Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

In general, citations (i.e., references) give credit to others for their work and ideas and allow readers to track down the original work if they choose. Citing data has not always been standard practice, especially if it is data you have collected yourself, but as data becomes more and more widely shared, proper attribution is increasingly important. Citing datasets helps them become part of the scholarly record and gives proper credit to the creator of the dataset.

Citation also allows researchers to look at the underlying data supporting your research, to build upon your research, or attempt to reproduce your results. So don't forget to keep track our where you're getting your data from (as you gather it) and cite it!

The following are a couple of recommended sources for ways to cite geospatial data, maps, and imagery:

Before using a data source in your research, you will need to check if there are any use restrictions. While data itself cannot be copyrighted, any product derived from that data can. This can apply to datasets as a whole, as well as charts and graphs created by online tools. There may also be privacy concerns related to the data itself, which would limit the ways the data can be used and shared. Users should always read the terms and conditions for each data source, especially if they intend to publish their research.

For more information and if you have any questions about copyright, contact the UBC Copyright Office.

Research data is created or generated as part of a research project, including numeric data, text, transcripts, images, video and audio recordings, and more. Good research data management prevents data loss, stores data securely and facilitates data sharing.

UBC Library offers advice and services for research data management, including 

• DMP Assistant: a free, national, bilingual online tool that helps Canadian researchers develop structured, funder-compliant Data Management Plans (DMPs). Please select the UBC simplified template (pre-funding phase). This concise template and accompanying guidance are intended for research teams preparing grant applications. It helps plan the management of research data throughout the project lifecycle. 
• UBC Dataverse Collection (at Borealis): Borealis is Canada’s bilingual, multidisciplinary, and secure national research data repository built on the open-source Dataverse platform, hosted by Scholars Portal at the University of Toronto and supported by regional academic libraries consortia and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada. It enables researchers at UBC to deposit, manage, share, and preserve data with features like DOI assignment, multilingual metadata, granular access controls, version tracking, in-browser data previews, and monthly integrity checks—all while complying with FAIR principles and ensuring Canadian jurisdiction over data. Use it for small to medium-sized research data.
• UBC Library RDM GitHub: These open-source, self-paced learning modules are built on GitHub and aligned with The Carpentries’ pedagogy. Topics include file naming, data organization, READMEs, sharing data, Data Management Plans, data deposits in Borealis, and more. Free, self-paced, reproducible, and licensed for reuse.
• UBC Library RDM DataGuide: Updated regularly, this guide walks you through core RDM concepts such as directory structure, file formats, metadata, storage, and version control.

Learn more at the UBC Library Research Data Management Website or attend one of UBC Library’s workshops. Check the instruction calendar for dates and times.  

ORCID iD

Part of managing your research data includes managing your author profile, allowing your citations to be properly attributed and linked to you. One type of author profile is linked to an ORCID iD, a type of personal persistent identifier. ORCID is an international non-profit organization.
 

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that you own and control, and that distinguishes you from every other researcher. You can connect your iD with your professional information — affiliations, grants, publications, peer review, and more. You can use your iD to share your information with other systems, ensuring you get recognition for all your contributions, saving you time and hassle, and reducing the risk of errors.

An ORCID iD is yours, for your entire career. Even if your name changes or you move between countries, postings, or fields, your ORCID iD remains unchanged. 

Register for your ORCID iD at https://orcid.org