Research Guides: Environmental Science: Finding Maps & Data

Salem Area & Oregon Maps

Marion County GIS
Marion County, OR, provides support for users of spatial data and technologies. It provides access to online maps, applications, and spatial data layers that are available for download.
Multnomah County GIS
Multnomah County, OR, provides support for users of spatial data and technologies. It provides access to online maps, applications, and spatial data layers that are available for download.
Polk County GIS
The GIS department maintains data for the county road system, school district boundaries, city limits, floodplains, and many others. Explore the data visually through the PCMAPS 5 interface which is based off of ESRI GIS tools.
Portland Maps
This displays a variety of information about the Portland metro area, ranging from demographics, to crime and environmental data.
Salem Maps Online
SalemMaps Online is the City web platform for managing and building our interactive maps, hosted data, and community applications. You are welcome to discover, explore, analyze, and use this data and information. Data plays a key role in City decision-making and improves transparency, accountability, and customer service. Data can also be used to examine opportunities, challenges, and solutions, and to provide the basis for good decisions by individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Oregon and Washington BLM GIS Data
United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) web site containing GIS data downloads of spatial data in Oregon and Washington related to hydrology, vegetation mapping, resource management plans, and more.
Oregon Department of Forestry Maps & Data
Links to forestry related maps and GIS data for Oregon provided by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Oregon Department of Transportation Maps and GIS
The Oregon Department of Transportation produces a variety of standardized maps and GIS products to meet the needs of statewide transportation planning, infrastructure and engineering as well as federal funding eligibility and reporting. access and download statewide, county, city, region, and district Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) maps as PDFs. You can also access a number of interactive web maps operated by ODOT, as well as link to the ODOT GIS FTP site where you can download GIS shapefiles related to transportation-based phenomena for the state of Oregon.
Oregon Explorer
Oregon Explorer provides a web-based natural resources digital library by integrating data from state and federal agencies, local governments, university scientists, and citizens.
Oregon GEOHub
This website provides geospatial data depicting many types of features in and across Oregon, including administrative boundaries, geophysical and bioscience features, climate measurements, elevation, hazards, hydrography, transportation, and more.
Oregon Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
The Geospatial Enterprise Operations (GEO) team oversees the GIS use of the State enterprise and provides software licenses, training and conference registration, solution consultation and Esri help desk coordination.
Oregon Imagery Explorer
An interactive website that allows you to view, and compare Oregon imagery for a variety of years.
The Oregon Map
36 Oregon Counties, 9 Regions, One State, One Map, One Taxlot Base GIS for Public and Private use
Oregon Water Resources Department Maps
State of Oregon Water Resources Department web page that contains interactive mapping tools as well as downloadable digital maps and Geographic Information Systems data.
University of Oregon Aerial Photography Collection
The University of Oregon Libraries' Aerial Photography Collection has 1,000,000 unique images, primarily paper prints but also original film and digital photographs, and is one of the most extensive covering Oregon. Our earliest images are from 1929, but the majority of the photographs were taken in the 1930s up to the 2000s.
University of Oregon Map Collection
The Map Collection (Knight Library first floor) has both older and contemporary maps and atlases. The geographic focus is on Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. However, there are also extensive collections of select other regions, including older and more fragile maps and atlases that require library staff to retrieve them for you.
US Forest Service PNW Region Geospatial Data
Links to a United States Forest Service web page containing GIS data for Oregon and Washington forest units.
DOGAMI Interactive Maps and Geospatial Data
Contains links to a number of interactive web maps and viewers hosted by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), and GIS downloadable GIS Data.
DOGAMI Lidar Viewer
Links to the interactive map hosted by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). From this map you can view and download pre-packaged extents of processed Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) data available in raster file format.

