Comments on: 10 Free GIS Data Sources: Best Global Raster and Vector Datasets

By: GISGeography

GISGeography — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:46:21 +0000

In reply to Kev. Thanks, this is a great suggestion. I'll try updating this in 2026.

By: Kev

Kev — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:57:40 +0000

I think Overture Maps definitely needs to be added to this list, it’s a Linux Foundation project and a bunch of companies have put together their data along with gathering data from a bunch of sources. Depending on the source of the data the different “themes” have a different open license associated with them. https://overturemaps.org/ You can also just browse around the data here. https://explore.overturemaps.org/ It’s meant to be interacted with via various APIs and programming tools, not downloaded and served locally though you can do that.

By: I. Turba

I. Turba — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:50:57 +0000

Hi there, I can’t find any global oceanic pH data maps. The NOAA has the data that I require however, it is not compatible with the GIS format. Are there any other sources of up to data data that could be easily transferred to GIS?
All the best
Ints

By: Keith Goodwin

Keith Goodwin — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:55:50 +0000

In reply to GISGeography. Thank you! I shall investigate...

By: GISGeography

GISGeography — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:40:59 +0000

In reply to Keith.

You can do a search in the USGS GNIS database – https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names

For example, type in “Lincoln” as you described. This will give you populated places, lakes, streams, and everything with that geographic keyword. After you hit the “Query” button, it will give you a CSV with latitude and longitude coordinates of all known places in the United States.

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:40:02 +0000

Geofabrik has a zip shape file for all states EXCEPT CA. I need all 50 states.
However, I use QGIS and I am looking for (ideally) ONE shape file for ALL US named locations – towns, rivers, lakes, mountains (the more the better) that are queryable (is that a word?).
I want to build layers, for example, that are all places in the US with “Lincoln” in their name. Then map each point, line, polygon…

Do you know of a source where I can find such data?
Thank you!!!

By: Cam

Cam — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:45:25 +0000

In reply to Ish. I'm doing a research on earthquakes, how can I download fault line vector data as a site, or is there a source?

By: Martin Sintufya

Martin Sintufya — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:04:38 +0000

Thanks

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 15:25:54 +0000

This information has been very useful my friend

By: Lema Konbe

Lema Konbe — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:39:03 +0000

I have learned a lot about water resources management which is applicable to my field of work