GIS Resources

General GIS

The sites listed in this section are good starting points for learning about GIS.

Geo FAQs

FAQs provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions about a topic.

comp.graphics.algorithms FAQ
Global Positioning System (GPS) FAQ (Coast Guard)
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) FAQ (Federal Aviation Administration)

Megasites

Megasites highlights sites that contain pointers to large numbers of other GIS sites. GIS.com, GeoCommunity, GisCafe.com, and GIS Lounge all provide a good series of resources and commentary.

GISCafe.com
GIS.com
GIS WWW Resource List (Edinburgh)
GIS Web Links Database - Geoinformatics (Glasgow)
GIS@development
GIS Lounge
GISUser.com
GeoCommunity
The GIS Notebook - Bill Thoen
The Ultimate Map/GIS Directory (GIS Monitor)

Mailing Lists/Newsgroups

Newsgroups provide on-line question and answer forums. comp.infosystems.gis is the primary GIS newsgroup. Mailing lists let users stay in touch with other users with similar interests via e-mail. The Directions Magazine On-Line GIS Discussion Archive lets users search multiple GIS mailing lists.

On-Line GIS Discussion Archive (Directions Magazine)
CrimeMap Listserv
Map History-Related Discussion Lists
Archives of MAPS-L

Blogs

Blogs are web pages that provide the latest information covering a variety of topics.

Planet Geospatial
slashgeo
All Points Blog
All Things Geography
Any Geo - Anything Geospatial
CartoTalk
Free GIS Data and Imagery Geoblog
Geo-Web - Markup and the Geo-Web
Geobloggers
GeoCarta
Geonames
GeoPDF
GeoRSS
Geospatial Semantic Web Blog
GIS and Everything Spatial (edparsons.com)
GIS Matters
Google Earth Blog
Google Maps Mania
Google Sightseeing
information aesthetics
James Fee GIS Blog
Information Aesthetics
Making Maps: DIY Cartography
The Map Room
The Map GIS News Blog for UK, Europe, and World Maps
Mapping Center
Mapping Hacks
mapz: a gis librarian
Ogle Earth
Smart Mobs (Howard Rheingold)
Spatial Law
Strange Maps
Surveying, Mapping, and GIS
Urban Cartography
Vector One
Very Spatial
visualcomplexity
Webmapper.net

Dictionaries

Dictionaries and glossaries are helpful for sorting out terminology in the GIS community.

Abbreviations and Acronyms in GIS, Cartography, and RS
AGI GIS Dictionary
ESRI GIS Dictionary
GIS Glossary (GISLounge)
Glossary of Cartographic Terms (University of Texas)
Glossary for the Geographer's Craft Project (University of Colorado)
Glossary of Terms (Navtech GPS)
Glossary of Mapping, Charting, and Geodetic Terms (NGA) (PDF)
Glossary of Remote Sensing Terms(CCRS)
Glossary of Toponymic Terminology (United Nations)
Ordnance Survey Glossary

Calendars

Conference and seminar schedules are listed here.

Calendar of Events (Geospatial Solutions)
GIS and Remote Sensing Events (GIS Lounge)
GIS and Mapping Industry Conferences (GeoCommunity)

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Web Mapping

The web-based mapping sites provide information on products and applications for delivering maps and GIS services over the Internet.

General

The General web-mapping sites are meta sites with a wide variety of information on web-mapping and pointers to other sites.

Web Mapping Channel (GeoCommunity)
ICA Commission on Maps and the Internet
Web Mapping Applications (GeoCommunity)
GIS Mapping with PHP
Web Map Gallery (Directions Magazine)
Web Mapping (FreeGIS)

Products

Products sites point to specific software for delivering maps and images over the web. This includes map servers, image servers, sites dealing with XML/GML/SVG, Flash, and Web Hosting.

