Typical questions

• • I need access to a global GIS dataset.

• • What is the different between raster and vector data models?

Starting points

• • The cross-disciplinary nature of geography means that it is usually a good idea to identify the type of information required, i.e. is it physical geography, political, human or economic? This section focuses on physical geography. Other useful chapters are Environment, Economics, Political Science and Sociology, the main Journal Articles chapter and the area studies sections where appropriate.

• • Types of commonly requested materials include Maps and Population data so it may also be useful to refer to these chapters.

• • An increasing demand is for geospatial data. This can also be called geographical information systems, or GIS, and commonly refers to software that combines features of cartography and other databases to overlay reference information (such as the number of people living in a specific location or the extent of soil erosion in an area) on computer-generated maps. The sub-section guides students to sources and advice on usage.

Recommended resources

Key organisations – UK

Use these to find information on the main scholarly journals and conferences. They also contain careers advice for students.

British Geological Survey

www.bgs.ac.uk

UK's national centre for earth science information. Coverage includes geology, climate change and natural hazards. The website has an enormously useful open geoscience data section that provides free access to the Geology of Britain viewer where students can explore timelines, map visualisations and 3D models of the landscape.

Geographical Association [Basic]

www.geography.org.uk

Specialist organisation for UK teachers. Free access to hundreds of resources for primary and secondary classes. These include suggested lesson plans, video clips and links to recommended websites, many covering topical news stories.

Royal Geographical Society (RGS)

www.rgs.org

Established in 1830 and the main professional organisation for the UK. Website has detailed information on studying. It also provides information on its extensive library, photograph, map and manuscript collections covering over 500 years of exploration, travel and geographical discovery. It is possible to search the catalogue online.

Key organisations – international

American Association of Geographers

www.aag.org

Main US body. Website includes information on teaching and recent research projects.

International Geographical Union (IGU)

igu-online.org

International organisation of geographers. Its website is excellent for keeping up to date with the latest international research and events. It also has a directory of links to national bodies and university departments worldwide.