2. Research Guides

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

GIS and Geospatial Data

Introduction to Geospatial Data

Finding and accessing reliable geospatial data can be challenging, but with the right strategies and resources, you can streamline your search and find the data you need for your projects.

Define your Objectives

Before starting your search for geospatial data, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of your objectives. This will help you to identify the right sources and the most relevant data for your project.

  • Define Goal: What is the purpose of your project? Are you looking to analyze environmental changes, assess urban development, or study demographic trends? Clearly defining your goal will guide your search process and help you stay focused.
  • Identify Key Questions: What specific questions are you aiming to answer with the data? For example, "How has land use changed in a particular area over the last decade?" or "What is the population density in a specific region?" By identifying these questions, you can target your data search more effectively.

Search Techniques

  • Boolean Operators: Use Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT to combine or exclude keywords in your search. For example, searching for "land use AND urban development NOT agriculture" can help narrow down your results.
  • Search Filters: Utilize search filters available on most databases to refine your search by date, region, data type, and more. This can help you focus on the most relevant datasets for your project.

Use Specialized Databases and Portals

Accessing specialized databases and portals can significantly enhance your ability to find geospatial data. These platforms offer a wide range of datasets from various sources, including government agencies, libraries, and educational institutions.

  • Government Portals: States, cities, and counties in the United States often have their own GIS data hubs, providing valuable data specific to their regions. These resources can be instrumental in obtaining local datasets for your research or projects. For example, the City of Chicago, the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments, and the State of Vermont have open data portals. Additionally, U.S. federal agencies like USGS and NASA offer open-access data. It's important to note that government data outside of the U.S. may be more challenging to access due to varying levels of openness and data-sharing policies. However, international organizations and collaborative platforms can often bridge these gaps by providing access to global geospatial datasets. Examples: UN Geospatial Hub, World Bank Open Data, and The Humanitarian Data Exchange.
  • Library Databases: There are many specialized databases the Library subscribes to for data, tools, and geospatial analysis. Some include: Esri Living Atlas, Social Explorer, ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research) and more!
  • University LibGuides: Many University libraries have curated lists of geospatial resources often tailored to specific disciplines, or the location they reside in. It is always useful to look at non-Vanderbilt LibGuides for curated geospatial data resources. For example, if I'm interested in finding geospatial data about Los Angeles, it could be useful to look at a LibGuide from University of Southern California

Review Metadata and Documentation

Reviewing metadata and documentation is crucial for understanding the context, quality, and suitability of geospatial data for your needs.

  • Metadata: Metadata provides detailed information about a dataset, including its source, collection methods, scale, and accuracy. 
  • Documentation: Many datasets come with accompanying documentation that explains how the data was collected, processed, and intended for use. This documentation can be invaluable in understanding the limitations and appropriate applications of the data.

Utilize Community Resources

Engaging with community resources can provide additional insights, support, and data-sharing opportunities.

  • GIS Forums: Online GIS forums are excellent platforms for connecting with other GIS professionals, enthusiasts, and experts. These forums allow you to ask questions, share knowledge, and participate in discussions about geospatial data, tools, and techniques. Here are a couple of popular GIS forums:

Management of geospatial data is essential for ensuring the integrity, accessibility, and usability of your datasets. As geospatial data often involves complex layers, large file sizes, and diverse formats, proper data management practices are crucial for maintaining efficient workflows and enabling successful analyses. Here are a few key principles and tips:

Organization

  • Structured storage: Organize your geospatial data using a clear and logical folder structure. Consider categorizing files by project, data type, or geographical area to simplify navigation and retrieval.
  • Naming conventions: Adopt consistent naming conventions for files and folders. Descriptive names that include dates, locations, or data types can help you quickly identify and locate specific datasets. It is recommended to not include spaces in file or folder names.

Storage

  • Cloud: Cloud storage, like One Drive, Google Drive, or Box can be useful as they can be remotely accessed and easy to share data from. However, processing data with a GIS software/tool can take longer. 
  • Desktop: Internal storage on personal computers or workstations can provide fast access to data, but be careful to prevent data loss.
  • External drives: External drives like flash drives or portable hard drives can be a good option to easily transport data without using a lot of storage space on a personal computer.

Formats and Compatibility

  • Format Selection: Select data formats that suit your project requirements and software compatibility. Common geospatial formats include shapefiles, GeoJSON, KML, and raster formats like GeoTIFF.
  • Conversion Tools: Utilize conversion tools to translate datasets between different formats. 
    • In Esri ArcGIS Pro there are many tools to convert and transform data formats such as:
      • JSON to Features 
      • KML to Layer
      • Point Cloud to Raster
    • Read more in this blog post about GIS Data Conversions including examples for QGIS

Citing geospatial data and platforms can be complex and they might not always conform to the standard citation structure. It is recommended to contact the Vanderbilt University Writing Studio for assistance with citation styles. The example below are intended for general guidance.

Geospatial Data Sets

A geospatial data set may include raster (DEM or aerial images), vector (shapefile), or LiDAR data.

Key elements to include:

  • Author: The individual or organization responsible for the data.
  • Date: Year of publication for the version of the data used
  • Title: The title of the data set.
  • Edition/Version: If applicable, specify the edition or version of the dataset.
  • Producer: The organization or entity that produced the data set.
  • Type/File Format: Description of type of data
  • Date of Copyright or Production: The year the data set was copyrighted or produced.
  • DOI or URL: Provide a DOI if available, or a URL where the dataset can be accessed.

APA: Author. (Year). Title of dataset (Version No.) [Data set]. Publisher. DOI or URL

Chicago: Author. Title. File format. Last modified date {if available; if not, include date of access}. URL.

MLA: Author. Title. Publication {if applicable}. Publisher location: Publisher {if applicable}. Year. File type.

Geospatial Software Citation

Citations for geospatial software or tools should be used to credit the developers, recognize their contributions used in research or projects, for reproducibility and transparency, and to follow best practices and standards.

Here are some examples of citing Esri ArcGIS Pro and QGIS software systems in various citation styles.

APA: Author. (Year). Title of software (Version number). Publisher. URL

Chicago: Author. Software name. Format. City: Publisher, Year Published. URL {if available}.

MLA: Author. (Date). Software name (version if applicable) [Software]. Publisher location: Publisher {if not downloaded from a website or not publicly available}.

Terms of Use & Copyright

When using and citing geospatial data and software, it’s important to be aware of and adhere to their terms of use and copyright restrictions. Review the terms of use or licensing agreements associated with the geospatial data or software. These documents outline how the data or software can be used, shared, and distributed. Make sure to comply with any restrictions on commercial use, redistribution, or modification. Respect copyright laws and intellectual property rights associated with geospatial data and software. Proper citation not only acknowledges the creators but also adheres to legal requirements.

Additional Resources