Non-Government Maps

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
Download GIS, KMZ, or PDF file formats of historical county boundaries for individual states in the United States of America. You can also view and interact with animations of how county and territory boundaries have changed since the 1600's AD.
CropScape (NASS CDL)
CropScape maps out the various cropland data layers according to year.
ESRI ArcGIS Open Data Hub
A free repository for user-supplied data that can be used, re-used and distributed freely by anyone.
Geofabrik OpenStreetMap Downloads
Links to a server providing data extracts from the OpenStreetMap project. The data are available at continent, sub-continent, or regional scale. For example, clicking on the North American sub-continent provides all the sub-region data available. The data are updated approximately daily. The available data are provided in .pbf and zipped shapefile file formats.
National Historic Geographical Information System (NHGIS)
Access aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2010 for free. To download data, you will need to register.
OpenStreetMapData
Includes polygon and polyline files depicting land, water, and coastlines for the whole world, as well as generalized waterbody and coastline datasets. Updated monthly, the polygons and polylines are available as shapefiles (.shp file format).

United States Maps

GeoData.gov
Part of the Geospatial One-Stop E-Gov initiative, this web site allows one to search or browse data categories of geospatial information. The GeoData Map Viewer allows you to view multiple Internet map services (like the National Map) using just your browser. Map servers viewable include the USGS, FEMA Hazard Maps, NASA Globe program, NOAA, and the BLM. State and regional servers are being added, including the Minnesota Metro GIS Data Finder.
National Flood Hazard Layer GIS Status
Access the National Flood Hazard Layer Inventory Table, which allows you to download the most recent GIS layers of Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the United States National Flood Insurance Program.
USGS National Map
Provides apps and web map services for accessing ‘Topographic Information for the Nation’. This information includes topographic maps, and GIS data for: elevation; hydrography; watersheds; geographic names; orthoimagery; governmental units/boundaries; transportation; and land cover.
US Census Bureau Geography Program
Geography is central to the work of the Census Bureau, providing the framework for survey design, sample selection, data collection, tabulation, and dissemination. Geography provides meaning and context to statistical data. Access geographic data and products such as the TIGER/Line Shapefiles, KMLs, TIGERweb, cartographic boundary files, geographic relationship files, and reference and thematic maps.
US Fish and Wildlife Geospatial Services (USFW)
Access geospatial data and maps related to the mission of the Fish and Wildlife service.
USDA National Resources Conservation Service Geospatial Data Gateway
Find elevation data sets for selected states and counties, as well as other types of geospatial data such as census coverage, climate data, geology, and others.
USGS EarthExplorer
Access LANDSAT, IRS, and other imagery that spans the globe, as well as DEMs, LIDAR, Land Use and Land Cover, and topographic maps.
USGS EROS Archive
Explore the world’s largest civilian collection of images of the Earth’s surface. Find satellite images and data, aerial photography, elevation and land cover datasets, digitized maps, and our Image Gallery collections.
USGS Maps, Imagery, and Publications
This page provides links to data provided by the USGS including digital elevation models (DEM), digital line graphs (DLG), digital orthophoto quadrangles (DOQ), the National Hydrography dataset (NHD), the National Elevation dataset (NED), and other thematic digital data.

International Maps

Antarctic Digital Database Map Viewer
From this viewer you can view Antarctic base layers, topographic layers, and human activity, as well as download data from the repository in shapefile, KML, comma separated values, and GEO tiff file formats.
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), Natural Resources Canada is the Government of Canada's centre of excellence for remote sensing and geodesy.
Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network
Here you can search the CIESIN Gateway, access data (China Data Collection, Environmental Treaty Texts the Global Population Database and the Mexico Data Collection), use interactive applications, access information systems and instructional resources, all related to earth science.
FAO GeoNetwork
A portal to spatial data and information that is meant to support decision making and promote multidisciplinary approaches to sustainable development.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Spatial Data
Download GIS data related to many of the over 96,500 species on the IUCN list of threatened species for users who create a free account. The data are made freely available for non-commercial use, to help inform conservation planning and other non-commercial decision-making processes.
NASA Earth Observation (NEO-NASA)
Provides a way to search and download satellite images of Earth on topics of the ocean, atmosphere, energy, land, and life. It enables users to perform basic visual analysis by creating global mass to track regional and world-wide changes around the world. (works with Google Earth)
NASA JPL ASTER Data
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) collects ASTER data to create maps of land surface temperature, reflectance, and elevation, which are freely available for download.
Open Topography
Provides high topography open access datasets (mostly Light Detection and Ranging derived data) that can be downloaded in GIS-compatible and other similar file formats.
USGS MRCTR GIS Lab
(MRCTR, pronounced Mercator) The resources are aimed at the planetary research community, as the site by provides GIS data statistical, and spatial tools for
analyses of planetary data.

