Learning GIS
Books & Journals | Consultation | Online Lessons | Magazines & Blogs

We also provide reference and instruction services to the campus GIS users. Since 1997, the department of Government and Geographic Information and Data Services has acted as the main provider of GIS equipment and services on campus, including management of ArcGIS site licenses. Northwestern University members are welcome to use our facilities during the department's opening hours.

Books and Academic Journals    ^ back to top
The NU Libraries carry over 300 titles on GIS. Find them in NUcat - Northwestern's Online Library Catalog (Search for "Geographic information systems" in "Subject Heading".) We also subscribe to academic journals that focus on GIS and spatial analysis - check our GIS research guide for more information.

Research Consultation    ^ back to top
We have staff with GIS research experience. One-on-one research consultation is available with appointment (online form or email). Beginners are welcome!

Online GIS Lessons    ^ back to top
Some excellent GIS lecture series and workshop materials are available online. We recommend the followings. Please also check the GIS magazines and blogs section on this page.

CSISS: Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science
http://www.csiss.org/
CSISS funded by NSF (National Science Foundation) cultivates an integrated approach to social science research that recognizes the importance of location, space, spattiality, and place. Various types of learning materials and resources are available from this site.

ESRI ArcGIS 9.2 Tutorials
http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm
ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Extensions come with tutorials and tutorial data to help you learn to use the software. You can use the links below to open PDF versions of the tutorials, or to view animations based on the tutorials.

ESRI Virtual Campus
http://training.esri.com/
ESRI offers a varity of online courses. For beginners, we recommend Getting Started with GIS (free, approx. 9 hours) course. Find more - free courses and tutorials.

ESRI ArcLessons
http://www.esri.com/arclessons
ArcLesson is a resource to share lessons for using GIS in the classroom. Both GIS instructors and students will benefit from the access to free lesson materials and datasets.

ESRI Mapping & Modeling Tutorials
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/avmodel.html
This page provides links to tutorials that demonstrate how to map and model data in ArcGIS 9.x.

USGS in Education
http://education.usgs.gov/
The site by a EdGIS list serv modurator, Joseph Kerski,offers links to free online lessons and lectures on geographic matters, including GIS. This GIS in Education page also includes links to geospatial data and resources.

Nature of Geographic Information: Open Geospatial Textbook by Penn State University
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/natureofgeoinfo/
A free/open textbook on GIS that promotes understanding of the Geographic Information Science and Technology enterprise.

Beyond Mapping III
http://www.innovativegis.com/basis/MapAnalysis/
Compilation of Beyond Mapping columns appearing in GeoWorld magazine 1996 to 2007. Good textbook for intermediate to advanced GIS users.

NASA: Remote Sensing Tutorial
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/
The tutorial helps readers understand what one can learn from sensors on spacecraft that look inward at the Earth and outward at the planets.

Natural Resources Canada: Remote Sensing Outreach Materials
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/index_e.php
Including various tutorials on remote sensing.

GIS Magazines & Blogs    ^ back to top

ESRI.com News
http://www.esri.com/news/
ESRI publishes various newsletters and jourals. Find links to ArcNews, ArcUser, ArcWatch, or subscribe to them here. A variety of tutorials on GIS tools and methods in ArcUser are particulary valuable for users with different levels of GIS skills.

GIM International, the global magazine for Geomatics
http://www.gim-international.com/
GIS magazine covers international GIS issues and news.

Geospatial Solutions
http://www.geospatial-solutions.com/
Although Geospatial Solutions (paper) was discontinued in 2006, its online version still thrives. Back issues are also available from this website.

Other popular online magazines: Directions magazine, GISUser , GeoPlace,GIS Monitor, Spatialnews - Geocommunity

ESRI.com Blogs
http://blogs.esri.com/
Read all the blog postings at ESRI.

GIS Education Community Blogs
http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/gisedcom/
A blog for GIS educators.

GIS Matters
http://gismatters.blogspot.com/
A blog by a GIS developer of ESRI.

EdParsons.com
http://www.edparsons.com/
A blog by a Google Geospatial Technologist.

Google Maps Mania
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/
A blog for Google map lovers

O'Reilly Radar > Geo
http://radar.oreilly.com/geo/
A blog by O'Reilly, an organizer of Where 2.0 (a conference on the latest location service technologies.)

Spatial Law
http://spatiallaw.blogspot.com/
A blog on legal issues associated with geospatial data & technology

Last updated: November 9, 2009