Open Geospatial Data

View, interact or download geospatial information from the Internet. Map Type indicates the source data type such as interactive, GIS data layers or static images. If you require assistance or would like to request geospatial resources from the Map Library please visit the Data Listing and fill in the request form.

Municipal Open Data Websites offers a searchable index of open data sources across Canada.

Ontario

Title	Map Type	Description
Land Information Ontario (LIO)	interactive	Interactive mapping of a variety of themes available through the LIO data warehouse. To acquire GIS layers please submit a request to Map Library staff.
OGSEarth	Google Earth / GIS	Use Google Earth to view OGS geology maps that are available from Geology Ontario (see below). Instructions for using OGSEarth.
Geology Ontario	static	Site provides access to all Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) maps, reports and datasets and over 75,000 private sector Assessment Files, as well as data on mineral occurrences, surface and underground drilling, lithogeochemical results, abandoned mines, bedrock topography, drift thickness, bedrock geology and other geological information for the province of Ontario. Over four hundred digital products containing field data, geophysical surveys, geochemical analyses and geochronological measurements are available for download. Instructions for accessing OGS maps on the web. Instructions for accessing OGS data on the web.
CLAIMaps	interactive GIS static	An interactive mapping tool that provides information on mining claims in Ontario. The site allows users to download map images as well as data in ESRI shapefile format.
Ontario Basic Mapping	interactive GIS	An interactive interface that allows users to create customized views and download various provincial topographic mapping data. Layers include roads, water, municipal files, elevation, parks, conservation/wildlife areas and reserves. Instructions are available for downloading data. Learn about other OBM resources here.
Ontario Road Network	interactive GIS	A viewer provides interactive mapping with download options for Ontario roads. Download includes GIS and graphics data options. Details and packaged Niagara data are available through the Map Library's fact sheet.
Ontario Wind Resource Atlas	interactive static	The atlas includes a map viewer and wind data generator that provides the public with thematic maps showing wind statistics as well as tables, charts and graphs.
Soil Surveys of Ontario	static	Page provides links to soil reports (PDF format) and maps (zipped JPEG format) for all soil surveys in Ontario. Agricultural land use maps (1980s) may also be available with this collection. GIS data layers may be downloaded from the Canadian Soil Information Systems site.
County Atlas Digital Project	static	This is a searchable database of the property owners' names which appear on the township maps in the county atlases. Township maps, portraits and properties have been scanned, with links from the property owners' names in the database.

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Regions & Cities of Ontario

Title	Map Type	Description
NEW! Open Data Niagara Region	GIS	Download GIS data layers for Niagara Region including cultural features, land use planning, recreation, transportation and more.
NEW! Niagara Falls GIS Data	GIS	Download GIS data layers for the city of Niagara Falls including zoning, parks, golf courses and more. Interactive and PDF maps are available as well.
Niagara Data	GIS	A page developed by the Map Library offering links to download free GIS and mapping resources to the public.
Peterborough Data	GIS	A page developed by the Map Library offering links to download free GIS and mapping resources to the public.
Grand River Information Network (GRIN)	interactive GIS	An interactive mapping tool and GIS data portal for information describing the Grand River watershed. Users are required to register before files can be downloaded.
Great Lakes Information Network	interactive GIS static	Site provides a centralized location to discover, publish, and acquire geospatial data for areas within the Great Lakes region.
Greenbelt Plan and maps	static	Plan and maps are available for viewing or downloading in Adobe PDF format.
Hamilton iMapper	interactive	Site offers interactive mapping for the city including aerial photography, cultural features, public works, community services, etc.
Niagara Navigator	interactive	Interactive mapping including base layers plus orthoimagery (1934, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010).
Niagara Escarpment Commission	static	Site offers PDF versions of the Niagara Escarpment Plan and page-size to poster-size versions of the plan maps. Additional details and statistics are also available.
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority	static	Site offers a variety of information regarding conservation areas, stream flow conditions (updated graphs) and floodplain mapping (PDF files) for the Niagara Peninsula Watershed.
City of Ottawa - Data Catalogue	GIS	A Collection of GIS layers for the capital city.
Toronto Bay Initiative	interactive	Site provides interactive mapping of the Toronto waterfront including an historical shoreline superimposed on current orthoimagery.
Toronto Social Atlas	static	This is a collection of census maps based on social demographic data for the City of Toronto. Mapped variables include ethnic origin, religious affiliation, visible minorities, home language, recent immigrants and low income.
Ontario Municipalities	interactive static	Page lists homepages for municipalities/regions/counties in Ontario.

