Data Sets - Geospatial

Data Set Sources by Subject - Geospatial (GIS) Data

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    • These links contain downloadable data sets. The data sets may be available in a variety of formats, but will mostly be map layers of some type, shapefiles, etc.  Some may be available in multiple formats, some in only one.
    • *Site names preceded by an asterisk (*) represent archives and depositories where you may be able to deposit your own geospatial data.

    UO Libraries GIS Data page
    In addition to many useful links, the UO Libraries provides access to local and Oregon GIS data. Some of this is available only to UO users.

    GeoData@Tufts 
    A repository with over 7500 downloadable map layers from several institutions including Tufts, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and MIT.

    GeoData.gov
    This U.S. Federal site serves up or links to over 390,000 downloadable GIS files on any number of topics and geographies. Formats include shapefile, raster, image files.

    Geospatial Platform
    This federal site will be replacing geodata.gov (which is being merged into Data.gov.) The Geospatial Platform "provides ready access to federally maintained geospatial data, services and applications." New as of November, 2011, the site will continue to grow.

    IPUMS International Boundary Files 
    Provides boundary files (shapefiles) to facilitate national and international data mapping. Two levels of GIS boundary files are available: a world file with country level boundaries, and country level files with top administrative level boundaries (states, provinces, etc.).

    *IQSS Dataverse Network
    Many of the datasets in this virtual archive of social science data contain georeferenced data, e.g. raster files.

    National Atlas.gov - Map Layers 
    A feature of the National Atlas of the United States, online, allowing you to choose from hundreds of layers of geographic information to make maps.

    NHGIS - National Historical Geographic Information System
    "Provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2010." To download data, you will need to register.

    *Oregon Geospatial Data Clearinghouse 
    This site provides a Spatial Data Library, Digital Ortho Quads, Digital Elevated Model (DEM) files, and more. The Data Library provides files in these formats: shapefile, ARC/INFO export file (e00), GRID, geodatabase, TIFF, MrSID. DEM files are "raw" source ASCII files.

    Oregon Spatial Data Library
    Part of Oregon Explorer, this site allows you to search, browse, and download various types of Oregon geospatial data.

    Spatial Data on the Web
    A set of links, maintained at MIT, to online spatial data by country. Not all of these links have downloadable data, some may be digital atlases, e.g., but a fine source for non-US geospatial data.

    USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Geospatial Data Gateway  
    Datasets must be "ordered" but are free if downloaded via ftp. Select by various different geographic boundaries. "Status Maps" shows types of map layers available -- e.g. hydrologic units, ortho images, soils, etc. Not all are available to the general public.

    WarViews
    Geospatial information on armed conflict: KML datasets for viewing in Google Earth.