How to request a map

All GIS-related requests should be submitted via email to Liz Gjieli at egjieli@nybg.org. When submitting your request, please include the following:

Map type and quantity: Specify the type(s) of map requested (e.g., new species distribution, species range, area of occupancy or extent of occurrence calculations, niche modeling) and the number of maps requested, if applicable. It is also helpful to know the purpose of the map (for publication, presentation, exploratory spatial data analysis, IUCN Red List assessment, etc.).

Data: Provide relevant spatial or tabular data for map production, and list any preferred base layers to include (e.g., political boundaries, terrain, aerial imagery, hydrography, land use, etc.).

Accepted data formats:

• Occurrence Data: A CSV file (.csv) with coordinates in decimal degrees (latitude and longitude) is preferred. Include additional fields where available, such as species name, locality description, collection date, and NY barcode.
• GIS Data: Shapefiles (.shp) should be submitted with all required companion files in a zipped folder. Additional accepted formats include layer files (.lyr), file geodatabases (.gdb), and Google Earth files (.kml, .kmz). Raster data, representing gridded continuous surfaces, can be provided in .geotiff, .jpeg/.jpg), .bil, or .asc formats.

Color preference: Indicate whether you prefer grayscale or color maps, and note any preferred color-schemes or palettes.

Deadline: Specify the approximate date the map is needed. Please allow at least two weeks from the date of your request.

Please note that georeferencing collection localities for map requests is time-intensive and may require assistance from support staff, thus may require funding.

Last updated: 23 Oct 2025