Map and Geography Library - LIS Government Documents

Map and Geography Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

LIS Government Information

The Cartographic Citation Guide, available from the Map and Geography Library's reference collection (call number 016.526 C549c), provides examples of how to cite paper map resources. Guidelines for citing electronic and print resources are available from the Reference Library's Citing Electronic and Print Resouces page.

FirstGov is an easy gateway to Federal agency websites and information.

As a quick way of getting to United States Federal statistics, try FedStats, "the gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies."

United States Federal Agencies

Forest Service
Library of FS Products: Includes links to "Climate Change Atlas for 80 Tree Species of the Eastern US" and to CAD drawings of trail and road projects in the Data and Information section. Information about map purchases and downloading from a small group of national-level data sets in the Maps section.
National Resources Conservation Service
Data, Maps, and Analysis: Includes links to watershed boundary data, environmental easement boundaries, economic data and analysis, and the National Resources Inventory (Only the 1997 report is online, however.)
National Geospatial Management Center: Geospatial and watershed datasets among other resources.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Aerial Photography Field Office: A collection of more than 10 million aerial photographs available for purchase. Visit the local Farm Services Agency office, call, or e-mail (sales@apfo.usda.gov) for assistance in determining which photographs will fill your needs.

Bureau of the Census: Top-level page includes "State & County Quick Facts" which will display map of state with county boundaries and names.
Census Bureau Geography
TIGER Mapping Service: Basic mapping and data available for downloading plus selection and viewing of data from 1990 STF1 and STF3 tables.
Statistical Abstract of the United States: Scanned version of the venerable print publication. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Aeronatical and nautical charts: General information including a "Mapfinder."
Maptech: Cooperative development agreement to make charts web-viewable.
National Ocean Service: "The nation's principal advocate for coastal and ocean stewardship" and producer of domestic waters navigation aids.
Nautical Chart User's Manual: Basic information about nautical chart construction and interpretation. PDF files.
Weather: General information plus links to weather reports and forecasts.
National Weather Service: "The sole United States OFFICIAL voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather situations."
NOAA Weather Radio: Check under "Station Listing and Coverage" for transmitter signal reception maps.
National Climatic Data Center: Self-advertised as the "World's Largest Archive of of Weather Data."
Satellites: General information on NOAA's satellite program; includes some viewable images.
National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC): National repository for geophysical data; works with the World Data Center and other international programs to acquire data.
United States Postal Service: No maps -- but does include a zipcode finder.
Western Economic Research (W.E.R.): Commercially produced zipcode maps.

National Imagery and Mapping Agency - NIMA: Information about public sales under "Maps."

U.S. Bureau of Land Management: BLM is highly decentralized; using this set of web pages may take time; try the browse button for a good overview of the site.
Official Federal Land Patent Records Site: Information about Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States; includes searchable database and web-viewable images of scanned, original land patents.
Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB): Geographic information representing the Public Land Survey System (PLSS)of the United States computed from BLM survey records (official plats and field notes), local survey records, and geodetic control information.
Location Guide to GLO Survey Plats: A list of organizations, with contact information, that own Government Land Office survey plats, originals or copies, including the formats they are in; compiled by the Illinois State Library's Map Department.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Geographic Information & Spatial Data: Includes access to free, downloadable data along with links to information about metadata and GIS.
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI): Information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation’s wetlands and deepwater habitats; includes downloadable data, purchasing information, and interactive wetlands mapper.
Environmental Conservation Online System: Mapping capabilities under "Spatial Query."
United States Geological Survey
Map Dealers
New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey: Monthly listing of publications from all divisions.
Earth Science Information Center: Resource for public information -- assistance in determining what is available and in ordering maps, images, and data.
EROS Data Center: Facility that houses and distributes imagery and remotely-sensed data, including satellite data, plus digital cartographic data from the NMD; includes data query systems.
National Atlas of the United States: The last print volume was published in 1970 with supplemental updates as single sheets during the intervening years; interactive map browser, some animated maps, and downloadable data layers.
TopoZone: Cooperative development agreement to make topographic maps web-viewable.
TerraServer: Originally a cooperative development agreement to make high-resolution satellite imagery available through the web. This is a busy site; response time may be slow.
The National Map: Report of a study done by USGS as the foundation for developing "a database of continually maintained basic spatial data for the United States and its territories that would serve as the Nation’s topographic map for the 21st century."
National Park Service
Data and Research in the National Parks: Includes links to National Park Service maps, downloadable data, scanned aerial photography, information about NPS GIS applications, and other GIS related links.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Geospatial Resource Center

U.S. Department of State
Background Notes: Country information from the Department of State including human and physical geography, economy, government, history, etc.
Background Notes: Pre-January 2001 archives files.

