Research

Subject Guide: Maps, Cartographic Information and GIS

Tools & Basic Information

Map Projections
This site, by the US Geological Survey, provides " the key properties, characteristics, and preferred uses of many historically important projections and of those frequently used by mapmakers today."
How far is it?
"This service uses data from the US Census and a supplementary list of cities around the world to find the latitude and longitude of two places, and then calculates the distance between them (as the crow flies). It also provides a map showing the two places, using the Xerox PARC Map Server. "
USGS Geography Publications
"This USGS mapping sciences page containing links describing USGS cartographic and geographic products and programs. The information products are available in printed and digital formats."
Geodata.gov
"Geodata.gov is part of the Geospatial One-Stop E-Gov initiative providing access to geospatial data and information."
MapQuest
MapQuest contains customizable street maps of the US, as well as airport terminal, National Park, scenic drive and topographic maps, world and print atlases, and a variety of other useful resources. Included here as a quick tool for generating maps for road trips.
Where to Buy Maps
Provides links to map dealers for new maps, antiquarian maps, and maps by type.

Atlases and Political/Physical Maps

This section also contains map websites of a general nature which may include a wide variety of topical maps in additional to political and physical maps.

National Atlas of the United States
National Geographic Map Machine
Physical and political maps, as well as starcharts, available for viewing or downloading.
National Map Viewer
The National Map is the product of a consortium of Federal, State, and local partners who provide geospatial data to enhance America's ability to access, integrate, and apply geospatial data at global, national, and local scales.
Atlapedia - Political and physical maps
"Click on the political map to go to the political map index or click on the physical map to go to the physical map index."
Color Landform Atlas of the United States (Ray Sterner)

Social & Economic

Maps in the American Fact Finder
American Fact Finder has two tools for creating, viewing, printing and downloading maps. The Reference map server provides maps with the boundaries for Census geography. The Thematic Map allows for viewing of Census social and economic data.
World Bank - Maps
"This interactive map site provides instant access to data from the 2001 edition of the World Bank Atlas. The Atlas is a summary of the World Development Indicators."
OCLC World Map
"The OCLC WorldMap is a prototype system that provides an interactive visual tool for selecting and displaying international library holdings represented in WorldCat, and publishing, library, cultural heritage, and collection data." Click on the "OCLC World Map" link in the first paragraph to access the mapping and graphing features.

Environmental

Ecoregions of the World
"Scientists have mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the globe. Instead of being defined by political boundaries, each is distinguished by its shared ecologocial features, climate, and plant and animal communities."
EnviroMapper StoreFront
"View federal, state, and local information about environmental conditions and features in an area of your choice."
The Rocky Mountain Mapping Center - Wildfire Support Team
"The GeoMAC web site allows users in remote locations to manipulate map information displays, zoom in and out to display fire information at various scales and detail, including downloading desired information and printing hard copy for use in fire information and media briefings, dispatch offices and coordination centers."
NWISWeb Data for the Nation
"Water-resources data collected at approximately 1.5 million sites in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico."
NCSS Web Soil Survey
"The Web Soil Survey allows selection of geographic location by address or county to view satellite images of requested areas. Once an "area of interest" has been defined local soil maps may be viewed and the SOIL DATA EXPLORER will provide access to information on soil properties, suitability and limitations of use, and soil reports. In addition this site provides an introductory tutorial on soils.
Lifemapper
Lifemapper analyzes the data from the records of millions of plants and animals in the world's natural history museums and computes the ecological profile of each species, maps where the species has been found and predicts where each species could potentially live. Click on "Maps & Models" to search for maps and data for individual species.
Enterprise Geographic Information System - HUD
Map your community. Create maps with showing flood hazards, EPA data (eg. toxic releases or brownfields), community planning information, and other information relating to communite quality. (Note: only works using Internet Explorer.)
Flood Hazard Mapping
1) Select a state: Alabama - 2) Select County: Dallas County - 3) Select Community Orrville .... etc. - 4) Select option Get Flood Insurance Studies - 5) Click on "View" icon to see the study on-line

Geologic & Metrological

GEODE
"Use GEO-DATA Explorer (GEODE) to access, view, and download information from geo-spatial databases containing a broad spectrum of data produced by the USGS and other government agencies."
Daily Weather Maps 1871- 2001
"This site provides access to historical daily weather maps from 1871 thru 2001.
Daily weather maps 2002- present
Use pull down menus to access daily weather maps since 2002
Flood Hazard Mapping
1) Select a state: Alabama - 2) Select County: Dallas County - 3) Select Community Orrville .... etc. - 4) Select option Get Flood Insurance Studies - 5) Click on "View" icon to see the study on-line
National Earthquake Information Center
This site provides data and maps of earthquake activity world wide. The following pages may be of particular interest for those seaking maps.
Information About Past and Historical Earthquakes
ShakeMap

Topographic

Topozone
"The TopoZone is the Web's center for recreational and professional topographic map users. Created in cooperation with USGS, this is the Web's first interactive topo map of the entire United States. "
7.5 Minutes Quadrangles for Ohio
The Ohio Department of Transportation provides Ohio 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles in GIF format.
Historical Topographic Maps for Google Earth
"This link provides access to a collection of Historical Topographic Maps which open in Google earth. At the present time these maps are mainly located in the South West, Oregon, Washington and a few along the Gulf Coast. Information on and directions for use of these maps can be found at Google Earth Library - Historic Topo Maps

Ohio

PUCO Maps and GIS
Ohio Department of Transportation Maps Page
The Ohio Department of Transportation provides access to Ohio road maps including an archival file of maps dating back to 1912. Areial Engineering maps and USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps for Ohio are abailable. Also of Interest from ODot: 2005 Ohio Road Construction
GIMS Program Introduction and Index
The Department of Natural Resources GIMS web pages contain information related to digital geographic data and the Geographic Information Management Systems Program. The site is divided into the following four sections: Data Search & Metadata, ODNR GIMS Standards and Guidelines, Division Contacts & Links, and GIMS FAQ.

Collections

Arab Gateway - Maps of the Arab World
BUBL Map Collection
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - University of Texas at Austin
A general collection of more than 5,000 map images available online. Use the side navigation bar to locate maps for particular geographic regions and special topics.
SAGE (Scholastic Assistance for Global Education) Maps
"SAGE is a service provided to the educational community by the Center for International Business Studies in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and the Bank of America Foundation." Many pages linked here are designed for teachers at a wide variety of grade levels.
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
"The collection focuses on rare 18th and 19th century North and South America maps and other cartographic materials. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented."
United States Military Academy Map Library
"The Department of History at the United States Military Academy has produced series of atlases and online maps encompassing both America’s wars and global conflicts."

GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
"This site provides a comprehensive overview of GIS, which can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning."
Introducing ArcExplorer Web
"ArcExplorer Web is a custom mapping application that lets you view one or multiple map services in your Web browser. You can also save the maps you create and include links to these maps on your Web site."
EPA - STORET
"STORET (short for STOrage and RETrieval) is a repository for water quality, biological, and physical data.STORET (short for STOrage and RETrieval) is a repository for water quality, biological, and physical data."
TIGER : The Coast to Coast Digital Map Database
The TIGER/Line files are a digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, political boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire United States.
Index to PUCO GIS Repository
"This page includes Ohio topographic maps, utility boundaries overlaid on topographic maps, telephone exchange road maps, downloadable datasets, and more."