GIS data comes in a variety of formats, with an assortment of documentation attached to it. Often the format or documentation is not precisely what you need to easily use the data in your software. The tools listed below are oriented primarily towards assisting users of ArcView in importing and utilizing data obtained on the Internet. There are many ArcView users in the FWS and these tools are being provided as a service to them.
That said, much of the information on data attributes as well as the lookup tables could be used with any GIS system. The lookup tables are in Dbase III format - very plain vanilla. Documents are in Word format, and all large files have been compressed with PKZip. Most of the data that tools have been created for is public domain; it is free or low cost. Pointers to the data are included with the tools, on each page.
Please note - other pointers to data tools can be found at the Tech Tips portion of this site.
If any users have good tools they would like to share, please contact Deb Southworth Green (see below)
Digital Elevation Models (DEM) - background documentation
and usage tips. These are not actually tools, but some ideas on how the data
can be used, and where to find it. Includes the National
Elevation Dataset, a seamless national dataset created from DEM's.
DLG attribute tools - for 1:100,000 data. Includes
text files, DBF files, and background information.
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) tools
- background documentation and notes on bringing the ASCII files into a database.
These are flat files, rather than GIS coverages, but they do contain Latitude
and Longitude coordinates.
DRG Tools and documentation on Digital Raster Graphic
files which are a digital version of topographic maps. These files are used
mainly for reference and background images rather than analysis.
DOQ Tools and documentation on Digital Orthophotos.
These files are often used for reference and background images rather than analysis,
and are sometimes used as a digitizing source.
Hydrologic Unit tools - for 1:250,000 and 1:2,000,000
data. Includes text files, DBF files, and background information references.
National Hydrographic Dataset - a combination of
the USGS hydrologic units and River Reach files. 1:100,000 coverage is available
now with a more detailed coverage in progress.
Soils Data tools for 1:24,000 (SSURGO) and 1:250,000
(STATSGO) soils data. This includes notes on locating and downloading, and importing
the data into ArcView as well as background information on the attribute data.
UNIX to PC and DLG Conversion Notes - (conversion
tools & attribute information)
SDTS Use Notes Most of the programs referenced in
this section are older and only run on Windows 95. The information about the
data structures is still valid. We have not been able to find anyone to recompile
the programs for more recent versions of Windows; please contact Deb Green if
you know of more current versions.
For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Deb Southworth Green, in the Division of Information Resources and Technology Management, at Deb_Green@fws.gov
Return to the GIS Activities Home Page
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page
Keywords=GIS, data,data conversion, tools
Last Modified January 03, 2001 10:31 AM