.
• New Mexico RGIS
  New Mexico Resource Geographic Information System Program, from the University of New Mexico.
• Nevada:
  Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology: DRGs and more.
  W. M. Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center maps and GIS data resources, from the University of Nevada, Reno.
• New York:
  NYS (New York State) Gazetteer & GeoData Collection
  From the University of New York at Buffalo. The user can download free 7.5 minute quadrangles of New York State available as DRGs (GeoTIFF) in both collared or collarless format. They are searchable by feature, quadrangle or county as based on the data available from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
  New York City BYTES of the BIG APPLE
  GIS data, much of it freely downloadable, for New York City.
• Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office's Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
  Includes spatial data library & interactive mapping.
• Texas Natural Resources Information System
  Aerial photography, satellite imagery, topographic maps, flood data, and more.
• Utah:
  Utah DRGs and water rights data sets. From the Utah Division of Water Rights.
  Utah DOQs, DRGs, county data sets, web map services, and more. From the Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center.
• University of Wyoming's Spatial Data and Visualization Center
  Great spatial resources for Wyoming, including digital orthophotos, internet map server and a clearinghouse.
• Gigateway
  Provides access to geospatial information in the UK.
• WisconsinView Data Portal
  Aerial photos (1m), Landsat data, and tornado data.

• GIS.com A portal to GIS information on the Web created by ESRI.
  • Geography Network Downloadable data sets. Lots of free data.
  • GIS Data Depot Data downloads and custom CD creation. Search by country or go directly to Colorado to download GIS data. Lots of free data. Requires free registration.
• Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies View data web links by subject lists or by US state - mostly free data!
• Ciesin Center for International Earth Science Information Network
  Data from the US Census, Mexico, China, the World Bank and the World Resources Institute. Search metadata catalog, selected data, and other useful information.
• Directions Mag Some free GIS Data
• GfK Macon
  Detailed GIS data for the world. Coverage varies by country.
• Ohioview - consortium of state universities and government agencies Download US Government civilian satellite data.
• DMTI Spatial
  Canadian GIS Data and GIS Services

• ESRI Resource Centers
  ESRI is publishing the latest ArcGIS manuals and help materials only online.
• ESRI Virtual Campus
  Offers self-paced GIS education on the web. Several free modules available. Ask about getting access to other classes through the University's ArcGIS site license.
  NEW: Getting Started with GIS.A free, introductory GIS class from ESRI.
• ESRI GIS Education Community
  Includes ESRI ArcLessons: Not sure how to use GIS in a classroom? Search for lessons or share ones you've created.
• Geospatial Central Colorado
  A Colorado State University group that aims to bring together higher education institutions working in the geospatial sciences.
• GIS at NITLE: A Geographic Information Systems Initiative
  Articles, sample projects, tutorials and more on the use of GIS in the liberal arts.
• ESRI Mapping Center
  Sample maps, blog, forum, and more about using ArcGIS in the graphic delivery of geographic information.
• Map & Geography Round Table: Guides to GIS and Other Computerized Mapping Products
  Links and descriptions of such GIS topics as census mapping, GIS tutorials, GIS resources in map libraries, and more.
• Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa
  List of links to sites which include information about GeoData and climate.
• Open GIS Consortium Home Page
  GIS news, special interest groups, and information centered around GIS.
• "My Powerful Geospatial Suite of Free GIS"
  A nice list from the GIS librarian at U. Texas at Arlington.
• About.com GIS section
  GIS news, applications, downloads, tips, and tricks.
• A Place in History: A Guide to Using GIS in Historical Research, by Ian Gregory.
• GPS for GIS Workflow, from the National Park Service
  A workflow model and tips for creating "quality GIS data with GPS technology." Designed for National Park Service employees, but useful for everyone.

Back to GIS in the Map Library

Updated 11/9/2009