Vector GIS Atlas

Introduction

The Vector Base Map is a seamless coverage of the entire world at a scale of 1:1,000,000. It contains a total of 62 different data layers. The data in the base map have been compiled over several years from various public domain sources and merged together to produce a comprehensive coverage of global base map features.

Most of the data in the base map came from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's (NIMA) VMAP Level 0 vector base map product. Other sources of data include the USGS US Named Places Server, NIMA's Global Named Places Server and the USGS SRTM30 global 30-Arc Second Digital Elevation Model.

Getting Started

After downloading your base map data from the Go Spatial website, unzip the archive to your C: drive. A directory will be created called GoSpatialData. Under this directory will be a subdirectory named after the region code for the package you purchased.

Example:

C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\

Another subdirectory will be created named after the product code of the package you purchased.

Example:

C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\V-AFR-016

In this directory you will find a file with an .apr extension. This is an ArcView project file. If you have ArcView installed, click on the project file and you will be presented with an initial view of your data. There are two possible views depending on the product you purchased. Project file names starting with "V-", e.g.V-AFR-016.apr, are unlabelled and show only the suggested symbolization and overall color scheme. If you purchased the map annotation along with GIS data package, you will find a second project file. The name of that project file will start with "VA-", e.g. VA-AFR-016.apr. This is a fully annotated map that can be made print ready with very little effort.

The data subdirectories are located under the directory named after the code for the product you purchased. They are Areas, Lines and Points. The Areas subdirectory contains ShapeFiles for layers of polygon features. The Lines subdirectory contains ShapeFiles for layers of line features. The Points subdirectory contains ShapeFiles for layers of point features. The Anno directory contains ShapeFiles of linear features and attributes used to label the map data.

Example:

C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\V-AFR-016\Areas
C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\V-AFR-016\Lines
C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\V-AFR-016\Points
C:\GoSpatialData\AFR-016\V-AFR-016\Anno

For information regarding technical details and an explanation of the database columns and their meanings, go to the Go Spatial Limited website and look up the metadata for an individual layer. The Entity/Attribute section of the metadata file provides an explanation of the database columns and their meanings.

Software

ArcMap

Although the above discussion concerns ESRI's ArcView package, the data, annotation and symbolization may be easily imported into ArcMap. In ArcMap simply start a new project and from the "File" menu choose "Import from ArcView Project". Be sure to import the basic .apr file and not the annotated version that starts with "VA-". ArcMap does not handle correctly the import of labels from ArcView.

After importing the .apr file, the one beginning with "V-", load the ShapeFiles from the Anno subdirectory into your ArcMap project. For each annotation layer set the following label properties:

• Position labels above line
• Label text begins at start of line

Finally set the symbol for each annotation layer to have no color. This way only the map annotation will be visible and not the underlying line feature that positions the label correctly. We recommend the following fonts setting for each annotation layer:

• Mountains - Arial (7 pt)
• Administrative Capitals - Times New Roman Bold (14 pt)
• Cities - Times New Roman (7pt)
• Cultural Sites - Arial Italic (7pt)
• Spot Elevation - Times New Roman Bold (7 pt)
• Lakes - Arial Italic (7pt)
• Mines - Arial Italic (7pt)
• Boundary Annotation - Arial Bold (8pt)
• Hydrography Annotation - Arial Italic (8pt)
• Physiography Annotation - Arial Bold (8pt)
• National Parks - Arial Italic (8pt)
• Country Boundaries (Mostly Islands) - Times New Roman Bold Italic (8 pt)
• Oceans and Seas -  Arial Bold Italic (9pt)
• Undersea Features - Arial Bold Italic (9pt)

The colors we used for the typeface of each layer can be easily determined by visiting our map gallery. From the images available on that page you can capture the RGB values for the text and other features.

MapInfo

Instructions for importing data, style, symbols and labels into MapInfo coming shortly.

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

Introduction

These Digital Elevation Models (DEM) were adapted from the USGS's SRTM30 Global Digital Elevation Model. They have a pixel resolution of 1KM. The resolution matches the other GOS raster data products. These elevation models are supplied in Band Interleaved (.bil) format together with world files for easy georeferencing. Simply add the DEM file to a view in either ArcExplorer or ArcView and you can immediately begin overlaying other types of data on the DEM file.

After downloading your DEM from the Go Spatial website, unzip the archive to your C: drive. A directory will be created called GoSpatialData. Under this directory will be a subdirectory named after the region code for the package you purchased (See the instructions above for the Vector Base Map).

Instructions for importing Go Spatial DEM .bil data into 3DEM

• Firstly rename the DEM file (.bil) to (.bin)
• Then open the associated header file (.hdr). You will need the info from this header file for the next step.
• Go To: File > Load Terrain Model > Digital Model. The 3DEM file type selection box will open
• Choose Terrain Matrix, then OK
• You will be asked to select your file (.bin)
• You will then get a message "cannot read header"
• Click OK and the below box will open.

• Use the info from the header file to fill in the knowns, as shown above. To calculate the unknowns.. Y(South) and x(East).
• Multiply 0.0083333333 by the number of columns ( in this case ) 7098 = 59.1499
• Add this to X(West) = 172.0579
• Enter this number for X(East) =172.0579
• Multiply 0.0083333333 by thenumber of Rows ( in this case ) 5403 =45.0249
• Add this to Y(North) = -54.7749
• Enter this number for Y(South) = -54.7749
• After your file opens in 3DEM, save this work, by going to:
• File > Save Terrain Matrix > Entire Terrain as a "Binary Signed Integer"

Shaded Relief Image

Introduction

The Shaded Relief Image was created from the USGS's GTOPO30 Global Digital Elevation Model. They have a pixel resolution of 1KM. The resolution matches the other GOS raster data products. These iamges are supplied in JPEG (.jpg) format together with world files for easy georeferencing and a legend which relates the color scheme to elevation values. Simply add the Shaded Relief Image file to a view in either ArcExplorer or ArcView and you can immediately begin overlaying other types of data on the image.

After downloading your Shaded Relief Image from the Go Spatial website, unzip the archive to your C: drive. A directory will be created called GoSpatialData. Under this directory will be a subdirectory named after the region code for the package you purchased (See the instructions above for the Vector Base Map).

True Color Satellite Image

Introduction

The True Color Satellite Image was created by NASA by mosaicing cloud-free sections of MODIS imagery. They have a pixel resolution of 1KM. The resolution matches the other GOS raster data products. These images are supplied in JPEG (.jpg) format together with world files for easy georeferencing. Simply add the True Color Satellite Image file to a view in either ArcExplorer or ArcView and you can immediately begin overlaying other types of data on the image.

After downloading your True Color Satellite Image from the Go Spatial website, unzip the archive to your C: drive. A directory will be created called GoSpatialData. Under this directory will be a subdirectory named after the region code for the package you purchased (See the instructions above for the Vector Base Map).