I'm new to the world of GIS and bought this book to learn more about the various data types I was encountering on a daily basis. Not only has this guide explained what the different formats are, but it also explained why there are different formats, what each format is best at, how to convert between the different types, how to go about capturing data when none exists, and where I can find data (both public and commercial). It also has an excellent section on project planning which helps you define your needs and select the most appropriate data.
The website keeps the data source material up-to-date.
Succinctly written, it's the perfect desktop companionfor anyone who works in GIS. I recommend it highly, and wish I had a copy when I was struggling with this stuff in college.
Author(s): Drew Decker
Publisher: Wiley
Year: 2000
Language: English
Pages: 204
GIS Data Sources......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
Who Is This Book For?......Page 12
Why Write a Book on This Subject?......Page 13
What Will This Book Address?......Page 14
How Can We Use the Information?......Page 15
2. The Basic GIS Groups......Page 20
Basic GIS Data Terminology......Page 22
Some Notes on Scale and Accuracy......Page 27
Raster Data and Images......Page 30
Vector Data......Page 41
3. Defining Your Needs......Page 46
What Do You Need the Data to Do?......Page 47
Data Production Projects......Page 48
Summary......Page 51
4. Applying the Data—Envisioning a Finished Product......Page 52
Components of Finished Data......Page 53
Data Packaging......Page 60
Data Resampling......Page 62
A Quick Review of the Basics......Page 64
Federal Geographic Data Committee......Page 66
Clearinghouse......Page 67
Base Maps and the Framework Concept......Page 68
Metadata......Page 71
6. How to Obtain GIS Data......Page 82
Transfer vs. Storage......Page 83
Data Storage......Page 84
CD-Rom and DVD......Page 86
Transfer: Moving Data......Page 87
7. When Data Don’t Exist, How Can We Make It?......Page 94
Creating Your Own Data......Page 95
Buying or Renting Data......Page 101
Custom Datasets......Page 103
8. Keys to GIS Data Success......Page 106
Make a New Friend......Page 107
Going Beyond GIS Software......Page 108
Locating the Most Appropriate Source......Page 109
You Can’t Always Get What You Want, but You Can Get What
You Need......Page 110
You Don’t Always Get What You Pay for—Sometimes You Get
More (or Less)......Page 111
Show Off the Products......Page 112
9. Common Problems Encountered in Using GIS Data......Page 114
Data Age—How to Use It Properly......Page 115
Misuse of Proprietary Data......Page 116
Not Being Familiar With the Background of Your Data......Page 117
Data vs. Software......Page 118
Misapplying the Data......Page 119
Type vs. Format......Page 120
Where to Get Help......Page 121
Combining Scales......Page 122
Making Immediate Assumptions......Page 124
10. Future Trends......Page 126
GIS Data Presentation......Page 128
Changes to the Internet......Page 130
Real-time Availability of Data......Page 133
Changes to GIS Data......Page 135
Glossary......Page 138
Notes......Page 148
Notes on Appendixes: GIS Data Sources......Page 150
Web Site Stability......Page 151
Partial Addresses......Page 152
Contacts......Page 153
Appendixes Provided......Page 154
Appendix A U.S. Federal Sources......Page 156
State Sites......Page 162
National Sites......Page 163
Visitation Rules......Page 164
Listings by State......Page 165
Appendix C U.S. Local and Regional Sources......Page 184
Appendix D Private Sources......Page 188
Appendix E Foreign Sources......Page 190
Appendix F Other GIS Sites of Interest......Page 192
Index......Page 198
