What is a geo catalog?

A catalog in GIS is an organized, searchable collection of metadata about available geodatasets, map layers, and web services. Instead of hunting through files, a catalog shows what exists, who provides it, under which conditions, and how you can use the data.

A solid geo catalog records per dataset at least title, description, source, update date, coordinate system, theme, license, and contact details. That helps you judge whether data fits your map, analysis, or application before you download or connect it.

In the Netherlands, the Nationaal Georegister (NGR) is the main search catalog for government geo-information, with metadata from PDOK, Kadaster, municipalities, and other providers. Catalogs also help teams inside organizations—and in GIS platforms such as GeoApps—find and reuse the right geodata faster.