Federal Highway Administration: See list of FHWA Web Sites for links to national road closure information, scenic byways information, and links to state DOTs.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics: Includes "The Journal of Transportation and Statistics" and searchable statistical databases.
FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center: Check to see if the weather is affecting your flight.

Publications: Listing of unclassified maps available for purchase through GPO or NTIS. Includes information on contacts for purchasing.
The World Factbook: Includes information on countries of the world. The content of this site focuses on current statistical data with emphasis on economy, government, transportation, geography, and social environment. Also included are appendices and general reference maps.
CIA Maps: Large selection of maps of countries, cities and regions of the world scanned and made available through the Web by the Map Collection at the Perry-Casta~neda Library, University of Texas at Austin.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Maps: Includes interactive hazard maps, maps showing declared disasters, and hurricane tracking maps.
Flood Hazard Mapping: Information about flood hazard maps but no maps online (yet).

Environmental Protection Agency: Select "Your Community" from the left frame to generate lists and maps of regulated sites and to see descriptions of local watersheds or the daily forecast of the ultraviolet index.
Surf Your Watershed: Look for a watershed by name, zip code, or by clicking on a map. Includes "Enviromapper," interactive maps.

Visualization of Remote Sensing Data: Imagery derived from satellite data by the Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and by other groups.
Multimedia Gallery

Photos and videos of the Earth and beyond. Includes extensive list of links to other photograph sites.

TVA Map Store: The TVA's activities, especially mapping and aerial photography interpretation, jump-started similar activities nationwide.

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC): An interagency committee of 17 federal agencies that coordinates the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure including the formulation policies, standards, and procedures.
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI): Administrative background including text of Executive Order 12906, "Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure," from April 1994 which lead to the formation of the FGDC.
Metadata: Includes links to the FGDC metadata standard and tools for use including a pretty good workbook.
National Geospatial Data Committee Library: Search for Federal geospatial data over a group of more than 100 spatial data servers.
Manual of Federal Geographic Data Products: Unfortunately, the content of the manual has been removed from the Internet because it was quickly becoming out of date. Watch this space for an update. Meanwhile, the USGS has a descriptive list of products available.

The Board: BGN approves names for offical US Federal government use in publications and in conducting government business.
GeoNet Names Server: Non-US place names, excluding Antarctica; database maintained at NIMA of names approved by BGN Foreign Names Committee.
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS): US place names; database maintained at USGS of names approved by BGN Domestic Names Committee. Also includes links to other place name resources.

The Library
American Memory Project: More than 80 collections scanned and available through the web including Map Collections: 1544-1999 .
Geography and Map Division
Country Studies: A continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the Department of the Army. Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors.

Cartographic and Architectural Records

Non-US Government Agencies

Agency names and contact information are also available in World Mapping Today, 2nd ed., located in the Map and Geography Library Reference Collection (Q.025.286 W893 2000). Ordnance Survey International (OSI) Formerly the British Directorate of Overseas Surveys. Source of mapping for members of the Commonwealth.
France -- Institut Geographique National (IGN) Also a source for mapping of former French Colonies.
Ireland -- Ordnance Survey
Australia -- Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLig)
Finland -- National Land Survey (Maanmittauslaitos)
Spain -- Centro Nacional de Informacion Geografica (CNIG)
Ethiopia -- Mapping Agency (EMA)
Madagascar -- Foiben-Taosarintanin'i Madagasikara (national mapping agency)
South Africa -- National Geo-Spatial Information
Canada -- Centre for Remote Sensing
Canada -- Centre for Topographic Information
Mexico -- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica
Guatemala -- Instituto Geografico National (IGNG) Includes JPG maps.
Argentina -- InstitutoGeografico Militar (IGMA)
Colombia -- Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi (IGAC)
Bangladesh -- Survey of Bangladesh Includes scanned maps.
Brunei -- Survey Department

International Agencies

United Nations -- Cartographic Section
   Includes general base maps in PDF format and maps of peacekeeping missions.
United Nations Environment Programme Net
   Data, country profiles.
United Nations Environmental Programme -- Global Resource Information Database
Australian Centre of the Asian Spatial Information and Analysis Network (ACASIAN) Data source for Eurasian countries with an emphasis on China.
CERCO (Comité Européen des Responsables de la Cartographie Officielle) -- the organization of the European
    national mapping agencies (NMAs)-- Only available in French.
Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)
Instituto Panamericano de Geografia e Historia (PAIGH)

	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Gateway Homepage Comments to: Map and Geography Library Updated: 12.05.2006 JMJ