Build Your GIS: Data Capture

Obtaining data to insert into a GIS is a large subject in itself that includes a number of different approaches. One of the most common ways to collect spatial geographic data is to perform a physical survey to obtain primary/proprietary data. This includes surveying the land, underwater areas, and underground features of the earth (which are referred to as field survey, hydrographic survey and mining survey respectively).

Aerial photography/remote sensing is an increasingly popular way to gather spatial data. Aerial photographs are taken from an aircraft, after which they are measured and interpreted. Similarly, satellite remote sensing can be interpreted for physical features and attributes.

Censuses conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau gathers a variety of demographic data such as population, age structure, sex ratio, race composition, employment rates.

Statistics are a set of mathematical methods used to collect and analyze data. These methods include the collection and study of data at different time intervals and at a fixed location, providing information for yearbooks, weather station reports, etc. This information often has a spatial component and can thus be incorporated into a GIS.

Finally, tracking is a process of collecting attribute data on changes that occur at a location over a period of time. Examples of tracking include: monitoring the change of an ecosystem, and real-time monitoring of a moving objects such as vehicles using GPS technologies.

Public & Commercial Sources of GIS Data