Geographic Information Systems
Data Collections
Federal -- State & Local -- Health Resources
Collections at VCU Libraries
VCU Libraries owns many spatial and numerical data sets, most of which are produced by the Federal government on CD-ROM or a similar format. Use the VCU Libraries Catalog to search the collection. Search tip: You may want to use the Advanced Search option and limit the format to Computer Software to find the majority of these data sets.
Data Resources Available Online
Current editions of many of the data sets available at VCU Libraries are now available online. Sources for these data collections include:
- Geodata.gov
One-stop portal for Federal, state, and local geographic data. - U.S. Census Bureau
Census data including public-use microdata samples, TIGER files, and information from the Economic Census. - FEMA Mapping and Analysis
Center
A variety of mapping products are available, including image data from hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita. Use the Remote Sensing Information link to access zip files for use with GIS software. - National Geophysical Data Center
The NGDC, part of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the national repository for geophysical data. Its archive includes land, marine, satellite, snow & ice, and solar-terrestrial data. - National Geodetic Survey
NOAA's National Geodetic Survey defines and manages a national coordinate system. Aeronautical, GPS, and other data are available through the Products & Services link. - USGS Geographic Data Download
U.S. Geological Survey data files for use with GIS software. Also includes links to public domain software that can be used for viewing certain files.
- USDA National Agriculture
Imagery Program (NAIP) data @ VCU
Zipped data created from NAIP Quarter Quadrangles available for selected counties. - Chesapeake
Bay Program CIMS Data Hub
A listing of databases that provide various types of data related to the Chesapeake Bay. Data search results are in downloadable, tab- or comma-delimited text file format. - Virginia Economic
Development Partnership (VEDP) GIS Datasets
Zipped datasets available, with coverage ranging from golf courses to schools to fire & rescue facilities. - Virginia
GIS Data at the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center
Links to Virginia resources, including digital elevation models (DEMs), Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs), and Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs), as well as help pages for these resources. All datasets that do not feature the UVa-only icon are available for public use. - Virginia
GIS Data Layers
This extensive listing of agencies and institutions with digitized data is from a Web site developed for a geography course at George Mason University. The site is only partially complete, but still has a wealth of information.
- TOXMAP
A geographic information system from the Division of Specialized Information Services of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that uses maps of the United States to help users visually explore data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory. - National Center for Health Statistics
Access to a variety of public-use data files, including natality and mortality data, hospital surveys, and longitudinal studies. Scroll down to the Micro-data Access section for more information. - National Center for Health
Statistics GIS and Public Health
Designed to provide information on GIS at NCHS and in the larger public health community. - ESRI
GIS for Health and Human Services
Includes demos, literature, and links to research that has incorporated GIS in the study of public health. - World Health Organization
Public Health Mapping and GIS
Information regarding WHO's promotion and implementation of GIS to support decision-making for a wide range of infectious disease and public health programs. - GIS at the National Cancer Institute
A Web site supported by the NCI for use by the public, cancer researchers, and the GIS Special Interest Group.