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Research Consultations
If you would like to arrange an individual consultation, please e-mail a requested date and time, and a brief description of your research interest, to gis@laurentian.ca.
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Geospatial Data
Students, faculty and staff at Laurentian University have access to a wide variety of GIS data files (eg. topography, forestry, wildlife, ecology, land cover) for Sudbury, Ontario, and Canada.
Please submit questions and data requests gis@laurentian.ca
Sudbury and Ontario Data
Recommended Free Data Resources
Scholars GeoPortal offers search, preview, query, download and sharing functionality for datasets licensed by Ontario university libraries, covering such topics as land use, transportation networks, census boundaries, geology, soils, points of interest (such as healthcare facilities, schools, and airports), air photos, and more.
Geology Ontario: Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry: This site provides access to the information holdings of the Ontario Geological Survey. Hundreds of digital products containing field data, geophysical surveys, geochemical analyses and geochronological measurements are available for download.
Ontario Basic Mapping: The Geography Network: This site provides users with access to downloadable layers for most of the province at a scale of 1:20 000 in Northern Ontario and 1:10 000 in Southern Ontario. This includes data like Conservation Authorities, highways, National and Provincial Parks and many more.
For more popular free data website, see the links on the Canada and International data tab.
Sudbury
City of Greater Sudbury Land Reclamation Program
City of Greater Sudbury
This dataset contains data that pertains to tree planting sites from 1979 to 2010 and liming sites from 1978 to 2010.
Sudbury Forest 2005 Planning Landbase
City of Greater Sudbury
The 2005 Planning Landbase database covers the Greater Sudbury Area. Attributes include various forestry and planning related themes such as ownership, authority, MNR codes, species and cover type.
Ontario
Laurentian University is a member of the Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange (OGDE). Through this agreement, members of L.U. have access - free of charge - to a variety of provincial data provided by Land Information Ontario (LIO). For a full list of data available from Land Information Ontario, see their website Discovering Ontario Data.
Interactive and Static Maps for Ontario and Sudbury
Sudbury
Greater Sudbury Maps Online: Greater City of Sudbury: This website provide links to several online interactive and static maps for the Sudbury area. This includes a Colour Ortho-Photography Index, Zoning By-Law Maps and many more
Ontario
Crown Land Use Policy Atlas: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: This interactive mapping browser allows users to view a variety of information including parks, forest management units, and primary land uses. Layers can be added and removed to illustrate the user’s specific area of interest.
Official Road Map of Ontario: Ministry of Transportation: This site contains downloadable official Ontario road maps for each town/city in Ontario.
Canadian and International Data
Recommended Free Data Resources
GeoBase: Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG): This site provides access to quality, up-to-date, and well-maintained geospatial data for all of Canada.
Geogratis: Natural Resources Canada: This site distributes free geospatial data for Canada. There are numerous datasets in a variety of file formats.
Geoscience Data Repository: Natural Resources Canada: Through this site, users are provided with access to a large variety of digital images and datasets for all of Canada.
Health Region Boundary Files: Statistics Canada: This site provides access to downloadable files for the health boundaries in Canada in a variety of formats.
The National Soil DataBase (NSDB): Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: This site provides users with access to datasets that pertain to landscape, soil, and climate for all of Canada.
Canadian and International Data
Boundary Files for Canada
Statistics Canada
These datasets contain both cartographic and digital boundary files. The files cover various geographic levels such as Census Consolidated Subdivisions (CCS), Census Subdivisions (CSD), Census Tracts (CT), Dissemination Areas (DA), Census Divisions (CD), Designated Place Level (DPL), Economic Region (ER), Federal Electoral District (FED), Urban Area (UA), Forward Sortation Areas (FSA) and Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA). These files are available through Scholars GeoPortal and Statistics Canada.
Health Region Boundary Files for Canada
Statistics Canada
Health regions are legislated administrative areas defined by provincial ministries of health. These administrative areas represent geographic areas of responsibility for hospital boards or regional health authorities. Health regions, being provincial administrative areas, are subject to change. Download directly from the Statistics Canada website.
