Citing Maps & Geospatial Data
Geospatial Data in the Scholars GeoPortal derives from several different sources. The sources or “Organization Name” are indicated for each layer when you click on the “Details” tab for that layer, generally under “Resource Identification Information”.
One dynamically generated map in the Scholars GeoPortal may have many sources. Trying to compose a single citation statement for such a map would be a complex and ultimately confusing task both for author and reader. The Teaching and Learning Working Group recommends that users create single citation statements for each layer that is used when making a map or generating data from the GeoPortal.
Citation Format:
Name of Data Producer. Title of Geospatial Product [format]. Date of data, if known. Name of person who generated map; Name of interactive site used to generate map; URL (generated date).
Examples:
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Southwestern Ontario Orthophotography Project (SWOOP) 2006. Generated by Jane Doe; using Scholars GeoPortal; http://geo1.scholarsportal.info (December 1, 2011).
DMTI Spatial. CanMap RouteLogistics-Land Use (LUR). 2010. Generated by John Doe; using Scholars GeoPortal; http://geo1.scholarsportal.info (December 1, 2011).
Statistics Canada. 2006 Census Designated Place – Cartographic Boundary File. 2006. Generated by Jane Doe; using Scholars GeoPortal; http://geo1.scholarsportal.info (December 1, 2011).
Natural Resources Canada. Flood Disasters in Canada. 2002. Generated by John Doe; using Scholars GeoPortal; http://geo1.scholarsportal.info (December 1, 2011).
Data Citation Guides
- Citing Geospatial Resources (University of Waterloo)
- Map Citation Guide (Laval University, French)
- How to Reference Maps & Data (Brock University)
- Guide to Citing Maps and Atlases (McMaster University)
- Citation Guide: Maps and geospatial products (Statistics Canada)
Using GIS Software
- ArcGIS 10 Instructional Videos (YouTube)
Introduction to using ArcGIS 10, projecting data, geolocating, joining tables, thematic mapping and more. Created by UTM Library. - Creating Maps in ArcMap: A Quick Guide
Load data, identify features, symbolize, export maps. Created by University of Waterloo. - Using ArcCatalog
Managing data in ArcCatalog. Created by Brock University. - Using Web Map Services (WMS) in ArcGIS
Quick introduction to getting data into your GIS using Web Mapping Services. Created by Brock University. - Working with tables in ArcMap 10.1
Attribute tables, joining and relating tables. Created by University of Guelph. - Defining Projections in ArcMap 10.1
Define a coordinate reference system, project data from one coordinate reference system to another coordinate system. Created by University of Guelph. - ArcGIS Online Mapping Made Easy
Created by University of Waterloo. - Creating Maps in QGIS: A Quick Guide
Created by University of Waterloo. - Creating a walking tour map with Google Earth
Created by University of Waterloo. - Converting Shp to KML via GeoCommons
Created by University of Waterloo. - Mapping with Google Fusion Tables
Created by University of Waterloo. - Making a Choropleth Map with Google Fusion Tables
Created by University of Waterloo.
Other Scholars Portal Data Resources
<odesi>: <odesi> is a web-based data exploration, extraction, and analysis tool. It lets you search for survey questions (variables) across thousands of datasets held in a growing number of collections, and supports basic tabulation and analysis online. It also allows for the downloading of most datasets into statistical software for further analysis. Statistics Canada’s public-use survey data forms the core of <odesi>’s social survey data holdings, but we are expanding its survey data to include other national and international data sources. Key polling data collections include the Canadian Opinion Research Archive (CORA), Canadian Gallup, and Ipsos Reid.
Dataverse: The Scholars Portal Dataverse network is a repository for research data collected by individuals and organizations associated with subscribing Canadian universities. The Dataverse platform allows researchers to deposit data, create appropriate metadata, and version documents. Access to data and supporting documentation can be controlled down to the file level, and researchers can choose to make content available publicly, only to select individuals, or to keep it completely locked.
Other Geospatial Data Sources
Help Resources
Need more help?
For problems using the GeoPortal, email technical support.
Contact a person at your home institution from the list below for assistance with the GeoPortal, GIS, and data use.
Brock University: maplib@brocku.ca
Carleton University: gis@carleton.ca
Lakehead University: Linda Mitchell or Debra Gold
Laurentian University: Tomasz Mrozewski
McMaster University: Jason Brodeur
Nipissing University: Tom Power
Queen’s University: Francine Berish
Toronto Metropolitan University: librdata@torontomu.ca
Trent University: Barbara Znamirowski or dataimage@trentu.ca
University of Guelph: Jenny Marvin or drchelp@uoguelph.ca
University of Ottawa: Sarah Simpkin or gsg@uottawa.ca
University of Toronto: Marcel Fortin
University of Toronto Mississauga: Andrew Nicholson
University of Waterloo: Eva Dodsworth
University of Windsor: libdata@uwindsor.ca
Western University: Liz Sutherland or rsclib@uwo.ca
Wilfrid Laurier University: Peter Genzinger
York University: Rosa Orlandini
Acknowledgements
This guide was initially created by the Scholars GeoPortal Teaching & Learning Working Group, which operated from 2009-2012 and whose members included:
- Colleen Beard, Brock (Chair)
- Andrew Nicholson, University of Toronto Mississauga
- Susan Greaves, Queen’s
- Eva Dodsworth, Waterloo
- Pam Schaus, Laurier
- Cheryl Woods, Western
- Leanne Hindmarch, Scholars Portal
- Jenny Marvin, Guelph
Ongoing maintenance and additional content contributed by Ontario university libraries and Scholars Portal.
This version of the guide was created by Kaitlin Newson.