Citation Examples for GIS Data and Software

Geospatial Citation Guide

Original version of the material below is from the Americal Geographical Society Library

Listed below are citation examples derived from a style guide for cartographic materials:

Clark, Suzanne M, Mary Lynette Larsgaard, and Cynthia M. Teague. Cartographic Citations: A Style Guide, MAGERT Circular No. 1. Chicago: American Library Association, 1992.

Map-data/digital spatial data

* Citation Style: Author. Title [format]. Edition. Place of production: Producer, Date of copyright or production.
* Example: U.S. Bureau of the Census. TIGER/Line Precensus FIles, 1990: New England [computer optical disk]. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of the Census, 1990.

Map created from digital spatial data

* Citation Style: Author. Map title [format]. Scale. Computer database title [format]. Edition. Place of production: Producer, Date of copyright or production. (May be followed by) Using: Author. Computer software title [format]. Edition. Place of production: Producer, Date of copyright or production.
* Example 1: PC Globe. [Idaho – Elevations]* [computer map]. 1-1/8” = approx. 100 mi. PC USA [computer disk]. Tempe, Ariz.: PC Globe, 1989. * use [ ] for an assumed title known to you but not stated on the map.
* Example2:U.S. Geological Survey. [Alaska] *[computer map]. Scale not given. 1:2,000,000-Scale Digital Line Graph (DLG) Data [computer optical disk]. Reston, Va.:USGS, 1990.
* * use [ ] for an assumedtitle known to you but not stated on the map.

Satellite data

* Citation Style: Author. Title [format]. Place of publication: Producer, Date when data collected.
* Example: U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. [Santa Barbara Region, California]*E-2 429-17512-4, 5, 7 [computer reel]. Sioux Falls, S. Dak.: EROS Data Center, 1976.
* * use [ ] for an assumed title known to you but not stated on the map.

Aerial photographs

* Citation Style: Author. Title of frame number(s) [format]. Scale. Flight title (if part of flight). Place of publication: Publisher, Date of image collection (NOT date of reproduction).
* Example: Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys. San Miguel Island [aerial photographs]. 1:12,000. Goleta, Calif.: Mark Hurd Aerial Survey, 1964.

Original version of the material below is from the University of Waterloo

The examples below are adapted from "Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information.", by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane

1. Data retrieved from a local area network:

Format:
Database Name [type of medium]. Producer location, province/state: Producer Name, year.

Examples:
City of Toronto Digital Orthophotos [computer file]. Toronto, Ontario: Land Information Toronto, 1997.

Grand River Watershed Data [computer file]. Cambridge, Ontario: Grand River Conservation Authority, 2003.

2. Data from a CD-ROM or commercial on-line database:

Format:
Database Name [type of medium]. (Year). Producer location, province/state: Producer name. Available: Supplier/Database identifier or number [Access date].

Example:
ESRI ArcCanada 2.0 [CD-ROM]. (1999). Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute. Available: UMD Library Controlled Access G 3400 SVAR E87x [June 4th, 2003].

3. Data downloaded from a remote FTP server:

Format:
Datbase Name [type of medium]. (Year). Producer location, province/state: Producer name. Available FTP: address/path/file [Access date].

Example:
Canada Land Use Monitoring Program [computer file]. 1966-1986. Ottawa, ON: Ministry of Natural Resources. Available FTP: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/clump/ [June 4th, 2003].

4. Maps produced using GIS software:

Format:
"Map Title" [type of medium]. scale. Database Name [type of medium]. Producer location, province/state: Producer Name, year. Using: GIS Software Title [type of software]. Version or edition. Software Manufacturer Location, province/state: Software Manufacturer Name, date of software release/copyright.

Example:
"Wetlands and Floodplain in GRCA" [map]. 1:10,000. GRCA GIS Data [computer files]. Cambridge, Ont.: Grand River Conservation Authority, 2001. Using: ArcView GIS [GIS software]. Version 3.2. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 1992-1999.

See also:

The Columbia Guide to Online Style

Citing Maps

Guide to Citing Maps & Atlases