Road Network Files
Statistics Canada
These files cover most urban areas across Canada. The files include street names, types and direction. Some files are available through Scholars GeoPortal , you can also download directly from Statistics Canada. For more information, see the Road Network File Reference Guides: 2006, 2009.
Static and Interactive Maps for Canada
Atlas of Canada: Natural Resources Canada: This site has many maps with a variety of themes, including climate, economy, freshwater, health and many more.
Citing Maps and Geospatial Information
Citing Maps and Geospatial Information
The following websites are excellent resources for citing maps and geospatial information:
Citing Geospatial Data Resources: The University of Waterloo provides examples for citing different types of geospatial information.
Citing Statistics Canada Maps and Geospatial Products: Provides examples for citing Statistics Canada maps and geospatial products.
How to Cite Statistics Canada Products: Guide on how to cite Statistics Canada data.
Examples of Geospatial Data Resources Citations
Direct download of data (data has not been manipulated)
Training, Support and ArcGIS Software
Online Training for Licensed Software
There are many online ESRI courses available to current students, staff and faculty, free of charge. These courses are self-study, non-credit courses and are designed to help users acquire a variety of GIS related skills. Note: Instructor-Led courses are not included.
To take online courses:
- Send an email to gis@laurentian.ca from your Laurentian email account requesting access to E-Learning/Online Training courses.
- You will receive an email invitation from “My Esri” (please allow up to 48hrs for invitation - excluding weekends).
- At the bottom of the email, accept the invitation.
- You will be directed to an “Esri Accounts” site where you will enter your name and email.
- You will receive another email to “Activate your account” - Click on the link to activate and enter your credentials.
- Once you login, you will be directed to the Training site where you can begin your online training.
Questions? Email gis@laurentian.ca
ArcGIS Software
ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop 10 GIS software is installed on computer labs throughout campus, including the library’s Learning Commons and Brenda Wallace Computer Room.
The Education Edition of ArcGIS software is available to registered students at Laurentian University. To obtain a copy, please email gis@laurentian.ca. To learn more about the software, visit ESRI’s product page.
Product Description
ArcGIS is full-featured GIS software for visualizing, managing, creating, and analyzing geographic data. Using ArcGIS, you can understand the geographic context of your data, allowing you to see relationships and identify patterns in new ways.
Extensions included:
Help Guides and Other Resources
Data Formats
There are generally three basic types of files when it comes to geospatial data:
1) Attribute (Tabular) Data: This data is descriptive and can be directly linked to features. It is compiled and collected at different levels of measurement (i.e. Census Subdivisions, Postal Codes, etc.), then it can be combined with other data sets to display information on a map.
2) Image Data: Image data can range from scanned maps to aerial photographs and satellite images.
3) Cartographic (Map) Data: This data contains information on the shape and location of geographic features. Features are represented by points, lines and polygons.
What is GIS?
"A GIS is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information; that is, data identified according to location." (USGS, 2007)
"A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information." (ESRI, 2008)
There are several definitions for GIS, common to all definitions is the "spatial" or "geographically referenced" element. Data must be associated with a location in order to be portrayed on a map. For more detailed explanations of GIS explore some of the helpful links.
Helpful Links
What is GIS: ESRI: This site helps define GIS as well as explaining some of the general models of a GIS, applications and an index to dictionaries, periodicals and dictionaries.
ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop Online Help: ESRI: This online help site contains the same information that comes in the help files with the software. Many how to questions are answered on this site.
Wiki.GIS.com :The GIS Encylopedia: ESRI: This GIS-centric encyclopedia serves as a repository for factual, unbiased GIS content.Wiki.GIS.com seeks to involve the GIS community in an ongoing process of creation and collaboration of conceptual GIS information.
Geographic Information Systems: USGS: This site provides more explanations to help understand, what GIS is, how it works, some useful applications, and a variety of other GIS related information.
GIS Lounge: DM Geographics: This site is a great resource for a variety of information pertaining to GIS.