Map Servers

Autodesk MapGuide Family
Maptitude for the Web (Caliper)
Caris Spatial Fusion
EarthKey (SoftReality, Inc.)
Server GIS (ESRI)
Full Circle Technologies
GDSK
GeoMicro AltaMap Server
GenaServer (GenaWare)
Geofactory
Geomatica Web Server (PCI Geomatics)
GeoMedia WebMap (Intergraph)
IC Map (Collins Software)
idevio - Innovative Vector Storage and Delivery
Image Mapper (alta4)
Internet Application Server (GE Power Systems - Smallworld Technology)
Ionic Software
JMap (Kheops Technology)
MapExplorer (Triscape)
MapIt!
Map Server (University of Minnesota)
map-TV (Spatial Media) - Web Map Server
Map Manager (Compusult)
MapXtreme (MapInfo)
Mapquest
NAC Geographic Products, Inc.
PGS
Push.n.See (Korem)
SICAD Internet Suite - Web
SIS ASC (Cadcorp) - Web
SpatialAge Web Viewer (Byers Engineering)
SpatialDirect (Safe Software)
Star NeXt (Star Informatic)
TatukGIS
worldKit
TNT Server (MicroImages)
XMap Web (DeLorme)

Image Servers

ArcGIS Image Server (ESRI)
ImageConnect (GlobeXplorer)
Image Web Server (EarthEtc.com)
LizardTech

3D View Servers

Virtual Globe (Wikipedia)
Google Earth (Download and install client application)
Map 24 (3D option available after selecting map)
Skyline Globe
TerraExplorer (Skyline)
Virtual Globe (Norkart)
World Wind (NASA)

Geoprocessing Web Services

ArcWeb Services (ESRI)
MapPoint Web Service (Microsoft)

XML/GML/SVG

XML (Extensible Markup Language)

XML Specification (W3C)
Internet Mapping with XML (GeoCommunity)
XML Tutorial (W3Schools)
XML Tutorials (XMLFiles.com)
O'Reilly xml.com

GML (Geographic Markup Language)

GML Specifications (OpenGIS Consortium)
GML Technology (Galdos)
Top 10 Benefits of Using GML (GeoCommunity)
GML Viewer (Snowflake Software)
Ordnance Survey MasterMap Viewer (Snowflake Software)

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

Scalable Vector Graphics Specification (W3C)
SVG Zone (Adobe Systems)
SVG Tutorial (KevLinDev)
DBx Geomatics (SVG Mapping)
EasySVG for ArcGIS (Qinetiq)
MapPublisher - SVG (Avenza)
MapView SVG - SVG for ArcGIS (UIS Media)
GeoTechnologies Web Mapping Demonstration Site

Flash

GeoGraphs Corporation
MapBureau - Interactive Cartography for the Web (Flash Maps)
worldKit (linking Flash and RSS)

Portable Document Format (PDF)

TerraGo Technologies
GeoPDF - Blog

geoRSS

An Introduction to GeoRSS (OGC White Paper - PDF)
GeoRSS: Geographically Encoded Objects for RSS Feeds
Fun with GeoRSS (Directions Magazine)
RSS to GeoRSS Converter (geonames.org)
ACME GeoRSS MapViewer
Map24 GeoRSS-Service
mappedup
mapufacture (GeoRSS aggregator)
worldKit GeoRSS
Yahoo! Maps GeoRSS

Mashups/Custom Maps

Maps and Geography Open APIs
Google Maps API
Mapquest OpenAPI
Virtual Earth Interactive SDK (Microsoft)
Windows Live Developer Center (Microsoft)
Yahoo! Maps APIs
(Create mashups without programming)
LocaPoint
MapCruncher (Microsoft)
Geomentary
OS OpenSpace API (Ordnance Survey)
Pin In The Map
Pin In The Map
Platial
MapKit
quikmaps
Stickymap
Wikimapia

Web Hosting

BeyondGeo.com (Blue Marble Geographics)

Sites

This section highlights web mapping sites by their application area.

Atlases

Atlases show sample applications for delivering general map information and data over the Internet.

DEMIS World Map Server
Earth and Moon Viewer
eMapSite
Enterprise Geographic Information System - EGIS (HUD)
Globalis (United Nations)
Interactive Atlas(Mapquest)
MapStats (FedStats - US Government)
National Atlas of Canada On-Line
National Geographic Map Machine
Place Finder (Expedia)
Toporama (Canadian Atlas)
National Atlas of the United States of America
Window to My Environment (EPA)

Geocoding

Geocoding sites use a street address as input and provide the latitude and longitude of the address as output.

