GIS and Digital Spatial Data Research Guide

This research guide offers a valuable collection of links for geospatial data relevant to California. It compiles various public and academic sources, making it easier to find crucial GIS data for diverse research and application needs. The guide organizes resources into categories such as general California geographic data and specialized data warehouses.

Key resources include the official California Geographic Data portal (data.ca.gov) and the California Geoportal (portal.gis.ca.gov), both offering extensive datasets from the state. For more localized information, the California GIS Directory provides links to county-level GIS sites. Specialized environmental data is available from the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDD), which inventories rare plant and animal locations, and the California GAP Analysis Project, offering landcover, stewardship, and species distribution data.

Several statewide data warehouses are highlighted, such as Cal-Adapt for climate change data and research, and Fire and Resource Assessment (FRAP) Data focusing on forestry, fire, and land use. GeoData@UC Berkeley provides a discovery interface for over 9,000 geospatial layers, with many available for download. Additionally, the CalTran GIS Data library offers transportation-related datasets. These resources provide a solid foundation for anyone seeking comprehensive geospatial data within California.