Last revised: August, 2008
GIS Resources at U.S. Government Information, Maps & GIS Services
Scope: This Guide will give a brief description of GIS Resources available in McKeldin Library. Call the U.S. Government Information, Maps & GIS Services Staff at 301-405-9165 or the GIS/Data Librarian at 301-314-1355 for more information.
Table of Contents
Overview
A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool that stores geographically referenced, or geo-referenced, data (i.e., data identified according to their locations) and links it with non-geographic attributes (or data in tables) to allow for information processing. In addition to helping map your data, GIS software allows you see, explore, and analyze data by location, revealing hidden patterns and trends that are not readily apparent from spreadsheets or statistical packages. For more information on GIS visit the USGS's Geographic Information Systems site (http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/) or the Kingston Centre for GIS [PPT presentation on GIS] (www.emich.edu/visit/Publications/Intro_to_GIS.ppt)
Hardware
The U.S. Government Information, Maps & GIS Services computer room (room 4114 in McKeldin Library) has two GIS workstations equipped with the following:
- 1.5 MHz Pentium 4 processor
- 524 MB RAM
- 38 GB Hard Drive
- 250 MB ZIP Drive (see the GIS/Data Librarian)
- CD-ROM Drive
- DVD-ROM Drive
- 3.5" Diskette Drive
The two workstations are connected to the black and white pay-for-print and color pay-for-print stations.
The workstations are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Please provide your own storage media or save on the G drive.
Software
The two workstations are loaded with the following software:
- ArcView 3.2 with extensions
- Spatial Analyst
- Network Analyst
- 3D Analyst
- StreetMap 2000
- ArcGIS Desktop 9.2
- ArcINFO Workstation 9.1
- Seagate Crystal Reports
- ENVI
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Netscape Communicator
- Various CD-ROM data disk specific access programs
Additionally, GeoMedia, Mapitude, and Microsoft MapPoint 2000 are available by appointment.
If you need GIS software for classroom use you can request it here.
Note: A faculty member must fill out this form.
Reference Books
A number of software guides and manuals are available next to the workstations for reference when using the programs. They cover ArcView/ArcInfo/ArcGIS 8.x and 9.x, ArcView 3.x, VBScript, Avenue, and GeoMedia. Other GIS related books can be located by searching the UM Libraries' Catalog. User Guides for some of the CD-ROM data disks are also located next to the workstations.
ArcGIS 9 Workshops
Library staff teaches a series of workshops that provide a basic introduction to ArcGIS 9.2 GIS software and some of its capabilities. To find out more and sign-up go to GIS Workshops (http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/gisworkshop.html). The workbooks used in these workshops are also available by contacting the GIS/Data Librarian at 301-315-1355. They contain step-by-step instructions that you can work through at your own pace on the GIS workstations. All the necessary datasets are loaded.
CD-ROM Data Collection
GIS datasets owned by McKeldin Library are either acquired through the Federal Depository Library Program or purchased selectively. Most of them are for use with ArcView, ArcGIS Desktop 9.x, or ArcInfo. To view a partial list of data available go to GIS Data in U.S. Government Information, Maps & GIS Services (http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/gisdata.html). Using the data on some of the CD-ROMs requires specific access programs be installed on the workstations. The programs for the more popular data sets are already installed. User guides are located next to the workstations. Other data may be located by searching the Catalog. Ask at the Information Desk to use the CD-ROMs.
Data on the Internet
Aside from the data held onsite, data can be downloaded from the Internet. Good places to look include:
- US Census Bureau's Cartographic Boundary Files
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/index.html - ESRI's Downloadable Data site
http://www.esri.com/data/index.html - GeoCommunity
http://data.geocomm.com - The National Atlas of the United States from the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
http://http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html - The Geospatial One-Stop (GOS)
http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos - TranStats, the Intermodal Transportation Database by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
http://transtats.bts.gov/mappingcenter.asp - University of Maryland, Global Land Cover Facility
http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/ - USGS Geographic Data Download
http://edc2.usgs.gov/geodata/index.php - USGS Maps and Other Products
http://ask.usgs.gov/products.html - USGS National Mapping Information
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic
