How to Access and View Regional GIS Source Layers

Raster and vector source data and layers are available to access and download on this page.

Vector data labeled "Regional GIS Source Layers" is available for download

  • Vector data requires a desktop program like ArcGIS Explorer, MapWindow (Windows), Quantum GIS (Mac, Windows, or Linux)
  • To download vector data, click the "View GIS Layers" link, then right click and select "Save As" to download each dataset.
  • For multiple datasets, consider using a download manager.

Raster data labeled "Southeast Regional Web Map Services" is available for online access

  • Raster data requires a special map viewer that accepts a hyperlinked Web Map Service (WMS) URL (universal resource locator that starts with "http://").
  • To access WMS data, copy the URL for each hyperlink. Keep the URL to use with a map viewer compatible with Web Map Services.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey's National Map can display WMS data and offers instructions on how to add WMS data. Other Web-Based and Desktop Geographic Information Systems are also available.

Other data types are also available online:

Regional GIS Source Layers
Geographic Information Systems Graphic representing concept of information systems visualizing geospatial information
[Image: U.S. Geological Survey]

What are GIS Source Layers?
GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. Together with geographic data stored in a coordinate system, a geographic information system can be used to visualize layers of geospatially linked information on a map.

What Geospatial Data is Available for Biodiversity Informatics?
Coordinate systems definining geographic locations are called "geospatial" data. This data could define one point on a map, or define many points forming a boundary line or enclosed area. Geospatial data can also provide additional information about defined points or areas. In biodiversity studies, GIS source layers can be used to store and display survey points, species locations, ecosystem boundaries, and other environmental data collected from the points on the globe.

What Types of Geospatial Data are Available?
Geospatial data is stored in a coordinate system can be saved and shared electronically using a variety of data formats, from simple image overlays provided by Web Map Services and tabular data stored in a plain text files to complex shapefiles and geodatabases. Broadly, electronic geospatial data can be categorized as raster data, vector data, or other data.

For further details about types of raster, vector, and other data, click "More..." below.


Regional GIS Source Layers

Land Snails of the Southern Appalachians [View GIS Layers]
Regional Invasive Plants Project [View GIS Layers]
Southern Appalachian Volunteer Environmental Monitoring (SAVEM) [View GIS Layers]
Tennessee State Parks All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) [View GIS Layers]
Upper Little Tennessee River Project [View GIS Layers]
Southeast Regional Web Map Services
Showing 10 Results
ExpandUSGS Gap Analysis Program Protected Areas of the United States Web Map Services
ExpandWeb Map Service - French Broad River Watershed
ExpandWeb Map Service - Kentucky Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
ExpandWeb Map Service - Oriental Bittersweet
ExpandWeb Map Service - Southeast Invasive Plants
ExpandWeb Map Service - Southeast Watershed Forum
ExpandWeb Map Service - Southeastern Ecological Framework
ExpandWeb Map Service - Southern Appalachian Volunteer Environmental Monitoring
ExpandWeb Map Service - Tennessee River Gorge
ExpandWeb Map Service - Tennessee State Parks All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory

More Online Geospatial Data

Need More Geospatial Data?

Several useful geospatial maps and datasets are available online.

The sites below offer a wealth of free geographic and biological spatial information, including access to background layers and other resources.

National GIS data resources

Geospatial One-stop: A public gateway to geospatial information
Seamless: Download USGS and EROS spatial data layers
National Park Service: GIS data and information in the National Parks
US Fish & Wildlife GIS: Includes biological information for individual states
GISDATA: Extensive collections of downloadable GIS data.

Regional GIS data resources:

The Alabama Data Portal
Kentucky Geography Network
Mississippi Automated Resource Information System (MARIS)
Tennessee GIS Spatial Data Server
The NBII Program is administered by the Biological Informatics Program of the U.S. Geological Survey
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