ksr1492@cec1.wustl.edu (Kevin Scott Ruland) (03/19/91)
I am looking for maps of various parts of the world (any region is fine). I would like them to be stored as a point-vector list. If anyone knows of an archive site with such files, or has some please mail me asap. Thank you. Kevin Ruland kevin@rodin.wustl.edu
UH2@psuvm.psu.edu (Lee Sailer) (03/21/91)
In article <1991Mar18.201747.23217@cec1.wustl.edu>, ksr1492@cec1.wustl.edu (Kevin Scott Ruland) says: >I am looking for maps of various parts of the world (any region is >fine). I would like them to be stored as a point-vector list. >If anyone knows of an archive site with such files, or has some >please mail me asap. Try the CIA World Map data, available on (really) Larry's Hot Tub--402- 571-4316. Actually, I am also interested in this, espceciall the Defense Mapping Agency format. lee
lee@rocksanne.uucp (Lee Moore) (03/21/91)
Here is an old message. Maybe this should be a FAQ. Lee -------- Path: rocksanne!rochester!udel!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!umriscc!hjp From: hjp@usenet.umr.edu (Hardy J. Pottinger) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: State Maps Message-ID: <1606@umriscc.isc.umr.edu> Date: 5 Nov 90 18:02:47 GMT References: <90301.113705UH2@psuvm.psu.edu> <35443@cup.portal.com> Sender: news@umriscc.isc.umr.edu Reply-To: hjp@ee.umr.edu (Hardy J. Pottinger) Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla Lines: 15 In article <35443@cup.portal.com> Mark_Stephen_Zaller@cup.portal.com writes: >The USGS sells a very nice Optical CD ROM with all 50 states that includes >... >I bought my disk for $28 from the USGS office in Menlo Park. >You can also get the disk by calling the Reston, Virginia office: 800-USA-MAPS. >The disk is called: 1:2,000,000 scale Digitial Line Graph (DLG) Data. The Data User Services Division of the Bureau of the Census also has data on CD-ROM (TSO standard format) that is derived from USGS 1:100,000 map data and may be a bit more 'object oriented' than USGS files. Call (301) 763-4100 for more info or they have a BBS at (301) 763-1568. I have some old ancient census data that's fairly small (only a few meg) but is not in any standard coordinate system that I'm aware of and isn't much good for anything but drawing state outlines. --Hardy Pottinger, hjp@ee.umr.edu -- Lee Moore -- Xerox Webster Research Center -- +1 716 422 2496 UUCP: {allegra, cornell, decvax, rutgers}!rochester!rocksanne!lee Arpa Internet: Moore.Wbst128@Xerox.Com
clh@tfic.bc.ca (Chris Hermansen) (03/22/91)
In article <91079.190330UH2@psuvm.psu.edu> UH2@psuvm.psu.edu (Lee Sailer) writes: > >In article <1991Mar18.201747.23217@cec1.wustl.edu>, ksr1492@cec1.wustl.edu >(Kevin Scott Ruland) says: > >>I am looking for maps of various parts of the world (any region is >>fine). I would like them to be stored as a point-vector list. >>If anyone knows of an archive site with such files, or has some >>please mail me asap. > >Try the CIA World Map data, available on (really) Larry's Hot Tub--402- >571-4316. > >Actually, I am also interested in this, espceciall the Defense Mapping Agency >format. > > lee Try your local USGS office; you can get 7.5" x 7.5" digital maps from them in an ASCII format called DLG-3 that's pretty easy to sort out. It even contains some spatial relationship information (called topology in the industry), and attributes. Also, ESRI in Redlands is working on the Digital Map of the World Project (don't know the originating agency) but it is supposed to be released fairly soon on CD-ROM, I believe. Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA clh@tfic.bc.ca V5Z 1E5 C'est ma facon de parler.
rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) (03/29/91)
In article <1991Mar22.155204.26170@tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: > >Try your local USGS office; you can get 7.5" x 7.5" digital maps from them >in an ASCII format called DLG-3 that's pretty easy to sort out. It even >contains some spatial relationship information (called topology in the >industry), and attributes. The coverage of these is spotty at best. You can get an Index map showing the availability of the 1:24,000 scale from your local USGS office. There is another USGS DLG-3 database, the 1:100,000 scale DLG files which are complete with respect to nationwide coverage. File sets include hydrography, roads, railroads, and and miscellaneous transportation (airports, pipelines, transmission lines). These files are still detailed enough for a lot of projects. Caveat: Both databases come from the USGS on 9 track tape only (6250 or 1600 bpi). We got a roomful of tapes that we had to download. >Also, ESRI in Redlands is working on the Digital Map of the World Project >(don't know the originating agency) but it is supposed to be released >fairly soon on CD-ROM, I believe. Not sure who is behind the effort either, but I hear the project is going somewhat slower than expected. >Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants >Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue >FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA >clh@tfic.bc.ca V5Z 1E5 Chris - What's available digitally for Canada or other countries, and how do you get it? -- Robert C. White, Jr. | Right lane of .signature closed, merge left | The WhiteStar Corporation |--------------------------------------------------| rcw@scicom.alphacdc.com | Never buy software versions <= 2.0 or >= 6.0 |
keith@actrix.gen.nz (Keith Stewart) (03/31/91)
<1991Mar22.155204.26170@tfic.bc.ca> <11225@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Actrix Information Exchange, Wellington, New Zealand Keywords: Comment-To: rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM In article <11225@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM> rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) writes: > In article <1991Mar22.155204.26170@tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: > > > >Try your local USGS office; you can get 7.5" x 7.5" digital maps from them > >in an ASCII format called DLG-3 that's pretty easy to sort out. It even > >contains some spatial relationship information (called topology in the > >industry), and attributes. > > The coverage of these is spotty at best. You can get an Index map > showing the availability of the 1:24,000 scale from your local USGS > office. > > There is another USGS DLG-3 database, the 1:100,000 scale DLG files which > are complete with respect to nationwide coverage. File sets include > hydrography, roads, railroads, and and miscellaneous transportation > (airports, pipelines, transmission lines). > > These files are still > detailed enough for a lot of projects. Caveat: Both databases come > from the USGS on 9 track tape only (6250 or 1600 bpi). We got a roomful > of tapes that we had to download. > > >Also, ESRI in Redlands is working on the Digital Map of the World Project > >(don't know the originating agency) but it is supposed to be released > >fairly soon on CD-ROM, I believe. > > Not sure who is behind the effort either, but I hear the project is going > somewhat slower than expected. > > >Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants > >Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue > >FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA > >clh@tfic.bc.ca V5Z 1E5 > > Chris - > What's available digitally for Canada or other countries, and how do you > get it? > > > -- > Robert C. White, Jr. | Right lane of .signature closed, merge left | > The WhiteStar Corporation |--------------------------------------------------| > rcw@scicom.alphacdc.com | Never buy software versions <= 2.0 or >= 6.0 | I use a Geological Information System 3-D display programme on my Commodore Amiga. It is called VistaPro. They used data from the USGS and convert it to their own format. They also have used data from MARS yes the planet to make a landscape. I found a source of similar mapping data from my local government Survey Department and now have landscapes and animations of flybys through my own locality. So approach your local GeologicaL SURVEY Department. if they do'nt have any for the locality you wany they can usually derive it from 3-D photographs. Cost will depend on local policy. I have to pay :-( although they gave me the first 500k for free to see if it would work. The scapes that come with VISTAPRO are at 30 metre grid i.e data is available every 30 meters. Virtual Reality Laboratories, the publishers of VISTAPRO mention in their newsletter that there are other DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data resellers apart from USGS but they are more expensive. One is the Spot Image Corporation who charge $US10,000 for the amount of coverage I can buy and use for $56. Spot data however is provided at 10 meter points. and much of the world can be supplied. Cheers Keith
