{"id":19393,"date":"2019-03-17T05:50:21","date_gmt":"2019-03-17T10:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/?p=19393"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:01:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T19:01:47","slug":"what-is-geodata-geospatial-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/what-is-geodata-geospatial-data\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Geodata? A Guide to Geospatial Data"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image19393_f21269-2b .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image19393_f21269-2b size-medium_large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"403\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-768x403.png\" alt=\"Geodata\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-19651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-678x356.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-50x26.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-200x105.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-425x223.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-550x289.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-135x70.png 135w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1-115x60.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Feature-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-right:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-left:1px solid #d3d3d3;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813{position:relative;}.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813:not(.specificity){margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-right:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-left:1px solid #d3d3d3;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-right:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-left:1px solid #d3d3d3;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column19393_f9ed18-5813\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11\"]{padding-bottom:0px;margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);font-size:16px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_241a63-fd11\"><strong>DEFINITION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12\"]{font-size:16px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading19393_d8ec30-9b12\">Geodata (Geographic Data) is any data that has information about location on Earth, typically stored in vector, raster and attribute data.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Geodata?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Geodata is location information stored in a <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/what-gis-geographic-information-systems\/\">Geographic Information System (GIS)<\/a>. By viewing data with a geographic component, we see it through a different lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geodata tackles the <strong>problem of location<\/strong> because geographic problems require spatial thinking. Let&#8217;s dive into the types, themes, and sources of geodata.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of Geographic Data<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"678\" height=\"617\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Geodata-Types-678x617.jpg\" alt=\"Geodata Types\" class=\"wp-image-97288\" style=\"width:319px;height:290px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Geodata-Types-678x617.jpg 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Geodata-Types-300x273.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Geodata-Types-768x699.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Geodata-Types.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There are different <strong>types of geographic data<\/strong> and each of these has its own unique value in how you use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether the data is from government, private sources, or open data, it&#8217;s important to understand the type of data, where it comes from, how it is collected, and what it can be used for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/spatial-data-types-vector-raster\/\">vector to raster<\/a>, or web-based to multi-temporal, here are some of the most common types of data along with their benefits and drawbacks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Vector Files<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-300x205.png\" alt=\"Vector Data Type Line\" class=\"wp-image-7054\" style=\"width:300px;height:205px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-50x34.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-200x137.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-115x79.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector-227x155.png 227w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/line-vector.png 397w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vector data consists of vertices and paths. The three basic types of vector data are points, lines, and polygons (areas). Each point, line, and polygon has a spatial reference frame such as <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/latitude-longitude-coordinates\/\">latitude and longitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, vector points are simply XY coordinates. Secondly, vector lines connect each point or vertex with paths in a particular order. Finally, polygons join a set of vertices. But it encloses the first and last vertices creating a polygon area.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Raster Files<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels-300x100.png\" alt=\"Raster Pixels\" class=\"wp-image-20727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels-50x17.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels-200x67.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels-115x38.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Raster-Pixels.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Raster data is made up of pixels or grid cells. Commonly, they are <strong>square and regularly spaced<\/strong>. But rasters can be rectangular as well. Rasters associate values with each pixel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/raster-resampling\/\">Continuous rasters<\/a> have values that gradually change such as elevation or temperature. But discrete rasters set each pixel to a specific class. For example, we represent <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/free-global-land-cover-land-use-data\/\">land cover classes<\/a> to a set of values.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Geographic Database<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-248x300.png\" alt=\"Database\" class=\"wp-image-66516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-248x300.png 248w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-678x819.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-768x927.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-41x50.png 41w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-166x200.png 166w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-352x425.png 352w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-455x550.png 455w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-115x139.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database-360x435.png 360w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Database.png 1060w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The purpose of geographic databases is to house vectors and rasters. Databases store geographic data as a structured set of data\/information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/geodatabase-personal-file\/\">Esri geodatabases<\/a>, geopackages, and SpatiaLite is the most common type of geographic database. We use <strong>geographic databases<\/strong> because it&#8217;s a way to put all data in a single container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within this container, we can build networks, create mosaics, do versioning, and manage complex spatial relationships, enabling comprehensive analysis and representation of geographical data.