Skip to Main Content

GIS Data and Websites

Where can you get data to use in a GIS? The UM Libraries have geospatial data in the collections, many websites have free data, and data can also be purchased.

Map Reference

DRG, DEM, DOQ, etc.

What do all the acronyms mean?  A lot of GIS data has been derived from breaking down and digitizing the elements of USGS topographic quadrangle maps.  Much of this data can be downloaded from the USGS Earth Explorer site or from the National Atlas.

Metadata