Geocode.com (TeleAtlas)
Batch Geocoding (Phillip Holmstrand)
Free Geocoding Service (TravelGIS.com)
Free Location Geocoding (ajm Software)
geocoder.us

Imagery

Imagery servers provide aerial photography and satellite imagery over the web. TerraServer is one of the world's largest databases ever created.

GlobeXplorer
getmapping.com - UK Imagery Server
GO 3-D (Skyline)
Google Earth
Live Search (Microsoft)
NOAA Operational Significant Events Imagery
TerraServer - USA (Microsoft Image Server)
TerraFly
Seamless Data Distribution Delivery (USGS)
Global Visualization Viewer (USGS)

Localized Search Engines

Localized search engines allow you to locate businesses by type and location.

Google Maps
Business Locator (MapQuest)
Live Local Search (Microsoft)
Yahoo! Local Maps

Route Planners

Route planners generate maps and directions given a start address to a stop address.

Expedia Driving Directions
Google Maps
MapQuest Directions
Map24 (Select Calculate Route)
Yahoo! Driving Directions
Maporama-Europe, US, and Canada Maps and Routes
Rand McNally
ViaMichelin (European Driving Directions)

Street Maps

Street Maps sites generate street-level maps when given a street address. Maps A9 is a new site that incorporates video images with street maps.

Expedia Address Finder
Google Maps
Live Search (Microsoft)
Map24
Mapquest Maps
Rand McNally
ViaMichelin (European Street Maps)
Yahoo! Local Maps

Topographic Maps

Topographic maps show general landscape features with elevations as contours.

MapTech Mapserver
TopoZone - The Web's Topographic Map
Trails.com

Real-Time Maps

Real-time maps map data from sensors as the data is acquired. The most common form of real-time maps today are traffic maps.

NextBus (NextBus)
San Diego Real-Time Traffic (CalTrans)
Seattle Area Traffic (Washington State DOT)
Traveler Information (Minnesota Department of Transportation)
Flight Tracker (USA Today)

Zip Code-Based Look-Up

Location-based services are often by-passing the need for maps. Here are some zip-code based services that provide information when given a specific zip code.

Community Tapestry Demographic Data (ESRI Business Information Solutions)
Canadian Post Code Information (PostCodeDownload.com)
City/State Zip Code Associations (USPS)
DownloadZIPCode.com
Find Your Senator and Congressman by Zip
Free On-Line Look-Ups (MelissaDATA)
Free online address lookup tool with fuzzy matching
Free Zip Code Lookup (zipinfo.com) Find county, area code, time zone, lat/lon.
Get a Map by Zip Code (MapQuest)
Local Harvest (Farmers' Markets, Family Farms, etc.)
National Address Server (University of Buffalo) Formats addresses, adds zip, and prints bar code.
Language Map of the US by Zip Code (Modern Language Association)
Sunrise and Sunset by Zip
US Gazetteer (Census) Access to Demographic Data by Zip
US Postal Service Zip Code Look-Up
MyBestSegments.com (Claritas)
Scorecard (The Pollution Information Site)
Window to My Environment (EPA)
Zip Code Comparisons (Zipskinny)
Zipdecode (Ben Fry)
Zip Code Statistics (Census Bureau)
Zip Scribble
Zoomer - Local Environmental Resources (Sierra Club)

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GIS Software

GIS software sites provide software for the creation, management, analysis, and display of geographic data.

Products

These company sites sell and/or provide GIS software. The On-Line Product Sourcebook and Geo Directory of Products and Services provide information on multiple products.

