Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc.

resource conservation & development

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Southwestern Illinois RC&D - GIS FAQ

  • Is the GIS Resource Center a government agency?

    • No, the Southwestern Illinois GIS Resource Center is a division of the Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc., who is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit corporation, formed in 1989. See the RC&D "About Us" page for more information on the organization.

  • How does the GIS Resource Center calculate prices for maps and services?

    • Fees for project work are based on an hourly rate for services plus the cost of materials and a percentage for administration. The hourly rate covers staff salary, benefits, rent, utilities, and equipment. The cost of paper, ink, or custom mounting is charged separately. The administrative percentage (usually 10% of the total project budget) covers accounting and auditing services, as well as other overhead charges incurred by the organization. Projects requiring travel will be billed at the current federal mileage rate. Clients generally find our rates are very competitive when compared to private GIS consultants. Prices for image printing on demand (up to 42 inches wide) are based on the size of the print. See Map Design & Production for more information.

  • Does the GIS Resource Center offer downloadable GIS data?

    • We do not currently offer downloadable data. Many datasets are available for free download from state and federal agencies through the links provided on our GIS Links page. If there is a specific dataset in our library that you would like to request, please contact us.

  • Does the GIS Resource Center sell reprints of quad maps (USGS topographic maps) or aerial photos?

    • The GIS Resource Center can reprint quad maps or DOQQs. However, if a simple reprint is all that is required, it is probably more economical to download or order maps from the following sites: http://topomaps.usgs.gov/ordering_maps.html
    http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/doqs/

    We can develop custom maps for you using quads or DOQQs as a base layer with additional information displayed on top of the background image. For more information, please contact us.

  • What formats are available for custom map products?

    • We offer color prints on plain or glossy paper up to 42 inches wide. We also produce oversize displays, wall maps, and printed report documents. Any maps we produce can also be delivered in digital formats such as JPEG, TIFF or PDF. These image files can be used in word processing documents, websites, or digital slide presentations. Shapefiles (GIS data) that are developed for a project can be provided to GIS users on CD. For more information about products and formats, please see Map Design & Production.

  • Does the GIS Resource Center loan out GPS equipment?

    We are not in the business of renting out our GPS units. In some cases we may loan out GPS units to knowledgeable GPS users with whom we already have a professional relationship. For more information about the GPS services we offer, please see GPS Applications.

  • What software do you use?

    • The Southwestern Illinois GIS Resource Center uses GIS software developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). We use ESRI's ArcView and ArcGIS suite (versions 3.x, 8.x, 9.x). AutoCAD LT 2004 is used to prepare CAD data for import into GIS software. For custom graphics, layout and digital publishing we use Adobe Photoshop, PageMaker, and Distiller.