The Geography Network provides access to geographic content from hundreds of organizations around the world. The content ranges from dynamic map services that can be viewed online to static geographic data sets that can be downloaded for use with mapping software. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions organized by topic.
What types of content can I find?
There are three categories of geographic content available on the Geography Network: data, documents, and resources. Each category has a number of content types. Search for data if you want to download, order, or add data or map services directly to your map. Search for documents if you are interested in map files, static map images, and geographic information. Search for resources if you are seeking links to external Web sites, data clearinghouses, geographic information system (GIS)-based Web applications, and geographic services. More details.
How do I find content?
There are three ways to find content: the Geography Network Explorer, the Geography Network site, and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Clearinghouse.
The Explorer lets you search or browse for content. You can then view details describing the content and preview it through the Explorer. More details.
The Web site is organized by major types of content: Web services, applications, data, and maps. Each section lists specific content with links to product information.
The NSDI Clearinghouse includes the Geography Network as a registered node. You can find Geography Network content by selecting the Geography Network node when conducting a search in the NSDI Clearinghouse.
How do I use the Explorer to find content?
The Geography Network Explorer lets you search and preview metadata for a vast collection of geographic content. There are two ways to find geographic content using the Explorer.
Searching. The Explorer enables you to search based on specific criteria such as area of interest, keyword, or type of content. To confine your search to a specific geographic area, enter a place name or draw a box on the map. To find a specific type of content, select a content type and/or content theme. Or you can enter a keyword. Use any combination of search criteria to narrow your results. More details.
Browsing. Metadata documents are organized into a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories, making them easy to browse. Select the Browse tab on the left side of the Explorer, then choose a specific publisher to view their content. More details.
How do I preview content in the Explorer?
Your searching or browsing results are summarized in the right panel of the Explorer. If searching or browsing returned more than one result, the records are listed by content type. Descriptions of each data set include the name of the publisher, the content title, and often the coverage area and map scale. Select the View Details or View Map button beneath a specific record to see its detailed description or preview the map. More details.
How do I add content from the Explorer to ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web?
If you launched the Geography Network Explorer from ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web, an Add to ArcMap, Add to ArcExplorer, or Add to ArcExplorer Web button is available from the Search Results. Click this button to add the selected data or service directly to your current ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web map display.
How do I print Explorer results?
Anything that appears in the right panel of the Explorer can be printed. This includes metadata, maps, and search results. To create a printable version of content displayed in the right panel (excluding the navigation and map tools buttons), click the Create Printable Version button located in the upper right corner. More details.
Do I need special tools to use content found in the Geography Network?
Most Geography Network content can be used with one of two tools: a standard Web browser or a GIS software package. Web browsers can be used to access content such as map services, solutions, and clearinghouses. Other content, including map data files and data services, require GIS software to be fully utilized.
What types of content are available?
Three categories of content can be found on the Geography Network: data, documents, and resources.
Data can be added directly to your map, downloaded, or ordered.
Documents include map files, static map images, and other documents.
Resources are GIS-based Web applications, geographic services, links to external Web sites, and data clearinghouses.
When choosing content, consider the level of interaction you want to have with the data and whether or not you want to download it to your own machine.
What kinds of data are available?
There are a variety of data types available to discover and use on the Geography Network. These include
Downloadable Data: Data downloads enable you to perform custom downloads of digital data you are viewing to access locally with GIS software, such as ArcExplorer--Java Edition.
Offline Data: Many publishers offer data that can be ordered online and delivered in CD or DVD format or as other shippable media. This data cannot be directly downloaded to your computer.
What kinds of documents are available?
Several types of documents are available on the Geography Network including
Map Files: Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping application such as ArcReader or ArcMap. Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing, and printing.
Static Maps: You cannot directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps. You can view them and download them to your computer.
Other Documents: This category includes geographic information stored in text files, spreadsheets, or other formats and can be used in conjunction with geographic data. In many cases, they can be viewed and downloaded.
What kinds of resources are available?
Application developers and GIS users can find important resources on the Geography Network including
Applications: An online application is built using Geography Network content or other Internet-hosted data. The application includes a complete user interface and set of geographic content needed to perform one or more tasks.
