4.1 Data formats

There are several data formats in Geographic Information Systems. These formats are classified as raster, vector, text, spreadsheet, etc..

In this section, we will present the main formats used in GIS and the appropriate software for their manipulation. The data format depends on the type of information it contains. Although sometimes a data format can be used to store different types of information.

Here are some of the main data formats used in GIS:

The main geographical data formats

On the figure below, you will find an overview of some data formats and the software or tools used to manage them.

Connection between data formats and tools