Looking for mapping data?
You really have three options...
- Create your own by making a digital copy of an existing map source.
- Use available GIS data from many sources that can be found online.
- Use data created for drawing programs skipping the time-consuming process of creating your own and the expense of purchasing GIS software.
Creating your own mapping data
You can produce your own mapping data by digitizing existing maps. See my tutorial on digitizing spatial data in Adobe Illustrator. You can also take these maps and use them in a drawing program such as Corel Painter or hand draw them using tracing paper. This method is very labor and time intensive.
A good source of existing maps is reference maps from the CIA World Factbook. They are public domain, meaning not copyright protected, and available for the world. However, they may not be detailed enough for your purpose.
Many atlases are copyright protected. As I understand it, copyright law protects how data are presented, not the actual data itself (known as "open data'. But before using a copyrighted source I recommend checking copyright law and get appropriate licenses if needed. Better safe than sorry (after the lawsuit is filed against you).
Using available GIS data
To save time you can use prepared GIS data from its many sources. There are two downsides to this method...
- You need a program that can read GIS files and they tend to be expensive and complicated to learn. Programs include ESRI ArcMap among others. See my mapping software page for more information.
- The data itself could be expensive. Many government agencies charge for data. But there are free sources, such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS)... an agency that provides immeasurable value, but seems to always be under the chopping block of congressional budgets. Compare the valuable products provided by USGS for free to the data costs of other national mapping agencies (UK's Ordinance Survey, France's IGN) and it will leave you scratching your head at the geographical shortsightedness and ignorance of our congressional representatives!
Use data created for drawing programs
If you use a vector drawing program consider using prepared mapping data from Digital-Vector-Maps.com. These data sets are royalty-free digital maps in Adobe Illustrator and editable PDF vector format. The complete data sets for cities, states, and countries may seem a little expensive at first, but from my digitizing mapping data experience you will come out way ahead from the time and frustration saved in using prepared data for any cartographic project of a larger map area. I think their products are a good value if the data fit your needs.
For an interesting discussion on the expense of data read Do you get what you pay for? on the Cartographica website. Also, compare Digital-Vector-Maps.com prices to the UK's Ordnance Survey data prices. A steal!
Read my page about mapping software to decide what fits your needs
Read how to make a map to find out what to do with the data once you have it