GIS Web Services: GIS Web services are Internet applications with a geographic focus-using data and related functionality to perform basic geoprocessing tasks such as place name searches, address matching, or routing. GIS Web services use simple object access protocols (SOAP) to transfer information back and forth to clients and bring together two industry-standard languages for communicating over the Internet: HTTP and XML.
Clearinghouses: A clearinghouse is a Web site that contains references and links to a variety of free geographic data. Many clearinghouses offer geographic data for download while other sites include metadata references or hyperlinks to data sets that may be acquired through other mechanisms.
Can I be a publisher?
If you have geographic content you are interested in sharing with others, we invite you to publish it through the Geography Network so it can be discovered and accessed by our users.
What kind of content can I publish?
There are two ways to provide content through the Geography Network.
Publish map services using an Internet mapping system that users can view online and/or download.
Publish links to geographic data and maps that users can access and download from the Internet.
How do I publish a map service?
It's quick and easy to publish your map service on the Geography Network.
First, create a map service implemented with an Internet Map Server that speaks one of the languages used by the Geography Network, either ArcXML or WMS.
Use your Internet Map Server software to author and publish map services with your geographic data.
Then, register as a publisher on the Geography Network.
Finally, publish links to your content with descriptive information to help users find and evaluate your offerings.
Do my map services need projection information?
Yes. Map services won't work properly in ArcMap or ArcExplorer Web if there is missing projection information.
Data projected in geographic coordinates (decimal degrees) makes a map service easier to integrate with other map services by not requiring projection on the fly. This is especially important for map services intended to be overlaid on another map service.
How do I add projection information to my map services?
To set the projection, you need the coordinate system tags FEATURECOORDSYS and FILTERCOORDSYS in your ArcIMS map configuration (*.axl) files.
In addition to setting the coordinate system, identify the projection used in each data layer. If the identification is not 4326 (GCS WGS84), give the shapefile a *.prj file, give SDE layer projection information or, if your shapefile and SDE layer don't have that, add a COORDSYS tag to the particular layer inside your AXL file.
For SDE layers, make a 'sdelayer -o describe_long' on each SDE layer used in the AXL file. Then see if the entry for projection is set. If it is, the layer is fine; if not, you have two choices: (1) fill in an SDE command or (2) add the COORDSYS tag to this layer element in the AXL file.
Shapefiles need a *.prj file with the same name as each shapefile used in the AXL file or the COORDSYS tag added to this layer element in the AXL file.
For an image file, add the COORDSYS tag to this layer element in the AXL file.
How do I test the projections in my map services?
To test the projections in your map services using ArcExplorer Web, go to http://www.geographynetwork.com/arcexplorer/arcexplorer.html and load a service from a different projection such as ESRI_World. Then add your service. If the two services have different projections, both services are projected to geographic coordinates on the fly. If your map service is not projected correctly, some layers will show up in the TOC but not in the map. You can also use ArcMap to load your service and test different projections.
How do I publish links to geographic data and maps?
To publish links to your data and maps
First, register as a publisher on the Geography Network.
Then, publish links to your content with descriptive information to help users find and evaluate your offerings.
When will my content appear on the Geography Network?
Publishing can take a few moments. Should there be a problem, a report will appear to explain why a document could not be published. If you are publishing something that has been previously published on the Geography Network, the report shows which documents have been updated.
Our editors review new documents for accuracy and completeness before they are published on the Geography Network. Notification will be sent to you when your new records are published.
How do I use ArcCatalog to review metadata records published on the Geography Network?
To view published and approved records
Open ArcCatalog and click Internet Servers. Then click Add Internet Server.
Enter http://www.geographynetwork.com as the URL.
Click OK. The Geography Network Internet server will appear in ArcCatalog.
Click the Geography Network Internet server to display its contents.
Click the Browse_Metadata metadata service.
Now, click any of the items shown to view the published metadata record.
For more details, see Using ArcIMS
Metadata Server, Chapter 4, Finding Data[PDF-982 KB].
Are there limitations to using ArcCatalog to search metadata records on the Geography Network?
You can find ISO documents if you perform a full-text search or
a spatial search of the Geography Network with the ArcIMS Metadata
Service search engine in ArcCatolog. Other records are all hard
coded to FGDC elements.
Can I set up my own metadata structure
when I use ArcCatalog to add records to the Geography Network?
