Pima County Department of Transportation

Geographic Information Services Division

Developing GIS for the Web

Methods for Publishing Spatial Data on the Internet

Spatial Database Catalogs and Libraries

A spatial database catalog or library has four components:

• Metadata (Information about the spatial data)
• Index map (showing locations of other maps)
• Graphic previews (Static snapshots, such as GIF images)
• Spatial data in a native format. Users can download these files but generally can't browse them directly in their web browser.
  • ARC/INFO export format (E00)
  • ArcView Shape files
  • AutoCAD DWF files.
  • SDTS (Spatial Data Transfer Standard), etc.

Spatial database catalogs and libraries are more involved to set up than simple graphic snapshots, but have these advantages:

• Access to metadata for queries
• Access to preview images
• Access to actual data for futher analysis
• A relatively simple environment for publishing data

Examples of spatial database catalogs and libraries:

• The Montana State Library GIS Program is part of the Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS). Both are impressive sites.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• Arizona Verde River Watershed coverages.