Geospatial data are explicitly defined across geographic space. Coordinates define where data belong.
The Map and Geospatial Hub is here to help you navigate the complex and constantly evolving geospatial landscape and aid in your research and geospatial projects.
Arizona Portals
ASU GeoData
With ASU GeoData, you can discover and explore multiple forms of geographically referenced data, including vector layers, maps, aerial photos and more.
ASU GeoData shares the data, map and imagery resources the Hub manages, but it also compiles and provides direct access to other organizations' geospatial data sites. These include data sites for major ASU research initiatives and various government agencies in Arizona.
AZGeo Data
The Arizona Geographic Information Council sponsors AZGeo Data Hub, a cooperative data platform project. The Arizona State Land Department hosts AZGeo while the Arizona Land Resources Information System staffs it. AZGeo is a great place to find authoritative geospatial data that state agencies contribute.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a remote sensing method that involves emitting pulses of light to determine distances of objects. Raw data are dense point clouds. Derived products are composed of a wide range of three-dimensional data outputs. These include digital surface, terrain and other extracted features.
Metro Phoenix LiDAR Data
LiDAR and LiDAR-derived data initially acquired in 2014 from the USGS. Data were pre-released to ASU for public consumption in 2017.
The USGS Metro Phoenix LiDAR Data Index provides an interactive web map for viewing the available data. Information about the index layers and tiles can be found in the Details tab of the web map. Please use the Map and Geospatial Hub Service Request form to request LiDAR data. More information about the data.
OpenTopography
The OpenTopography project facilities community access to high-resolution, Earth science-oriented topography data and related tools and resources. It is one of the largest open access repositories of LiDAR data in existence.
Users can access both raw (point cloud) and derived (raster) surface layers for various regions, as well as generate lower-resolution digital elevation model data from other sources (e.g., SRTM) for the same region on the fly.
Arizona LiDAR Coverage Explorer
The Arizona LiDAR Acquisition Plan maintained by the Arizona Geographic Information Council (AGIC) provides information about upcoming and existing LiDAR data in Arizona.
Dataset information is available either by navigating to the LiDAR Web Application. Information about how to acquire the LiDAR data is shown in the pop-ups. More information about LiDAR in Arizona can be found by visiting the AGIC LiDAR Workgroup site.
ASU Geospatial Data Directory
ASU Library holds thousands of geospatial data layers, pertaining primarily to the metro Phoenix, greater Arizona, and American Southwest regions. They are increasingly getting uploaded to and shared via ASU GeoData.
ASU affiliates can gain direct access to these data by accessing the ASU Geospatial Data Directory.
ASU Virtual Private Network (VPN)
You must be on the ASU campus network or connected via Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN in order to access these network shares.
Please see ASU’s documentation for instructions on installing and using the VPN on PC/Linux or Mac.
To access the geospatial data directory on a PC, please follow the steps below:
- Open File Explorer from the taskbar or press Windows logo key + E
- Select This PC from the left pane. Then, on the Computer tab, select Map Network Drive
- In the Drive list, select a drive letter. (Use any letter available. We use "M".)
- In the Folder field, enter the server address: \\libfile.lib.asu.edu\share\mapgeo\pub
- To connect every time you log on to your PC, select the Reconnect at sign-in check box
- Select Connect using different credentials
- Click Finish
- In the "Enter Network Credentials" dialog box, enter the ASU domain followed by your ASURITE username:
- Students: ASUAD\jdoe2
- Faculty and Staff: ASURITE\jdoe2
- Enter your ASURITE password and click OK
- You will now see the geospatial data directory in File Explorer
To access the geospatial data directory on a Mac, please follow the steps below:
- Click on Finder (or single-click anywhere on the Desktop to open Finder)
- Select "Go" from the top menu and click “Connect to server” (or use Command + K)
- Enter the server address: libfile.lib.asu.edu/share/mapgeo/pub
- Click “+” next to the server address to add the server to your favorite servers
- Click Connect
- Select “Connect as: Registered User”
- Enter the ASU domain followed by your ASURITE username
- Students: ASUAD\jdoe2
- Faculty and Staff: ASURITE\jdoe2
- Enter your ASURITE password and click Connect
- You will now see the geospatial data directory in File Explorer