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"Simply put, a GIS combines layers of information about a place to give you a better understanding of that place. What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose—finding the best location for a new store, analyzing environmental damage, viewing similar crimes in a city to detect a pattern, and so on." (ESRI, What Is GIS?.)
The Ordnance Survey's GIS Zone provides an interactive introduction to GIS.
For more information, see How Can I Get Started with GIS? below.
Map Collection staff can:
Map Collection staff cannot:
The Map Collection has collections of digital geospatial data on CD-ROM and on servers for research and educational use. Our collection focuses on the Puget Sound and State of Washington areas, but we also have national and international datasets. Examples of our data include digital orthophotos of the Seattle area, U.S. Census data and geographic shapefiles from Geolytics, digital line graphs (DLGs) and digital raster graphics (DRGs), as well as datasets from the City of Seattle, King County, and Snohomish County. Information in these datasets includes street layers, bike paths, critical areas (e.g., potential slide areas), building outlines, and much more. To see some of the digital data that the Map Collection offers online, look at the Washington State Geospatial Data Archive. Use of selected datasets is restricted to UW students, faculty and staff due to license agreements with the data creator/provider.
There are two GIS workstations available in the Map Collection. Primary access to these machines is given to patrons affiliated with the University of Washington. Non-affiliated patrons may speak with a librarian about use of the machines and software, as well as use of digital data.
Although during academic quarters the Map Collection is also open Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons (please consult the Map Collection's Hours for more details), no GIS staff are available at that time. However, computers, software and data are still accessible.
Map Collection/Government Publications GIS Lab is open 20 hours per week for UW students, staff and faculty. The lab web page provides information on lab hours, locations, hardware and software.
We provide a Needs Assessment to help you define what data you need. Please review this to clarify your data needs prior to contacting us for assistance.
There are many sources of data for use with GIS. The sites listed here are just a few useful starting points.
GIS data can be expensive. If you are considering buying GIS data for a University of Washington project, please first email us at gis@lib.washington.edu or call us at (206) 543-9392. We may already own data that would be helpful to you or may be able to help you locate what you are looking for.
UW Libraries provides access to a variety of software packages, including TopoUSA, Microsoft Encarta, MapPoint 2000, Census data extraction software, and several applications available through the university-wide ESRI site license.
ESRI software (ArcGIS, ArcInfo, etc.)
Call No: None. Talk to the GIS Librarian for more information.
What: A UW restricted
list of ESRI software provided on the University's site license is available.
How to use: Review the conditions
of the site license. All of the software is installed on both computers
in the Map Collection GIS lab. It is also available in various campus labs including
those in Mary Gates Hall and the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Circulating
copies of installation media are available from the Map Collection. To ensure
compliance with the restrictions of the site license, software only circulates
to faculty and staff, or to students who have written permission from a faculty
or staff member. If you have questions, email us at gis@lib.washington.edu.
Getting to Know ArcGIS
Call No: Maps Computer Manuals G70.212.G489
2001 (The 2nd edition, which covers ArcGIS 9.0, is on order.)
What: A workbook for learning ArcGIS.
How to use: The Map Collection has a few copies of this text,
which can be used on site or checked out for three days. Purchase of the workbook
(from ESRI
or any bookseller) includes a 180-day trial version of the software.
ESRI Maps & Data
Call No: None. Talk to the GIS Librarian for more information.
What: The ESRI data set includes political and administrative
boundaries, street layers, other natural and manmade features for the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the world.
How to use: Consult the full list
of the GIS data available on the most recent ESRI Data and Maps CDs (UW
restricted).
If you have questions, email us at gis@lib.washington.edu.
The Global GIS Database
Call No:
Africa G8201.A25
2001 .G5
South Asia G7626.A25
2001 .G5
South Pacific G9251.A25
2001 .G5
Central and South America G4801.A25
2000 .G4
What: These discs contain digital atlases for the countries in
each region. They include free GIS software, or they may also be used with ESRI's
ArcView software. Customized ArcView tools, specifically designed to make the
atlas easier to use, are also included.
