Web Sites for Creating/Acquiring GIS Data

As collected and assessed by FRST 122T students

URL: http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/IT94/Proceedings/Autools/plewe/plewe.html#input

Value: 5/10

Description: This web site was not very helpful with solving questions about creating and acquiring GIS data for the average student still learning about it. The site was one solid web page with links leading its reader to each subheading. There was a lot of reading that was directed toward a more informed audience. Created by State University of New York at Buffalo, it was created probably for advanced GIS users who know all the terminology. The page loaded easily because it was very basic with no diagrams, pictures or helpful graphics of any kind. On the other hand this web page was very well organized and free of useless information. I would refer back to it when I learn more about GIS and Creating and/or Acquiring GIS data.

URL: http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/education/curricula/cctp/units/unit02/02_f.html

Value: 7/10

Description: This web site written by another university has a much better student orientated approach. Everything is explained so there is no confusion. It has lists at the end of each section giving any possibly new vocabulary, and they also explain the simple things that someone may not understand. This web site was clearly not written for forestry students but it does provide a lot of useful information on data acquisition. The overall layout of this web site is also good. It has a lot of links to different topics and hands on tutorials that are not far from what asri does but to a much lesser extent. The web site does not have any special pictures or graphics but I don't think that is necessary. It has a scrolling index on the side that is semi useful.

URL: http://maps.unomaha.edu/Peterson/gis/Final_Projects/1997/KKane/Project.html

Value: 7/10

Description: This web site is another simple layout home page but has a lot of interesting information. It focuses mostly on forestry applied GIS and goes into detail about GIS in forestry used in Canada and the US as well as forest fires. There isn't a lot of information about creating and acquiring GIS data but what is does contain is forestry related. There are some pictures, which was nice to see. There are quite a few links, which take you to different areas of interest and different GIS projections. The site is interesting and worth a read but not of much importance when it comes to looking for good explanations and help.