Geospatial Data and Software

Geospatial data and software are used to collect, analyze and interpret geographic information. Geomatics is the science of collecting, storing, analyzing and interpreting spatial data. Geospatial data can be used in a variety of applications such as mapping, surveying, navigation, land use planning, environmental monitoring, and resource management.

Nova Scotia Open data and other Free Geospatial Data setsGeomatics data and software are used in industries such as agriculture, forestry, engineering, urban planning, oil and gas, and mining. Geomatics software includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, surveying and mapping software, and other specialized applications. The combination of these technologies allow for efficient and accurate data collection and analysis, as well can be used to help identify trends and patterns in the environment, track the movement of animals and natural resources, and monitor the health of ecosystems. Geomatics data and software are essential for understanding and managing the Earth‘s resources.

The “Geospatial Data and Software” section of our site includes information related to a wide array of geospatial data and software related topics. See the various pages listed further below for more information …

If you have information related to Geospatial Data and Software that you think we should share here, then please do let us know.

Vancouver Historic Maps and Plans

Vancouver Historic Maps and Plans

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The City of Vancouver Archives contains over 4000 Vancouver historic maps and plans that have been repaired, restored, scanned, and made freely available to the public to use. The collection is ...
1778 Isle de Terre-Neuve Map

1778 Isle de Terre-Neuve Map

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This 1778 map of Newfoundland (or Isle de Terre-Neuve in French) by explorer and cartographer James Cook is a detailed and historically significant depiction of the island.
download Canada LiDAR data free

Canadian Lidar Data

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Since starting our Open Data Resources page in 2010, we have received thousands of requests from people looking for various geospatial data to use with their geospatial projects. We now have an ongoing list of places where you can find Canadian Lidar Data that is available to use for free. We hope that as more people start using this data and that the geospatial community will help us add more Canadian LiDAR Data sources to this page ...
World Shaded Relief Map

World Shaded Relief KMZ file [free download]

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This handy color shaded relief map of the world including oceans was created from the NOAA ETOPO1 data set and was intended to be used with handheld Garmin GPS units, but can also make a nice colorful back ground image to use in Google Earth. Find out how to download this free resource ...
Guidelines for Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Surveying

Guidelines for Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Surveying

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Both RTK & RTN GNSS surveying can allow people to achieve relative positioning with centimetre (cm) precision, however there are several important factors that need to be considered and thus a need for a good guide of best practices (equipment calibration, errors, multipath, geometry, etc.).
Canadian Boundary files

Canadian Boundary files (Open Data)

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The Canadian Boundary files data comes in two types: cartographic and digital. The Cartographic boundary files represent geographic areas using Canada’s main landmass and coastal islands. Digital boundary files, on the other hand, depict the complete extent of the geographic areas, including coastal water areas.
Montreal 3D Buildings (Open Data)

Montreal 3D Buildings (Open Data)

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Discover the Montreal 3D Buildings (open data) layers. Unleash the power of geographic information with access to a wealth of data on the city of Montreal’s architectural landscape that offers a virtual exploration of the city’s urban fabric. Whether you’re an urban planner, architect, or simply a curious enthusiast, our open data platform empowers you to unlock new insights and reimagine Montreal’s skyline.
Canadian opendata

Canadian Open Data and Free Geospatial Data

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Over the past few years CanadianGIS.com has been highlighting and promoting various cities and provinces in Canada that have done a great job providing data and applications to the public. We created this page a few years ago to collaborate links of all the open geospatial data info (sites that offer data downloads at no cost and without restrictions), fee based geospatial data, online web mapping applications and other great sources of geospatial information (including National, Provincial and Regional levels). This comprehensive list of open geospatial data, fee based geospatial data, web mapping applications and cartographic products is a valuable asset to many people (... we get hundreds of emails and requests regarding "Where can I find data for ...?") so we continue to update it with new information and sources of Canadian data sets.
Northern Canada Map

Northern Canada Map

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Beautiful Northern Canada Map featuring the Canadian North in support of Natural Resources Canada and the Government of Canada’s Northern Strategy. This bilingual map product (available either in paper or digital formats) features the vast geography of the north from approximately 50° latitude and above.