Yes. You can organize the metadata records in your publisher folder
in a way that makes sense to you (e.g., by department, publisher,
content, area, thematically). The metadata folders will be accessible
through the Geography Network Explorer.
Can I use ArcCatalog to publish ArcReader (*.pmf) files to the Geography Network?
Yes. ArcCatalog can read and publish ArcReader (*.pmf) files to the Geography Network.
Tips for GIS Users
The Geography Network provides useful resources for the GIS user.
The Geography Network Explorer lets you discover sources of GIS data, maps, and other content to help with your daily activities.
Current publishers include many of the leading government and commercial data providers in the GIS industry.
Publishing your own content, such as GIS data or applications, is quick and easy through the Geography Network.
Here are some basics about the Geography Network to help in getting started.
What's the best way to find data, maps, and other content for use in GIS?
The Geography Network Explorer is the primary tool for discovering and accessing content. Use the Search and Browse tools to find what you need. Learn more about using the Explorer.
What kinds of data for GIS are available on the Geography Network?
Both free and commercial data sets can be discovered on the Geography Network including
Downloadable Data: Data downloads enable you to perform custom downloads of digital data you are viewing to access locally with GIS software such as ArcExplorer--Java Edition.
What kinds of maps for GIS are available on the Geography Network?
Discover map services and published map files built for GIS software including
Static Maps: You cannot directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps. You can view them and download them to your computer.
Map Files: Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping application such as ArcReader or ArcMap. Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing, and printing.
How can I publish content for other GIS users?
Many GIS users regularly develop content that is useful to others. This content may include GIS data sets, static map images, map files, custom applications, and more. Publishing your content on the Geography Network enables you to share your content with the GIS community and beyond.
How will GIS users and others find my content?
Content published through the Geography Network may be discovered through the Geography Network Explorer as well as popular GIS data directories such as the NSDI Clearinghouse and GIS search tools such as ArcCatalog. We encourage you to use the Geography Network to share your valuable content with others!
Tips for Developers
The Geography Network provides useful resources for developers to find and build geographic applications.
The Geography Network Explorer lets you find references to hundreds of custom geographic applications that can be accessed online.
Access Web services and applications to help you build and deploy custom applications. Current publishers include many of the leading government and commercial data providers in the GIS industry.
Publish your own geographic applications quickly and easily through the Geography Network.
Here are some basics about the Geography Network to help in getting started.
What's the best way to find useful content for building applications?
The Geography Network Explorer is the primary tool for discovering and accessing content. Use the Search and Browse tools to find what you need. Learn more about using the Explorer.
What kinds of content for developers are available on the Geography Network?
Content of particular interest to developers includes
GIS Web Services to perform basic geoprocessing tasks such as address matching and routing
Dynamic data and maps for subscriptions to live data feeds and to access interactive maps
Downloadable Data to order a broad variety of geographic information
How can I publish my custom applications for others?
Many developers and GIS users regularly develop custom applications that are useful to others. Publishing your content on the Geography Network enables you to share your work with the GIS community and beyond.
How will developers, GIS users, and others find my content?
Content published through the Geography Network may be discovered through the Geography Network Explorer as well as popular GIS data directories such as the NSDI Clearinghouse and GIS search tools such as ArcCatalog. We encourage you to use the Geography Network to share your valuable content with others!
Tips for Publishers
Many GIS users regularly develop content that is useful to others in the GIS community and beyond such as GIS data sets, static map images, map files, and custom applications. The Geography Network enables you to quickly publish this content so that others may discover and use it.
Here are some basics about the Geography Network to help in getting started.
Who publishes on the Geography Network? Current publishers include many of the leading government and commercial data providers in the GIS industry.
Can I publish content?
If you have geographic content you are interested in sharing with others, we invite you to publish it through the Geography Network so it can be discovered and accessed by our users. Here's how.
First, learn how easy publishing content on the Geography Network is.
Then, register to begin publishing within minutes.
What kind of content can I publish?
There are two ways to provide content through the Geography Network.
Publish map services using an Internet mapping system that users can view online and/or download.
Publish links to geographic data and maps that users can access and download from the Internet.
How will GIS users and others find my content?
Content published through the Geography Network may be discovered through the Geography Network Explorer as well as popular GIS data directories such as the NSDI Clearinghouse and GIS search tools such as ArcCatalog. We encourage you to use the Geography Network to share your valuable content with others!