clh@tfic.bc.ca (Chris Hermansen) (04/02/91)
In article <11225@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM> rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) writes: >In article <1991Mar22.155204.26170@tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: [stuff deleted] > >Chris - >What's available digitally for Canada or other countries, and how do you >get it? Decided to post, in case others were interested as well (or saw something in need of correction!). Here (Canada), things are split federally/provincially. The Feds have two programs, one at 1:50,000 and one at 1:250,000. These are handled by Energy, Mines, and Resources Canada; there may be others (Statistics Canada?) that I don't know about. Coverage is spotty in these (especially 1:50,000), although I *heard* that the major problem in the 1:250,000 series is lack of a final QC step. Both series contain planimetric and topographic poop (OK, the topo's just contours). The printed maps look very nice, but I have heard the digital maps have some/many errors. Also, I don't know about toponymy in the digital maps (ie, it may not be there). Finally, I think both series are NAD27. Provinces typically have their own base mapping program at larger scales. For example, BC has two (!) 1:20,000 programs: one by the Ministry of Crown Lands (planimetry, topography, NAD83 - nice stuff, too), one by the Ministry of Forests (old base maps + forest cover - yuck, although this is changing). For what it's worth, BC has about 7,000 such sheets. Crown Lands provides its positional data in a nice, simple ASCII format, while Forests has this attitude that just because they use Intergraph, everyone else should be able to, too. In Alberta, the Land Information Systems Division of Forests, Lands, and Wildlife has a 1:20,000 planimetric + topographic program. East of Alberta, my knowledge gets pretty hazy - I know Ontario has the Ontario Base Mapping Program (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), but I know none of the details. In terms of standards, the Canadian Council on Surveying and Mapping has proposed a set of standards for feature coding and data interchange that look fairly reasonable - we use their feature coding methodology in-house. Unfortunately, *very big egos* tred here, and almost everyone wants his own. There is an ongoing federal shoot-out that is supposed to select a new standard any day now - great, just what we need, another standard! Of course, no one would dream of adopting, say, DLG-3... and what's that, you say? There's a proposed ISO standard??? First thing we've heard about it :-) Outside of Canada, the only (very limited) experience I've had has been in a project we're involved with in the ASEAN countries. To date, there are very few maps in SE Asia, let alone digital ones (and the standards that might be expected to go with them). Mostly, this is a consequence of lack of airborne data (due to military concerns, weather, etc), although a fair bit of RADAR work has been done in Indonesia by Intera (from Calgary, Alberta). Also, both LANDSAT and SPOT pass over just before noon (if memory serves me); at any rate, rather after the day's weather has built up. Finally, TM ground receiving has only recently hit the area, so many extant maps made from satellite imagery were derived from MSS. In general, most of the digital data is satellite based; there is a paucity of "traditional" stuff. Please feel free to disagree, all! Hope this hasn't been too boring. Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA clh@tfic.bc.ca V5Z 1E5 C'est ma facon de parler.
rthomson@mesa.dsd.es.com (Rich Thomson) (04/02/91)
In article <1991Apr1.215213.26334@tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: >[stuff deleted] > >[...] The Feds have two programs, one at 1:50,000 and one at 1:250,000. >[...] I think both series are NAD27. > >Provinces typically have their own base mapping program at larger scales. >For example, BC has two (!) 1:20,000 programs: one by the Ministry of Crown >Lands (planimetry, topography, NAD83 - nice stuff, too), [...] NAD27 -- North American Datum 1927 NAD83 -- North American Datum 1983 Each of these refers to a set of parameters defining the ellipsoid of the Earth. See USGS Professional Paper 1395 for a detailed explanation of each of these coordinate systems. -- Rich -- ``Read my MIPS -- no new VAXes!!'' -- George Bush after sniffing freon Disclaimer: I speak for myself, except as noted. UUCP: ...!uunet!dsd.es.com!rthomson Rich Thomson ARPA: rthomson@dsd.es.com PEXt Programmer