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Western Provinces

Title	Map Type	Description
Agri-maps (Manitoba)	interactive	Interactive map viewer. GIS data relating to agriculture and the agriculture industry can be displayed and customized to a certain degree. Data is not available for download.
GIS Map Gallery (Manitoba)	interactive	Interactive mapping tool for displaying mineral resources and related information for the province of Manitoba.
Manitoba's Mineral Resources	interactive GIS	Site offers a variety of methods of viewing and accessing a wide range of geospatial information for the province of Manitoba. Resources are available through interactive mapping, direct download or referral to outside sources may be suggested. Data files include topographic information, land use, orthoimagery, forest inventory, place names, geology - to name a few. Users are required to register before accessing the site.
Community Mapping Network (British Columbia)	interactive	Interactive web mapping services providing layers of natural resources information and maps. Extensive metadata is available including details about acquiring GIS data layers. First time users must install the free Autodesk Mapguide Viewer.

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Eastern Provinces

Title	Map Type	Description
Nova Scotia Mineral Resources Branch	GIS	Site provides a selection of digital products for download featuring the geology of Nova Scotia.

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Canada

Title	Map Type	Description
ArchiviaNet	static	Site hosts a collection of over 4,000 digital images of historical maps and plans from the Library and Archives Canada collection. These images are available for online viewing.
Atlas of Canada	interactive static	Site provides a wide range of interactive and static thematic maps of Canada. The site links to GeoGratis for data downloads.
Canadian Census Analyser (CHASS)	GIS	Site provides census data and documention for various years of the census of Canada. NOTE: access is limited to valid Brock University academia only.
Canada Land Use Monitoring Program (CLUMP)	GIS	CLUMP examines land use for major urban areas, including Niagara, from 1966 through 1986 on a five-year basis. The classification scheme consists of 15 classes which are based on air photo interpretation, field surveys and census information.
Canadian Wind Energy Atlas	interactive static	This site features colour maps representing the average wind velocity and power for the whole country, procedures for generating different simulation maps, and a download section where data files are used to create custom simulations.
Canada's National Forest Inventory (CanFI)	interactive static	The inventory is compiled approximately every five years by aggregating provincial and territorial forest management inventories and reconnaissance level information. An overview is available in PDF format.
CanMatrix	GIS static	Scanned National Topographic Series (NTS) maps are georeferenced TIFF files and are available for download. Instructions for downloading the georeferenced or PDF maps are available. Local CanMatrix maps for the greater Golden Horseshoe are available using the Brock University Map Library interface.
ESRI Canada	GIS	ArcGIS Explorer downloads; data downloads; webinar resources; on-line GIS and more.
GeoBase	GIS WMS	Geobase is a federal, provincial and territorial government initiative that is overseen by the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG). It is undertaken to ensure the provision of, and access to, a common, up-to-date and maintained base of quality geospatial data for all of Canada. Through the GeoBase portal, users with an interest in the field of geomatics have access to quality geospatial information at no cost and with unrestricted use.
GeoConnections	GIS WMS	Geoconnections is a gateway to millions of geospatial data products and is the prime discovery and access component of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI). Users may acquire data by browsing metadata records or searching by subject, coverage or product type to find, evaluate, visualize and access the geospatial data.
GeoScan	static GIS	GEOSCAN is the bibliographic database for scientific publications of the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) of Natural Resources Canada.
GeoGratis	GIS static WMS	Geogratis is a portal provided by the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) which provides geospatial data at no cost. The collections include raster data (such as satellite images, scanned maps including: topographic, Atlas of Canada, International Map of the World), vector data (such as national-scale frameworks), and a database of ground control points.
Geography Network	GIS WMS	The Geography Network (ESRI portal) Canada is an online resource for finding and sharing geographic content, including maps and data, from many of Canada's leading providers.
GSC maps - MIRAGE	GIS static	Site offers access to scanned Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) maps and GIS layers (.shp) for thousands of published maps. Instructions for downloading scanned GSC maps are available.
GeoSearch 2006	interactive static	GeoSearch 2006 (Canada) provides an interactive tool for thematic mapping and searching 2006 census data. Instructions for obtaining census data using GeoSearch are available.
Historical Atlas of Canada	interactive static	This site is an online learning project providing a rich environment in which one can explore a variety of historical themes and episodes in the history of Canada using interactive mapping tools, graphics and text.
International Map of the World 1:1 million (Canadian coverage)	static	Site offers this popular small scale topographic map series in JPEG and PDF versions as well as a zoomable web viewing interface.
The National Land and Water Information Service (NLWIS)	interactive GIS	Site provides access to Web sites and interactive mapping tools and GIS layer downloads dealing with land, soil, water, climate and biodiversity resources in Canada. These sites will be useful to all who share a concern about the health and safety of food and water, the growing demand for new products, and about environmentally sustainable food production.
National Road Network	GIS WMS	Site provides the most up-to-date road data for all of Canada. The data is available in ESRI shapefile format, free to download and is organized by province.
Toporama	interactive WMS	Topographic mapping of Canada accessed through an interactive mapping environment. Detail of the maps is based on the 1:50,000 scale National Topographic Database (NTDB) produced by Natural Resources Canada.

