--- Begin Forwarded Message --- Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 11:59:38 -0800 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Collection Developemt for GIS Datasets: Summary Sender: [log in to unmask] At the end of last month I asked a question about which GIS datasets might be worth purchasing other than such basic titles as the Digital Chart of the World. I didn't get many responses, but here is the summary I promised. Surprisingly I got several responses about free or low cost data. The EPA BASINS set, USGS National Atlas sheets, and data produced by local governments were mentioned. Very little was said about more costly data. One person mentioned Landsat imagery. Another librarian mentioned Global Insight, produced by Europa Technologies (http://www.europa-tech.com/) The most interesting response from my point of view came from a map dealer who mentioned VMAP-1, which covers much of the world at a 1:250,000 scale. This data is derived from U.S. government JOGs, and includes various data layers. I would be curious to hear from any libraries that have had experience with this data. No mention was made of data produced by foreign governments, although I know that some large libraries have been acquiring this type of data. >From where I stand, the most useful data would reliable be worldwide or country-wide data at a scale of 1:250,000 or greater, including layers for vegetation, geology, demographics, etc. I am still uncertain how much of that sort of data is actually available. David Allen Map Librarian SUNY Stony Brook --- End Forwarded Message ---