GIS Company Listing (GISCafe.com)
Company Section (GISdevelopment)
GIS and Mapping Software (GeoCommunity)
Ten-Year Industry Forecast (ASPRS/NASA)
1 Spatial (formerly Laser-Scan)
Apic SA
Mapping Solutions (Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd.)
Atlas GIS (Retail Profit management)
Autodesk
Bentley Systems, Inc.
Blue Marble Geographics
Byers Engineering (SpatialAge Solutions)
Cadcorp (Spatial Information System)
Caliper Corporation (Maptitude GIS, TransCAD, GIS +)
Caliper Corporation - UK (Maptitude GIS, TransCAD, GIS +)
Caris
Clark University (IDRISI)
DeLorme Mapping
Eagle Point Software Corporation
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ArcGIS)
EPPL7
Flowmap (Utrecht)
GDSK
Geospatial Asset Management (GE)
Genasys
Geodesys
Geodyssey Limited of Calgary
GeoMania
Golden Software (Surfer, Grapher, MapViewer, Voxler, and Didger)
GRASS GIS
Idelix (Pliable Display Technology)
Innogistic Software plc
Intergraph
Keigan Systems (MF Works)
Manifold GIS
MicroImages, Inc.(TNTmips, TNTlite)
MapCalc (Red Hen Farming Systems)
Map Maker Pro (Map Maker, Ltd.)
MapWindow GIS
Microsoft MapPoint
MapInfo
Object F/X
PCI Geomatics
Red Hen (MediaMapper.com - Multimedia GIS)
SpatialAce (Carmenta)
Star Informatic GIS
TatukGIS
TENET

.Net/COM Objects

.Net/COM objects allow developers to build Windows-based applications that incorporate mapping and GIS capabilities. Component-based software lets developers mix and match functionality.

GeoMicro
Blue Marble Geographics
Carbon Tools Geospatial .NET development toolkit (The Carbon Project)
CartoWorld.com
ArcEngine (ESRI)
Graticule
GeoMedia (Intergraph)
Luciad - Software Components for Networked GIS (COM and JAVA)
MapLink Pro(TENET Defence Ltd.)
MapOCX (UnderTow Software)
Pepperwhite
SpatialAce (Carmenta)
Sylvan
TatukGIS

Java GIS

The appeal of Java is the ability to write software once and run it on different machines. Java GIS products are just beginning to hit the marketplace. The GeoJava Corner is a good place to look for the latest developments.

Luciad - Software Components for Networked GIS (COM and JAVA)
Object F/X (Java-based Geospatial Solutions)
SpatialAce and SpatialAce Lite Editions(Carmenta)

Data Viewers

Data viewers listed here are free software that can be used to look at geographic data.

Viewers (GeoCommunity)
Explorer Applications(ESRI)
CartoMap Viewer (Select Products -> Free Viewer)
Christine GIS Viewer
dlgv32 DRG/DLG/SDTS Viewing Software (USGS)
ER Viewer (ER Mapper)
Geomatica FreeView
GeoMedia Viewer (Intergraph)
GML Viewer (Snowflake Software)
MapInfo ProViewer (MapInfo)
ShapeViz (Bashir Research) - Shapefile Visualization
TatukGIS Viewer (TatukGIS)
Thuban (Free Geographic Data Viewer)
tkgeomap (Tcl/Tk Mapping Routines)

Free (and almost free) Software

Look here for free GIS software and various utilities. The FreeGIS site provides pointers to free GIS products.

General

FreeGIS
Free Software, Scripts, Extensions, Demos (GeoCommunity)
Christine GIS
DIVA-GIS (For the analysis of biodiversity - USGS)
GeoDa (Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis) University of Illinois
GeoTools (Codehaus)
GMT - The Generic Mapping Tools
GIS Explorer
LandSerf (surface visualization)
Map Maker Gratis
Mapping and Surveying Freeware (Softree)
MICRODEM (DEM software) US Naval Academy

Open Source

FreeGIS.org
The State of OpenSource GIS
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
Open Source GIS
Cartographic Projections Library - PROJ.4
Open RemoteSensing.org
Geospatial Data Abstraction Library
GEOS
GeoTools (Codehaus)
GRASS GIS
gvSIG (Conselleria d'Infraestructures i Transport)
The Jump Project
OpenMap (BBN) GIS
PostGIS
Quantum GIS
System for Automated Geographical Analysis
User-friendly Desktop Internet GIS (uDig)
worldKit