Statistics Canada:
E-STAT	interactive	E-STAT is a Statistics Canada database available to the educational community. Generate dynamic tables, customize graphs and maps using Statistics Canada's Census of Population and socioeconomic data. Instructions for creating census maps using E-STAT are available.
GeoSearch 2006 (Canada)	interactive	This site provides an interactive tool for thematic mapping and searching 2006 census data. Instructions for using GeoSearch are available.
Community Profiles (2006)	static	A profile tool that offers a summary of census information based on a community of your choice.
2006 Cumulative Profile and Release Components	data statistics	This site offers direct download of census tables in HTML and Beyond 2020 format. Data at the Dissemination Area level are restricted to Brock University academia only. See staff for assistance.
Other 2006 Census Data Products	data statistics	Products include: Highlight tables; Topic-based tabulations; Aboriginal population profile; Census tract (CT) profiles; Federal electoral district (FED) profile; Special interest profiles; Profile for Statistical Area Classification; Census trends and 2006 Profile of Aboriginal Children, Youth and Adults.
2001 Cumulative Electronic Profiles	data statistics	Listing of all profile series data for the 2001 census. Useful for acquiring data at the census division and subdivision levels.
Statistics Canada Census boundary files	GIS	GIS layers reflecting boundaries of standard geographic areas. NOTE: access is limited to valid Brock University academia only.
Canadian Census Analyser (CHASS)	GIS	University of Toronto portal for Statistics Canada Census data.
Health Profile	GIS	Health region data from a number of sources including health surveys and the census.
Health Region Boundary Files	GIS	Health region boundaries including Public health units and Local Health Integration Network.

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The United States

Title	Map Type	Description
TopoQuest	GIS	Site offers USGS and Canadian 1:50K topographic maps in GeoTIFF format.
USGS Store	static	Site offers maps, Federal Recreation passes, scientific reports, educational materials, and much more for direct download.
National Map Viewer	interactive WMS	Site offers interactive mapping, GIS data download and GeoPDFs for topographic mapping of the United States.
National Atlas (USA)	interactive	Site offers interactive mapping plus a range of static maps in PDF and GIF format covering a variety of subject matter.
GeoCommunity Marketplace - GIS Data Depot	GIS	The data depot provides a variety of GIS layers for the United States.
U.S. Census Bureau	interactive GIS	Site offers details, interactive mapping and data download for the American Census.

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World

Title	Map Type	Description
Google Maps	interactive	An interactive world road map with satellite imagery viewing options for the entire globe. Use Google search power to find street addresses, cities, countries and other locations of interest. Streetview offers 360 degree views from selected streets around the world, though coverage of Canada is non-existant, our neighbours to the south is well represented as well as popular cities in Europe and Australia. Sign up with Google and create customized maps to share with others via email or a website. Instructions are available.
Google Earth	interactive software	A free software download providing a variety of geographic information on a satellite imagery base. Upgrades are available at a cost offering extra features such as importing GIS data layers, database files or data directly from a GPS unit. Instructions are available.
Live Search Maps	interactive	Microsoft's version of Google Maps and offers a seemless road map with aerial views as well as "Bird's Eye Views" of key locations. Aerial coverage compliments Google maps coverage in some parts of the world (i.e.Niagara Region coverage is seemless). Traffic layers offer real-time Canadian content and indicates locations of accidents with details such as estimated "end times".
ArcGIS Resource Center	GIS	Free maps and data are available to use with ArcGIS projects. Download and add 'live' layers directly from the ESRI server. Connection to the Internet is required to use the layer files.
ArcGIS Explorer Online	Cloud GIS	Use ArcGIS software 'in the cloud'. Save mapping projects, data layers in the cloud and share with the public, specific groups or make access restricted. Free ESRI Global Account required.
Earth Science Data Interface (University of Maryland)	RS	Access remote sensing data of the world captured by various sensor platforms. These data are freely available for direct download. A tutorial is available.
DIVA-GIS	GIS	This site offers direct download for most countries across the world. Includes administrative areas, inland water, roads, railroads, elevation, land cover, population in shapefile, Grid or DBF format. Source data is mainly Digital Chart of the World.

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NOTE: The Brock University Map Library accepts no responsibility for the accuracy and/or integrity of the resources found on the Internet - this includes potential harm that data or applications may cause to your research or computer hardware.