Early in the process of establishing a municipal GIS, you should identify the GIS applications you intend to implement. GIS data development efforts are most effective when the eventual applications of the data are identified early on.

Once you determine the types of data you need for your municipal GIS, you can begin gathering freely available data from a variety of internet sites.

From the NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway, you can download aerial photography, information about soils, and some basic GIS data.

The national Geospatial One-Stop may provide you with links to spatial data sources associated with your area.

A great resource for discovering GIS data at the state level is your state GIS coordinator or council. You can access a contact list from the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC).

Your state coordinator or council may be able to provide your local government with additional sources, including state GIS clearinghouses, state agencies, regional planning agencies, county government, and conservation organizations.