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Web Files<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image19393_5483b9-f5.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:220px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image19393_5483b9-f5.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 figure{max-width:220px;}.kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 .image-is-svg, .kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image19393_5483b9-f5 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image19393_5483b9-f5\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-300x256.png\" alt=\"WMS Web Mapping Service\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-66831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-300x256.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-678x579.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-50x43.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-200x171.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-425x363.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-550x470.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-115x98.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service-360x308.png 360w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/WMS-Web-Mapping-Service.png 702w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As the internet becomes the largest library in the world, geodata has adapted with its <strong>own types of storage<\/strong> and access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, GeoJSON, GeoRSS, and <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/web-mapping-services-wms\/\">web mapping services (WMS)<\/a> were built specifically to serve and display geographic features over the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, online platforms such as <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/esri-arcgis-online-agol\/\">Esri&#8217;s ArcGIS Online<\/a> allow organizations to build data warehouses in the cloud.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Multi-temporal<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-300x214.png\" alt=\"Space Time Cubes Pattern\" class=\"wp-image-49083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-678x484.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-50x36.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-200x143.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-425x303.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-550x392.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-115x82.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern-360x257.png 360w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Space-Time-Cubes-Pattern.png 754w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Multi-temporal data attaches a time component to information. But multi-temporal geodata not only has a time component but a geographic component as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/gis-weather-data-sources\/\">weather and climate data<\/a> track how temperature and meteorological information change in time in a geographical context. Other examples of multi-temporal geodata are demographic trends, land use patterns, and lightning strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/gis-formats\/\">The Ultimate List of GIS Formats and Geospatial File Extensions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Geodata Themes<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"425\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-425x216.png\" alt=\"Geodata Themes\" class=\"wp-image-19399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-425x216.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-678x344.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-768x390.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-50x25.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-200x101.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-550x279.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-135x70.png 135w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-115x58.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes-850x431.png 850w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Geodata-Themes.png 1005w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The truth is that you can group geodata into as many themes as you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can be as broad or as narrow as your liking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are <strong>examples of geographic themes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Administrative Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Boundaries: Information about political boundaries, administrative divisions, and jurisdictions at various levels (national, regional, local).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cities and Urban Planning: Data related to city layouts, zoning regulations, land use, and urban development plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administrative Centers: Locations of government offices, administrative buildings, and public service facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Socioeconomic Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Demographics: Information about population characteristics, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and education levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Economy: Data on economic indicators, employment rates, industries, businesses, and economic activity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crime and Public Safety: Geospatial data related to crime rates, law enforcement presence, and public safety initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transportation Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Roads and Highways: Mapping road networks, types of roads, and transportation corridors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Railways: Locations of railway tracks, stations, and transportation hubs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Airports and Ports: Data on airports, seaports, heliports, and their infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Transportation: Information about bus routes, subway lines, and other public transportation options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Healthcare and Social Services:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Healthcare Facilities: Locations of hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and healthcare services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Services: Mapping social service centers, community centers, shelters, and support organizations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education and Research:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Educational Institutions: Data on schools, universities, colleges, research centers, and educational facilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research Institutes: Locations of research institutions, libraries, and scientific organizations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recreational and Cultural Amenities:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Parks and Recreation Areas: Mapping parks, green spaces, recreational facilities, and outdoor amenities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural Venues: Data on theaters, music venues, cinemas, and cultural