Natural Resources Maps

*U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
U.S. Geological Survey leads national efforts to map mineral resources and analyze the supply chains needed to drive the U.S. economy and national security. The efforts include analyzing global supply chain risks, mineral needs for domestic industry and defense, and future production capacity. The USGS also partners with state geological surveys, private companies, universities and federal agencies in its efforts to identify new mineral resources. The primary function of the USGS is to provide quality scientific information to the public through various resources.
EarthExplorer (USGS)
The U.S. Geological Survey is dedicated to providing extensive data to the global science community. However, certain data sets require additional procedures to gain access to them. For example, some commercial satellite scenes of U.S. sites are licensed only for U.S. users.
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center (USGS)
Aerial photos and satellite images. Includes: National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) 1985-date; National High Altitude Photography (NHAP) 1980-89; Single Frame Records 1939-date; Photo References Mosaics 1940's-1980's; Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQs) 1987-date; High Resolution Orthoimagery 2002-03; Space Acquired Photography 1965-date; United States Antarctic Resource Center (USARC) 1946-date; Aircraft Scanners 1982-95; and Aerial Products Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR).
Geologic Maps of US States (USGS)
Digital geologic maps of the US states with consistent lithology, age, GIS database structure, and format.
Global Change Master Directory
Provides access to over 3,900 data sets in the area of earth science, including atmosphere, biosphere, land surface, solid earth, and human dimensions of climate change.
Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data (USGS)
This site lists various maps that are related to mineral resources throughout the United States.
Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC)
This massive database updates our knowledge of the Nation’s land cover and documents precisely where land cover change has occurred between 2001 and 2006. NLCD is used for thousands of applications in such diverse investigations as ecosystem status and health, spatial patterns of biodiversity, indications of climate change, and best practices in land management.
Natural Earth
Free vector and raster map data at 1:10m, 1:50m, and 1:110m scales. Designed for creating high-quality maps.
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS-USDA) Soils
The NRCS Soils database covers a broad range of topics useful to geographers, soil scientists, land use managers, teachers, students, etc. Includes a soil data viewer, an extension of ArcMap, to create soil-based thematic maps.
Water Resources of the U.S. (USGS)
Provide water information that benefits the Nation's citizens through publications, data, maps, and applications software. USGS Water-Resources offices are located in every State. Includes national water survey, stream flow conditions (e.g. floods, droughts, water quality, ground water), science topics, water resource programs.
Web Soil Survey (USGS)
Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world. NRCS has soil maps and data available online for more than 95 percent of the nation’s counties. The site is updated and maintained online as the single authoritative source of soil survey information.

Social & Demographic Maps

Bible Geocoding
This resource maps out the locations of cities & regions mentioned throughout the Bible (by books of the bible). All maps are created in Google Earth and Google Maps.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The OECD works with governments to understand what drives economic, social and environmental change. They measure productivity and global flows of trade and investment; analyze and compare data to predict future trends; and set international standards ranging from the chemical safety and nuclear power plants to the quality of cucumbers. Includes country statistics, education, GDP, health, inflation, unemployment, economic outlooks, development aid, and more.
Explore Census Data (US Census Bureau)
Your source for population, housing, economic, and geographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Zillow Real Estate, Homes for Sale & Real Estate Values
Find real estate home values and listings by address, neighborhood, city or zip code.
Global Change Data and Information System
"A collection of distributed information systems operated by government agencies involved in global change research." Includes data centers, educational resources, research projects and documents.
Geographic Names Information System
Contains information about geographic features in the United States. Includes feature name, type, location (including latitude, longitude and elevation), and a list of topographic maps. Also links to the Census Bureau's Tiger Map Server for location and the EPA's site for watershed information on each feature.

Environmental Science

Willamette University Libraries