Get Oriented with the Updated Cambridge GIS Data Dictionary

Curious about Cambridge geographic data? Don't know where to start? Take a look at the recently updated Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Dictionary (https://www.cambridgema.gov/GIS/gisdatadictionary). 

The Data Dictionary describes all of the GIS resources published by the City of Cambridge. Resources are organized into logical data “layers,” each of which can be superimposed onto a visual map. The Data Dictionary describes each of these layers, including information about its creation, attributes, maintenance, history, associated departments, and intended and possible uses. 

Some layers are organized by type of map (such as 3D maps, boundary maps, and basemaps) and others by department (such as Community Development, Public Safety, and Public Works). Each Data Dictionary entry describes a single layer.

The GIS team has made it easier to jump from the Data Dictionary directly to interactive maps to view each entry. There is now a “View on map (ArcGIS online)” link in the “Purpose” section for layers that are available through that tool. Click it to open a visual preview of the map, with the option to create a new map with the layer already pre-loaded.

In the “Download Layer Data” section of the dictionary entry there are links to inspect the raw data in a variety of formats, now also including (when available) a direct link to the ArcGIS Online “Data Details” and in GeoJSON format. 

All layers now contain a “License” section, which explicitly specifies the standard Public Domain Dedication and License (https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/pddl/1-0/) adopted by the City of Cambridge for Open Data in February 2024. 

To explore the GIS Data Dictionary, visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/GIS/gisdatadictionary.