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Maps • University Map Library

Citing Geospatial Data Resources

There are several ways to cite geospatial resources. For more information on citing electronic resources, please see "Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information.", by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane, UMD Reference shelf, call number REF PN 171 F56L5 1996.

1. Data retrieved from a local area network:

Format:
Database Name [type of medium]. Producer location, province/state: Producer Name, year.

Examples:
City of Toronto Digital Orthophotos [computer file]. Toronto, Ontario: Land Information Toronto, 1997.

Grand River Watershed Data [computer file]. Cambridge, Ontario: Grand River Conservation Authority, 2003.

2. Data from a CD-ROM or commercial on-line database:

Format:
Database Name [type of medium]. (Year). Producer location, province/state: Producer name. Available: Supplier/Database identifier or number [Access date].

Example:
ESRI ArcCanada 2.0 [CD-ROM]. (1999). Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute. Available: UMD Library Controlled Access G 3400 SVAR E87x [June 4th, 2003].

3. Data downloaded from a remote FTP server:

Format:
Datbase Name [type of medium]. (Year). Producer location, province/state: Producer name. Available FTP: address/path/file [Access date].

Example:
Canada Land Use Monitoring Program [computer file]. 1966-1986. Ottawa, ON: Ministry of Natural Resources. Available FTP: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/clump/ [June 4th, 2003].

4. Maps produced using GIS software:

Format:
"Map Title" [type of medium]. scale. Database Name [type of medium]. Producer location, province/state: Producer Name, year. Using: GIS Software Title [type of software]. Version or edition. Software Manufacturer Location, province/state: Software Manufacturer Name, date of software release/copyright.

Example:
"Wetlands and Floodplain in GRCA" [map]. 1:10,000. GRCA GIS Data [computer files]. Cambridge, Ont.: Grand River Conservation Authority, 2001. Using: ArcView GIS [GIS software]. Version 3.2. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 1992-1999.


, Library Assistant
June 9, 2005