Access Geographic Data

SEDAC Gateway uses the Z39.50 information retrieval protocol standard for searching local (SEDAC Catalog) and several distributed catalogs representing federal, regional, state, and international organizations simultaneously. The Gateway is capable of performing searches across multiple metadata formats, including FGDC and DIF. SEDAC is in the process of transitioning to GeoNetwork, an open-source solution compliant with Z39.50 and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards.

National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is a gateway to more than 400 spatial data servers (one of which is the SEDAC Catalog), that have digital geographic data primarily for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Query interfaces exist at 6 locations in North America.

Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) holds more than 17,000 descriptions of Earth and environmental science datasets and services. Users can browse the description inventory, as well as, search by controlled keywords or free text, create or modify their own descriptions, and search using customized portals for focused science communities.

Geospatial One-Stop (GOS) is a geographic information system (GIS) portal that serves as a public gateway for improving access to geospatial information and data under the Geospatial One-Stop E-Government initiative. GOS is a catalog of geospatial information containing thousands of metadata records (information about the data) and links to live maps, features, and catalog services, downloadable datasets, images, clearinghouses, map files, and more. The metadata records are submitted to the portal by government agencies, individuals, and companies, or by harvesting the data from geospatial clearinghouses.

National Map is an interactive map service providing access to high-quality geospatial data and information from a consortium of federal, state, and local partners in order to help support decision-making by resource managers and the public. The National Map is aiming to provide: high-resolution digital orthorectified imagery from aerial photographs or satellite imagery; high-resolution surface elevation data including bathymetry; vector feature data for hydrography (rivers and water bodies), transportation (roads, railways, and waterways), structures, government unit boundaries, and publicly owned land boundaries; geographic names for physical and cultural features; and land cover data that classify the land surface into categories such as open water and high-density residential.