How to use: These discs can be checked out, or you can use them
in our GIS lab. We encourage you to examine the CDs for your region of interest
and copy the specific datafiles you need to your own CD-ROM. While there is
some software/interface provided, it is actually ArcView 3.3, an earlier version
of ArcGIS.
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads (DOQQs)
Call No: G4281.A4
s40 G4 and online at WAGDA.
What: This set of CD-ROMs has digital aerial photography for much
of Washington State. Anyone with a library card can check out the CDs. A paper
index of our holdings is on top of the main CD case. On WAGDA there is also
an online
version of the index.
How to use: You can use our GIS lab, or you can check the discs
out. Use ArcView, ArcInfo or other GIS/imagery software to view these photos.
To format the images so they are viewable, read these
instructions.
USFS (Forest Service) Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs)
Call No: G4281.A4
s40 .U5 and online at WAGDA.
What: Digital aerial photography for much of the forest land of
Washington State. A paper index of our holdings is on top of the main CD case.
On WAGDA there is also an online
version of the index.
How to use: You can use our GIS lab, or you can check the discs
out. Use ArcView, ArcInfo or other GIS/imagery software to view these photos.
Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs)
Call No: G4281.C2
svar G4 and online at WAGDA
What: These are scanned USGS topographic maps, at all three scales
(1:24K, 1:100K, 1:250K), for Washington State. The items are georeferenced,
which means they are ready to be used in GIS software. They can also be used
in image software such as Photoshop. It is public domain data.
How to use: You can use either computer in our GIS lab, or you
can check the discs out. Use ArcView, ArcInfo or other GIS/imagery software
to view these photos. There is also viewing software included on the CD. The
images are already in viewable format.
Geolytics Census Data Extraction & Mapping products
Call No:
Available in both the Map Collection and in Government Publications, unless
noted below.
CensusCD+Maps: HA201
1990 .C42 2000
CensusCD 1970: HA201
1970 .C36 2002
CensusCD 1980: HA214
.C45 2000
CensusCD Blocks: HA201
1990 .C422 1999 (only in Maps)
CensusCD 2000 Long Form: HA201.122
.C462 2002
CensusCD 2000 Short Form: HA201.122
.C46 2001 (only in Government Publications)
CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database (NCDB) 1970-2000 US Census Tract Data
Long Form Release: HA181.C463
2003
Census CD Neighborhood Change Database (NCDB) 1970-2000 US Census Tract Data
Short Form Release: HA181.C462
2002
StreetCD98: G3701.A25
1999 .G4
CensusCD estimates, projections, consumer expenditures and profiles 2004/09 HB3505 .C46 (only in Government Publications)
What: This software extracts Census data into .dbf files
and shapefiles for use in GIS software or statistical software (including Excel).
How to use: The software already installed on computers
in the GIS lab. Guidebooks are available on the software manual shelf in the
GIS lab (call numbers of the CDs and the guidebooks are the same). A brief
tip sheet on integrating the data into a GIS project is also available.
A list of Census variables is in a black binder in the GIS lab. You can either
use the software yourself to get the data you need, or you can set up an appointment
with the GIS staff (email gis@lib.washington.edu)
to help you.
Washington State Geospatial
Data Archive (WAGDA)
This site includes data for King County, City of Seattle, Washington geology,
Washington digital elevation models (DEMs) and digital line graphs (DLGs). Some
of this data is restricted to use by UW students, faculty, and staff. These
data sets are clearly marked as UW restricted.
Access Washington
This is the place to start when looking for geospatial data produced by Washington
state agencies. Examples of agency GIS sites include:
The National Map
(USGS)
This website "provides public access to high-quality, geospatial data and
information from... Federal, State, and local partners."
Washington State
Geospatial Clearinghouse
This site is a metadata
node on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Use this site to search descriptions
of datasets created nationwide. Dataset descriptions contain contact information
for acquiring the data. This site also contains a form to create and maintain
FGDC-compliant metadata records.
ESRI
A wealth of software and technical support, data, training, and general GIS
information. Includes the GIS dictionary below.
Maps/GIS Resource
Page (University of Washington Libraries)
This is a collection of websites for cartographic information, organized by
geography, which have been selected by UW librarians. See the "Datasets"
category for links to sources of geospatial data.