Map Library
About the map holdings
The Map Library is located in room P325 in the Parker Building. The Map Library is generally open during the university's business hours (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) but may be open later, pending staff availability. To ensure that the Map Library is open during your visit, please contact gis@laurentian.ca.
In fall 2014 the Library's map collection was moved from the 2nd floor of the J.N. Desmarais Library to the Map Library, where it can be accessed alongside the Geography Department's collections. The Jesuit and rare/historical maps are now housed in the Archives.
The JND Library & Archives are still responsible for its map holdings. Please forward any inquiries about the collection to gis@laurentian.ca.
Map Library collections
Location: P325 (Parker Building)
Hours: vary. Usually open during university business hours. Contact gis@laurentian.ca for details.
Note: the Map Library is jointly administered by the JND Library & Archives and the Geography Department. Inventories of the Geography Department's holdings will be added to this page as they are created.
Canadian National Topographic System (NTS) Maps
"The National Topographic System provides general-purpose topographic map coverage of the entire Canadian landmass. These maps depict, in detail, ground relief, drainage, forest cover, administrative areas, populated areas, transportation routes and facilities, and cultural features." (Natural Resources Canada)
The Map Library holds an extensive collection of 1:50,000, 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 NTS maps and indexes.
- 1:50,000 NTS inventory (CSV) - coverage (PNG)
- 1:250,000 NTS inventory (CSV) - coverage (PNG)
- 1:500,000 NTS inventory (CSV) - coverage (PNG)
Ontario Base Maps (OBM)
"The Ontario Base Map series (no longer in production in paper form) provides general-purpose topographic map coverage of Ontario. Southern Ontario is covered at a scale of 1:10,000, and Northern Ontario at a scale of 1:20,000. [The] maps depict detailed ground relief (landforms and terrain), drainage (lakes and rivers), buildings, roads, railways, and other human-made features. This map series was produced by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources." (University of Waterloo)
The Map Library holds an area paralleling highway 17; that is starting with Sault-Ste-Marie in the west all the way to Mattawa in the east, then north to Lake Temagami and south to include all of Manitoulin Island.
- OBM inventory (CSV) - coverage (PNG)
Joint Operations Graphics - Air (JOG - Air)
"The JOG (Air) maps represents the ground as seen from a pilot's point of view. These include transportation networks, infrastructure, landmarks and cultural features, topography and vegetation, as well, aeronautical overprints such as obstructions, special use aerospace, navigational aids, and related data." (East View Geospatial). Compiled by the Aeronautical Charts Division (Mapping and Charting Establishment, Department of National Defence) in 1991 from best available sources. Aeronautical information supplied by the Canada Centre for Mapping, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. Coverage at 1:250,000 according to UTM Zones.
- JOG - Air inventory (CSV) - coverage (PNG)
Canada Geological Survey (CGS), Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) and geological maps
The Map Library holds a broad collection of maps from the CGS, OGS and federal and provincial departments of mines. Coverage 1910s to present.
- Geological map inventory (CSV)
Archives collections
Location and hours: see Archives.
Note: Archives staff are not responsible for these map holdings and cannot provide assistance with them. For assistance with the map collections stored in the Archives, please contact gis@laurentian.ca or visit the Borrowers Service desk. To find cartographic materials in archival fonds, please view the Archives' fonds descriptions.
Jesuit maps
The holdings entitled "Jesuit Maps" were donated to the Department of Geography in 2006 by the University of Sudbury Library. These include various types of topographic maps, road maps, city plans and even hand-drawn charts for an approximate total of 120 maps. All items belonged to a Jesuit priest at one time or another.
- Jesuit maps inventory (CSV)
Historical and rare maps
Contains primarily reproductions of historical plans and maps. These reflect early configuration of settlements and cities such as Constantinople, Frankfurt, Jerusalem, Berlin, Copenhagen, Babylon and Goa. Birds-eye and plan view included. Reproductions reflect early cartographic and printing methods.
Several antique maps of Canada and the U.S. are also included.