You can create customized maps of varying scales and complexity by overlaying various datalayers, and adding titles and legends, etc.  For instance, you could use one of our scanned USGS Topographic maps or one of our digital orthophotos (a geographically-correct aerial photographic image) as the base map.  Then you could add other datalayers such as roads, wetlands, open space and recreational parcels, zoning, and/or Census data, etc.  The possibilities are endless.  Related attribute data stored as tables can be queried and relationships analyzed.  Students of all ages can benefit from exposure to GIS, but complex analysis may be more appropriate for those in middle school and beyond.

This is a powerful GIS tool that can be used for teaching geography, ecology, statistics and more.

Your custom CD will contain all available vector data (in ESRI Shapefile format) and imagery (in MrSID format) for your area of interest.  Not all datalayers are complete statewide, and not all orthophotos may fit on CDs with large areal extents.  Due to the large file size of the new color ortho imagery, your area of interest must be limited to one town. Larger areas are available without the imagery. Though an IBM-compatible PC is required to run this product, having GIS software is not.  The CD will contain a stand-alone scaled-down, or "Runtime" version of the ArcView 3.x GIS software, a product of ESRI.  However, if you have ArcView 3.0a, 3.1.1, 3.2a, or 3.3 you can use fully-functional ArcView Project (.apr) file that also comes on the CD.  This full version of the project may also be used with ArcView 3.0b for Unix. Please note that this software runs only on PCs and is not compatible with Macintosh computers.

To order a MassGIS Data Viewer for your public school, please fill out and submit the Order Form.

For more information, please see the Microsoft Word 97 document "GIS in Your Classroom." (97 kb)
Questions may be directed to Paul Nutting at MassGIS at (617) 626-1238 or send email to Paul.Nutting@state.ma.us.

Please see the new "GIS Education" section on this Web site for a complete set of Data Viewer Training Exercises and Student Lessons designed by Dr. Shirley L. Griffin, an environmental science teacher at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham. Through these training materials, teachers should be able to become familiar with and confident using the Data Viewer. And with their newfound GIS skills and experiences, teachers may then expand the Viewer and modify the lessons to their classroom use.