21 January 2007

FAQ: Looking for data

Q. I need some spatial data for my class project. What can I do?


Here places where you might begin your search for data.

You can check the Data Downloads here https://njgin.state.nj.us/NJ_NJGINExplorer/index.jsp

You should also check out the DEP's site (even though they mean to put their data on NJGIN) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/download.htm

Here's an excerpt from a class exercise that might help too...
Try Using Internet Data: Why just use CRSSA data when you can get really unreliable stuff from "out there"? Go to ArcCatalog and add an IMS Server for http://gisdata.usgs.net. Start a new ArcMap and add the Map Service:USGS_WMS_NED. The power is that this data mixes with CRSSA's. You could also add the DEP's hemlock data to begin to look for patterns in the landscape. Want to explore? Try looking at data at http://www.geographynetwork.com. More New Jersey-centric data can be found at http://njgeodata4.state.nj.us and http://njgin.aclink.org.

Unfortunately, data searches like these can take days if they are done well. And really the lectures on dealing with the data should be pretty extensive too. So don't feel bad if you this seems like it goes slower than you first expected.


This and other FAQs are online at: http://crssa.rutgers.edu/people/dtulloch/faq/FAQs.htm

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