attractions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure and Utilities:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Utilities: Information about water supply, electricity, gas, and telecommunications infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infrastructure Projects: Data on ongoing and planned infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and public facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Land Ownership and Use:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Land Tenure: Data on land ownership, land use regulations, and property rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agricultural Zones: Mapping agricultural areas, farmlands, and crop distribution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emergency Services and Disaster Response:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fire Stations and Police Stations: Locations of emergency service facilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disaster Response Centers: Data on disaster management and emergency response hubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Physical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Environmental Data:<\/strong>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Agriculture and Croplands: Data on agricultural land use, crop types, irrigation, and farming practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Climate Data: Mapping climate zones, temperature patterns, precipitation levels, and climate change indicators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hydrography Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oceans and Seas: Mapping ocean currents, marine ecosystems, underwater features, and maritime boundaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lakes and Reservoirs: Data on the locations and sizes of lakes, reservoirs, and water bodies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rivers and Waterways: Information about river courses, watersheds, and river-related infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elevation Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Terrain and Topography: Mapping landforms, slopes, and elevation changes in the landscape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Relief and Contours: Data on elevation contours, hillshade models, and relief visualization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Land Cover and Land Use:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vegetation Types: Mapping different types of vegetation, forests, grasslands, and ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urban Areas: Data on built-up areas, urban sprawl, and suburban development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geological and Geophysical Data:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Geological Formations: Mapping geological features, rock formations, and geological hazards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earthquake Data: Locations of earthquake epicenters, fault lines, and seismic activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mineral Resources:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mineral Deposits: Data on locations of valuable minerals, ores, and mineral extraction sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mining Operations: Mapping active and historical mining sites and quarries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water Resources:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Groundwater Aquifers: Data on underground water sources and aquifer locations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water Bodies Classification: Mapping freshwater bodies, wetlands, and coastal zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Air Quality and Pollution:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Air Quality Monitoring Stations: Locations of monitoring stations for air pollutants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pollution Hotspots: Mapping areas with high pollution levels, industrial emissions, and smog.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Natural Hazards:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flood Zones: Data on flood-prone areas, floodplains, and riverine flooding risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tsunami Vulnerability: Mapping coastal areas susceptible to tsunamis and tidal waves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ecological Habitats:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biodiversity Hotspots: Locations of areas with high biodiversity and unique ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protected Areas: Data on national parks, wildlife reserves, and conservation zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Glaciers and Polar Regions:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Glacial Extent: Mapping glaciers, ice caps, and polar ice sheets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Polar Stations: Locations of research stations in Arctic and Antarctic regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hydrology and Watersheds:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Watershed Boundaries: Mapping boundaries of watersheds and drainage basins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>River Networks: Data on river networks, tributaries, and streamflow patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Soil Type and Degradation:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Soil Types and Characteristics: Information about soil composition, soil fertility, and soil erosion susceptibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erosion Risk Areas: Mapping areas prone to soil erosion and degradation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil Salinity: Data on regions with high soil salinity and its impact on agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources for Geodata<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you trying to find open, <strong>authoritative geodata<\/strong> to use in your maps? Before the concept of open data took off, organizations were protecting data as if it were <strong>Fort Knox<\/strong>. Since then, we are in a much better position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, there&#8217;s no single website that holds all the geodata in the world. Instead, they branch out into what they are most specialized in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/openstreetmap-download-osm-data\/\">OpenStreetMap data<\/a> is the largest crowd-sourced GIS database in the world providing countless applications for the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USGS<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">United Nations<\/a>, these <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/best-free-gis-data-sources-raster-vector\/\">10 free GIS data sources<\/a> list the best vector and raster to boost your geodata repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, over 1000 satellites orbit the Earth collecting imagery of our planet. These <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/free-satellite-imagery-data-list\/\">15 free satellite imagery sources<\/a> give you the most up-to-date bird&#8217;s eye view of it all.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Geodata is location data stored in a Geographic Information System (GIS). By using geographic data, we better tackle problems that require spatial thinking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[264],"class_list":["post-19393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-sources","tag-gis-formats"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is Geodata? 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