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Esri Site License and Access to ArcGIS Software
Laurentian University's Esri Site License is administered by Information Technology (IT). Please direct all requests for ArcGIS software and Esri training modules to it@laurentian.ca or to (705) 675-1151 x2200.
For Geospatial data requests and information, please contact gis@laurentian.ca.
Accessing Geospatial Data
Students, faculty and staff at Laurentian University have access to a wide variety of Geospatial data files (eg. topography, forestry, wildlife, ecology, land cover) for Sudbury, Ontario, and Canada. Many of these resources can be accessed from this page.
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.
Sudbury and Ontario Data
Recommended starting database
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.
Other Resources for Ontario and Sudbury Data
City of Greater Sudbury Open Data Portal : The City of Greater Sudbury : This website provides many downloadable GIS datasets including land use, land reclamation and many 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 GeoHub - Land Information Ontario (LIO) - download a variety of provincial geospatial data including health data, boundaries, plant and animal information and many other datasets.
Ontario Basic Mapping (OBM) - Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF): This website provides an index identifying Ontario Base Map (OBM) map tiles and digital vector data available for each tile. The data and maps cover most of Ontario and contain many features normally found on topographic maps such as relief, hydrography, vegetation and roads. Eastern and Southern Ontario is covered at a scale of 1:10,000 and Northern Ontario is covered at a scale of 1:20,000.
Interactive and Static Maps
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.
Make a Topographic map: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry : This mapping application has Ontario's best available topographic and imagery data.
Data for Canada
Resources for Canadian Data
Census 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. These files are available through Scholars GeoPortal or download directly from Statistics Canada.
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.
Open Maps: Government of Canada: This website provides access to the Government of Canada’s geospatial information. You can combine, visualize, and analyze geospatial data and collaborate with other Canadians.
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 or download directly from Statistics Canada.
Topographic Information: Natural Resources Canada: This site distributes free geospatial data for Canada. There are numerous datasets in a variety of file formats.
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)
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.
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.
GIS Lounge: DM Geographics: This site is a great resource for a variety of information pertaining to GIS.