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ESI Format Types
Originally, Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps were offered only as a paper product. They could be purchased as single maps or as regional collections of maps called ESI atlases.
Starting in 1995, ESI maps began to be offered with GIS data in a variety of digital formats as well.
All of the ESI formats are listed below, but some formats aren't available for all maps. To see the available formats for your area, check the ESI availability page.
To obtain ESI maps or purchase ESI atlas CD/DVDs, go to the Get ESI Maps page.
View Formats
Although ESI maps in these formats do include ESI data (such as seasonality or endangered status of biological resources), it can only be viewed (not queried).
- Paper: Printout on 11 by 17 inch (28 by 43 centimeter) paper, laminated upon request. Full color map on one side, data table on the other.
- Summary Maps: Poster-sized, paper maps. Created at a smaller scale and with less detail than typical ESI maps. (For example, fewer species may be mapped, or only the most sensitive shoreline types shown.) Usually produced as a set of 4 seasonal maps, with supporting attributes and text presented on the map. Only available for a few regions.
- PDF: An electronic format that allows you to view and print ESI maps, even if you don't have the mapping software used to create it. In this format, you can use the basic search function to search for keywords in the data table; however, you can't perform the complex queries that are possible with the digital, GIS formats.
View and Query Formats
Using specific GIS software programs, ESI maps in these formats can be viewed and complex search queries can be performed on the GIS data.
- ArcExport: Geographic data in uncompressed, double-precision ArcExport format.
- MOSS: Geographic data in Map Overlay Statistical System (MOSS) format, a public domain GIS format. These files may be used directly by MOSS GIS, or the simple text format can be translated to other GIS software.
- Geodatabase: Geographic data in geodatabase format for use in ESRI's ArcMap product. An MXD file displays the data in ArcMap 9.x using standard ESI colors and symbology, and the file establishes links to the data tables. You can also download the ESI Tools to help you work with ESI data in geodatabase format. (The tools are also available on the CD/DVDs for atlases with geodatabase format, but we recommend you download the tools from this site so that you get the most up-to-date version.)
- ArcView: Geographic data in ArcView shape file format. For atlases that have data in this format, the CD/DVDs contain an ArcView 3.x project, which has links that allow you to identify and query mapped resources. (The ArcView project is a single view containing a theme for each ESI data layer.) Additionally, the ESI data can be imported into other projects or software that support the shape file format.
- ESI Viewer: Geographic data in MARPLOT file format for use in the ESI Viewer program, a freeware mapping and database engine that allows viewing, printing, and simple queries of ESI data. It is comprised of MARPLOT (a mapping application) and associated data tables in a stand-alone version of Filemaker Pro. ESI Viewers are included on the CD/DVDs for atlases with this format.
- Note: Atlases with geodatabase format have ESI Viewers that are compatible with newer operating systems for Macintosh (OS X) and Windows (2000, XP, and Vista), and you can download these ESI Viewers from this site. Older atlases (and newer atlases that haven't been converted to geodatabase format yet) only run in a Classic environment on the Macintosh, and they aren't compatible with Vista.
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