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HIST 422G - Environmental History: Geographic Information Systems

Information resources related to the history of the environment and environmental issues.

Information about Geographic Information Systems

A Geographic Information System is a computer program that can be used to map and analyze geographic data about an area, such as historical population data and feature locations. The following sites can be used to learn more about GIS or get information about GIS terminology.

Geographic Information Systems - this web site from the U.S. Geological Survey provides basic information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

GIS.com Guide to Geographic Information Systems - this site from ESRI, a GIS software company, provides information on GIS, and a demo.

ESRI GIS Dictionary - A dictionary that includes definitions of GIS operations, modeling, GIScience, and Web-based GIS as well as ESRI software-specific terminology. It also includes definitions of terms related to cartography, surveying, geodesy, and remote sensing.

National Historical GIS - The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides free census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the entire United States from 1790 to 2000.

A short video on Geographic Information Systems is available on the Library Instruction section of this Guide. That page also has a link to a scrolling PowerPoint presentation containing maps produced with GIS showing Population Change in Illinois, 1820-2000. For more information on GIS, or to use GIS for your class project, contact Linda Zellmer.