Putting the World back in the World Wide Web

VIRTUAL MAP COLLECTIONS
The ability to scan paper maps and make them available on the Internet means you can view some maps even when the Map Library is closed.

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, from the University of Texas at Austin, includes many electronic versions of printed maps for all regions of the world, many of which are scanned CIA maps. Additionally, the historical maps section provides maps which are from the 19th and early 20th centuries and includes some covering time periods dating back to 980 C.E.. Links to many other sites with electronic maps are included.

Michigan Map Gallery, from the Michigan Center for Geographic Information. This government agency provides leadership, technical expertise and policy for the development, use, dissemination, promotion and sharing of geographic information in the state of Michigan. Maps on and linked to this site depict things such as census and statistical data for Michigan, and legislative and school districts.

ONLINE GAZETTEERS
A gazetteer is the equivalent of a geographical dictionary, which includes names of places and geographic features. Like dictionaries, gazetteers are still available in print format, and a printed gazetteer may still be preferable for historical place name research.

Geographic Names Information System, from the US Geological Survey, enables you to query a database containing nearly 2 million physical and cultural geographic features within the United States. To start your GNIS query, click on the Query link, and fill out the form provided. Usually you only need to fill out the Feature name box on the form to begin a query. The output will include information such as the feature's official name, the feature type, its elevation (where available), latitude and longitude, population, and the name of the USGS topographic map sheet on which the feature may be found.

GEOnet Names Server, from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (formerly the Defense Mapping Agency), is similar to the GNIS, but its scope is the entire world, excluding the US. To begin your query here, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Access GEOnet button. The interface allows you to query a single place name and specify the country, but also enables more sophisticated queries using menus. The reply to a query will verify the feature name (or tell you the appropriate name to search under), supply the feature designation (such as PPL for populated place), and give the place's latitude and longitude.

The Thesaurus of Geographic Names from the Getty Research Institute, includes nearly 900,000 place name entries. The Thesaurus also provides vernacular and English names of places, variant names in other languages, and whenever possible, historical names. The record for a place may also contain geographical coordinates, dates, and notes.

The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online, from the Columbia University Press. A comprehensive gazetteer whose entries, supervised by a board of 150 leading geographical scholars from all parts of the world, reflect the input of specialists who are intimately familiar with a wide variety of sources, some of which are not readily accessible, and with personal knowledge of the places and features that these sources have described.

INTERACTIVE MAPPING SITES
There are two types of interactive mapping sites: those that enable the user to map street addresses (primarily within the United States), and those that permit the mapping of data, such as demographic data, crime statistics, or earth science data.
Street Mapping Sites

MapQuest is a popular site that was one of the first to offer interactive mapping on the Web.

MSN Maps & Directions will map an address, produce driving directions, and provide local weather reports (from the Weather Channel ) as well as news for the area you specified.

Google Maps has dynamic, interactive maps that are draggable and also allow the viewing of satellite image overlays.

Data Mapping Sites

National Atlas of the United States of America, from the US Geological Survey, allows you to view interactive multimedia maps, or to design and explore your own map.

American FactFinder from the US Census. This is a data dissemination tool for accessing and mapping Census 2000 and other census data. Particularly useful is the ability to get a “Fact Sheet” from the main page about any community and be able to map the statistics (e.g. racial breakdown by percentage) by census tract, block group, or block. There are also reference and thematic maps under the “Maps and Geography” tab.

Demographic Data Viewer from CIESIN. This site is an interactive mapping application for data from the 1990 US Census of Population and Housing. Selected variables may be mapped at the levels of county, county subdivision, census tract, and blockgroup. The Non-Java edition is less sophisticated, and suitable for slower computers and slow Internet connections. The newer Java editions will launch a Java application window separate from your browser, and will enable you to see the tract or blockgroup numbers as you move the mouse over a given area.

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION
To learn more about the types of geographic information and data available on the World Wide Web, the following sites are good starting points.

Yahoo's Geography section which provides a series of geographic categories in Yahoo's on-line directory

Nice Geography Servers, a site from the Netherlands that provides alphabetical listings of academic geography departments around the world, GIS and Remote Sensing web sites, and Geography and GIS newsgroups.

Odden's Bookmarks, from the Geosciences Faculty at the Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands, is a collection of links about maps and geography on the Internet. It is searchable by subject, category, or country and has well over 20,000 links.