General resources
MIT Libraries GIS LAB
- Staffed help hours in the GIS lab (Rotch Library, 3rd floor): M-Th: 1-4pm, F: 2-4pm
- Email gishelp@mit.edu for questions or to set up a private appointment
- Visit http://libguides.mit.edu/gis to check out all available GIS resources
- Intro to GIS presentationOverview, Data Sources, Best Practices
Pennsylvannia resources
- Pennsylvannia RedistrictingThis website provides information about the redistricting process in Pennsylvania, including information about the Legislative Reapportionment Commission created by the state Constitution, access to the geography and population data used for redistricting, interactive maps, and more. Note:Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population.
- Pennsylvannia Spatial Data Access (PASDA)PASDA is the official public access geospatial information clearinghouse for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 15 years and developed by the Pennsylvania State University as a service to the citizens, governments, and businesses of the Commonwealth. Most of PADEP's public GIS data sets are available for use from PASDA.
- Pennsylvannia RedistrictingThis website provides information about the redistricting process in Pennsylvania, including information about the Legislative Reapportionment Commission created by the state Constitution, access to the geography and population data used for redistricting, interactive maps, and more. Note:Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population.
- US Census: American Fact FinderAmerican FactFinder provides access to data about the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. The data in American FactFinder come from several censuses and surveys. It allows you to perform a guided search, advanced search, or use its download center.
- US Census: International Data Base (IDB)The U.S. Census Bureau conducts demographic, economic, and geographic studies of other countries and strengthens statistical development around the world through technical assistance, training, and software products. For over 60 years, the Census Bureau has performed international analytical work and assisted in the collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and use of statistics with counterpart governments in over 100 countries.
- PA Primary and Secondary Roadshttps://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php
-go to the website to download all roads per county - US Railroadshttps://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php
- eMapPA
eMapPA is a GIS based website and mapping tool that focusses on the display of environmentally relevant data to Commonwealth Agencies, contractors and the public. In addition to DEP-permitted facilities, there are over 50 map layers relating to administrative and political boundaries, culture and demographics, geology, mining, streams and water resources, and transportation networks. Tools for navigating, querying, identifying, extracting, buffering, and address matching are available for GIS analysis. All of the tools and their uses are fully explained in the Help option on the menu bar, http://www.depgis.state.pa.us/PA-AUL/Links/OnlineHelp/HelpOnline.aspx. NO DOWNLOAD
- Imagery Navigator (PASDA, Web Mapper)
This interactive application serves as the One Stop Portal to all imagery and raster data by, for, or about Pennsylvania. Capabilities of the Navigator include viewing data, search and retrieval of data, and creating a list of imagery or raster data to download. Functionality includes navigating the map, zooming automatically to a street address, and downloading the available images in MrSID, JPEG 2000, or TIFF formats. Dynamic links are included for images that are available from multiple time periods, data providers, and formats. ALLOWS DOWNLOAD
- PA DEP's Oil And Gas (Web Map)
Doesn't let you download but does let you see what layers are available (oil and gas wells, well type, well status), allows simple tools to be run (buffer, locate, measurement), and allows you to print your maps (which you could then digitize into ArcGIS). A nice overview of all you can do is accessible at http://www.depgis.state.pa.us/PA-AUL/Links/OnlineHelp/HelpOnline.aspx.
NO DOWNLOAD - PA DEP's Coal Mines (Web Map)
Coal mining has occurred in Pennsylvania for over a century. The maps of these coal mines are stored at various public and private locations (if they still exist at all) throughout the commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Office of Active and Abandoned Mine Operations is involved in many projects dealing with historic and active mine map restoration and digitization. The DEP has tried to preserve the historic information contained on these maps by scanning the maps into a digital image. They can be used for many environmental related issues, including mine land reclamation and determination of needs for Mine Subsidence Insurance.
- PA DEP's Activity & Use Limitations (AULS, Web-Mapper)
Doesn't let you download but does let you see what layers are available (AULS simple, AULS multiple), allows simple tools to be run (buffer, locate, measurement), and allows you to print your maps (which you could then digitize into ArcGIS). A nice overview of all you can do is accessible at http://www.depgis.state.pa.us/PA-AUL/Links/OnlineHelp/HelpOnline.aspx.
NO DOWNLOAD
Gallery
Geospatial Platform is an FGDC initiative that provides shared and trusted geospatial data, services, and applications. Search our massive catalog of geospatial data and tools provided by a multitude of federal agencies. Whether you are a Geographic Professional, Student, Teacher or Citizen, you can find data that will help you with your project, assignment, presentation or concern.
Visualization Examples
- Bivariate Choropleth Maps: A How-to Guide
“I’m not bivariate, but I am curious.” That quip...rang with a great deal of truth: a lot of folks aren’t creating bivariate maps, but they want to try.
Map projections
Map projections and coordinate systems tell GIS software where to place data on a map.
- For a shapefile, projection information is stored in the file that ends in .prj.
- For an image (.jpg, etc.) that has been georeferenced, projection information is stored in the .jgw and .xml files. (Only ArcMap can read this type of projection information.)
- For other raster data, projection information is saved in a .tfw and .xml file.
There are two types of map projections:
- Geographic: Use a 3D, spherical surface to define locations and units are in degrees.
- Projected: Use a flat, 2D surface and units are in meters, miles, etc. Area, length, direction, or angles will be distorted. When transforming data from geographic to projected, choose a map projection centered where your data are located to minimize distortion.
- Map ProjectionsLearn about the different map projections and how they distort data.
- Projection WizardProjection Wizard is a web application that helps cartographers select an appropriate projection for their map.
- ArcMap How To: Define Projection toolUse this tool to assign a projection to a data layer that does not have one (no .prj file) or fix an incorrect projection. You need to know the correct projection for your data: look at the metadata, the website where you got the data, etc.
- ArcMap How To: Project toolChange an existing projection.
Librarian
General Data Sources and Searches
- MIT GeoWebSearch for vector and raster data from MIT and other area institutions.
- OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.
**See how to download OSM data from Trimble: https://youtu.be/K8nUs-Hf4Fc
Tips for finding data on the web:
- Use “GIS”, “data”, or “map” as some of your search terms. Example: wind data gis, US census gis
- If you are looking for data from a specific location, search for a town/county/state/country GIS organization and contact them.
- Many cities have open data portals that contain GIS and other data. Example: Boston open data
- When searching for foreign data, search in the language native to that country.
- Look for universities near your area of interest and contact researchers. They may be willing to share their data!
Exporting data to other formats
Export to Adobe Illustrator:
1, File < Export Map
2. Select AI as the output format.
Export to CAD:
1. Open the Toolbox
2. Conversion Tools > To CAD > Export to CAD
3. Select files to export, file format, and the output location