Data Formats

Spatial Formats

• OGC standards
• readily noticed by spatial libraries and GIS packages

Basic formats

• used across many fields
• CSV, XLSX, DBF, TXT
• may need to be manipulated for use in a GIS

Large Formats

• useful in large scale analysis
• netCDF, HDF

About Data Sources

• a website or repository holding data
• can be searched for specific dataset
• public or private

What is a credible data source?

• recognized as an authority on the topic
• datasets use standard format
• datasets have metadata

Data Standards

Credible Data Sources

Global Administrative Areas (GADM)

National Aeronautics

and

Space Administration

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

U.S Census Bureau

Local & Regional Governments

• Geologic surveys
• Natural resources deptartments
• City & county governments