Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Resources and Tips

Sections:

The following links have been contributed by members of the IL GIS Community College Consortium (IGC3). One of the tasks of the IGC3 Technician subgroup is to collect and share information on sources of GIS data. Member may submit suggestions for this page via e-mail to Office of Research. Please include a brief description of the type of GIS data available and/or how it can be acquired.

Online GIS Resources

Illinois GIS Association
Links at this webpage take you to several websites with data and information available related to GIS.

ESRI BIS
Commercial source of GIS information including census, market potential, consumer expenditure, and Tapestry lifestyle data. View this Excel workbook to see the type of information they sell. ESRI BIS offers discounts to colleges.

Claritas
Claritas' PRIZM NE divides U.S. consumers into 15 different groups and 66 different segments. PRIZM NE can be used to group and cluster data at the census tract and block group level. Colleges can also use this information to tag enrollment files with PRIZM NE household data.

GIS Data for Surrounding IL Counties
Kane County
GIS data is available on a CD for free to any government body in Kane County, including community colleges. Contact GIS Director, Kane County GIS Technologies Department, (630) 208-8655.

Lake County
GIS data is available for the cost of reproduction, currently $50 for a CD. Call the contact on the web site for information.

Will County
Will County shares its GIS data with governmental bodies within Will County, including community colleges. Contact the GIS Support Specialist, Will County GIS, (815) 774-6343.

GIS and GPS Portal for Educators
Click on "GIS" in the left column and then "Resources for GIS" for information on data resources.

Tele Atlas North America, Inc.
(formerly Geographic Data Technology)
A commercial source for postal carrier route boundary files that can be used to choose postal carrier routes that cover a specific area.

ADCi
Commercial source of Navteq street data sold by country. This is excellent street data with accurate placement of street centerlines and good data in the attributes table, especially address ranges for address matching. Includes other data such as ZIP codes, water, schools, hospitals, etc.

MapInfo
MapInfo's software StreetPro is useful for street level addresses and census data at the tract and block group level.
DynaMap has data files for postal ZIP codes and carrier routes.

IL Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
Aerial photography of Illinois taken in 2005 will be available in 2006. Available as color photography with 1-foot resolution for 6 counties in northeast Chicago region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will) and as black and white with 0.5 meter resolution for remainder of state.

GeoData.gov: U.S. Maps and Data
A "one-stop" site for a wide variety of federal, state, and local geographic data.