Finding Data Online
How to find your data online.... for free!
You can either follow the next few suggestions or jump down to the list of commonly used websites at the bottom of the page.
1. Google it. Searching for a combination of terms such as, "download DEM Ohio GIS data" or "California roads GIS download data" frequently will lead to you to basic, recent data.
2. If you're looking for information the government provides (e.g. population data, land-use, topography, etc.), you should look on government websites such as the USGS or the US Census TIGER data. There's a tutorial on how to bring US Census data into ArcGIS here.
3. If you're looking for data from a particular state, find a major university in that state with a GIS database. Major university's often have their own GIS centers with links to state data or other frequently used websites. Unfortunately, these data centers are not always accessible by non-university students. It's a bit hit or miss. (e.g. University of Washington's GIS Data page)
4. Much data can alternatively be found on state data clearinghouse websites. (e.g. OhioGRIP's data section)
Ohio Data
Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP) - select Statewide Imagery or Ohio Metadata Server
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
National and International Data
USGS Seamless Data Warehouse for orthoimagery, topographic, and land-use data
"Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century" main data resource page
"Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century" list of resources by state
Data.gov, huge collection of govt generated data (ranging from EPA to BLM to NPS)
GIS Data Depot (Things with green download boxes=free, brown=$)
Canadian Data: GeoGratis
Open Topography (for hi-res DEMs, hillshades for GoogleEarth, and some LiDAR data)
CGIAR-CSI SRTM 90m Digital Elevation Data for over 80% of the globe
Topography
USGS Seamless Data Warehouse for orthoimagery, topographic, and land-use data
Open Topography (for hi-res DEMs, hillshades for GoogleEarth, and some LiDAR data)
CGIAR-SCI SRTM 90m Digital Elevation Data for over 80% of the globe
Aerial Photography
USGS Seamless Data Warehouse for orthoimagery, topographic, and land-use data
Land Use/Soil Data
USGS Seamless Data Warehouse for orthoimagery, topographic, and land-use data
Variety of Data on Single Site
USGS Seamless Data Warehouse for orthoimagery, topographic, and land-use data
Data.gov, huge collection of govt generated data (ranging from EPA to BLM to NPS)
National Atlas (govt data for USA or North America, wide range of subjects from climate to transportation data, format: tar.gz)
GIS Data Depot (Things with green download boxes=free, brown=$)
Coastal
NOAA for US data
Other website's data resource pages
"Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century" list of resources by state
"Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century" main data resource page
