Library Guides: GIS Data & Software: Citing Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data Citations

Why Cite Geospatial Data?

Geospatial data and software should be treated like any other reference material, such as books or articles, to maintain high research standards. By citing GIS data, researchers acknowledge the hard work and expertise of those who collected, processed, and shared the information. Clear citations enable others to verify and replicate findings, which enhances the credibility of scientific research. Ultimately, proper citation practices support the continuous advancement of GIS knowledge and contribute to the sustainability of data repositories and initiatives.

When to Cite Geospatial Data

Cite the dataset if you have used, analyzed or modified a publicly available dataset (e.g., from a government database or research archive).
- E.g. you download a digital elevation model (DEM) and use it to create a stream network analysis.
Do not cite the dataset if you are quoting or referencing data that has already been analyzed and published in a journal article, report or webpage. Instead, cite that publication (report) to give credit to the source.
- E.g. you are referencing a DEM in a publication and comparing it to your results.

Citing Geospatial Datasets Using Standard Citation Structures

Citation Format for Dataset and Software (APA 7th Edition)

Refer to Academic Skills "APA Style" or the APA Style (Online): Data Set Reference.

Author	Date	Title	Publisher	Source
Last Name, F.N. or Agency.	(Year)	Title of dataset (Version No.) [Data set, or Computer Software]	Publisher.	DOI or URL

Notes:

The term "Date" refers to the year of publication for the version of the data used.
Italicize the "Title" and include any numerical identifier or version number for the data in parentheses (without italics), separated by a semicolon.
The bracketed description can be flexible (e.g., “[Data set],” “[Data set and code book],” “[Software]”).
When the author and publisher are the same, you should omit the publisher from the citation.
Cite data sets when conducting secondary analyses of publicly archived data, or when presenting your own data for the first time.
For existing data or statistics, cite the publication of the data (such as a journal article, report, or webpage) instead of citing the data set itself [19].

Geospatial Data Citation Example

City of Peterborough. (2022). Hydrography Area [Data set]. https://data-ptbo.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ptbo::hydrography-area/about

Parenthetical citation: (City of Peterborough, 2022)
Narrative citation: City of Peterborough (2022)

Software Citation Example

Esri Inc. (2024). ArcGIS Pro (Version 3.3.1). https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-pro/overview

Parenthetical citation: (Esri Inc., 2024)
Narrative citation: Esri Inc. (2024)

Disclaimer: We do not guarantee the accuracy of the above examples. Citing geospatial data and software can be complex and may not neatly conform to citation structures. We can't verify the accuracy of your citations, but we can assist with general questions about citation practices. We recommend consulting with the course professor, instructor, or TA for guidance on the specific edition of the citation guide required for your class.

19. American Psychological Association. Data Set References. APA Style. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/data-set-references.

Citation Format for Dataset and Software (MLA 9th Edition)

MLA format does not provide a specific format for datasets. It follows a flexible approach outlined in the MLA Handbook (9th Edition), which allows you to cite any source using the core elements. Refer to Academic Skills "MLA: Works Cited Page" for a list of the elements.

Author	Title	Publisher	Publication Date	Source
Author’s Last Name, First Name or Agency.	Title of dataset. Version	Publisher,	Day Month Year	URL, Permalink, or DOI

Notes:

Present the authors' last names first.
Include any available version numbers, such as editions (ed.), revisions, or posting dates.
Specify the file format, if applicable.
When the author and publisher are the same, you should omit the publisher from the citation.
If a DOI is available, include it and precede it with "https://doi.org/". If there is no DOI, provide a URL (without the https://) or permalink.
Record the date you accessed the material. While this is not required, it is highly recommended [20].

Geospatial Data Citation Example

City of Peterborough. Hydrography Area. File last modified on 24 February 2022. Shapefile. 2022, data-ptbo.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ptbo::hydrography-area/about. Accessed on July 22, 2025.

Parenthetical citation: (City of Peterborough)

Software Citation Example

Esri Inc. ArcGIS Pro. Version 3.5, Esri Inc., 2025.

Parenthetical citation: (Esri Inc.)

20. MLA Handbook, 9th ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2021).

Citation Format for Dataset and Software (Chicago 18th Edition)

Refer to Academic Skills "Chicago Style" or the Chicago Manual of Style (Online) 14.157: Citing Databases and Datasets.

Author or Creator	Title	Publisher or Distributor	Date	Source
Last Name, First Name or Agency.	"Title of Dataset". Version. Type of Source,	Publisher,	Month Day, Year.	DOI or URL

Notes:

Use the DOI (if applicable)
Record the date you accessed the material.
Cite a dataset stored in a database (e.g. government portal)
For data embedded in publications, cite the publication (such as a journal article, report, or webpage) instead of citing the dataset itself [21].

Geospatial Data Citation Example

City of Peterborough. "Hydrography Area." Shapefile, Open Data Peterborough. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://data-ptbo.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ptbo::hydrography-area/about

Software Citation Example

Esri Inc. ArcGIS Pro. Version 3.5. Released May 2025.

21. The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), chap. 14, sec. 157, accessed July 22, 2025, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part3/ch14/psec157.html.