VMap0 worldwide vector data

Description

Received from LandInfo Worldwide Mapping, VMap (Vector Map Level 0), version 5, provides seamless world coverage of many topographic map themes. The original Vector Smart Map (VMAP) files were created by the United States Defense Mapping Agency, based on the Digital Chart of the World 1:1,000,000. Version 5 is based on the newest editions of the 1:1,000,000 Operational Navigation Charts, published by the United States National Imagery and Mapping Agency on September 30, 2000. 

Although coverage for some layers is near worldwide, other layers are less extensive. There are some parts of the world where no data are available. 

Global layers from VMap0

  • airports
  • city areas
  • coast lines
  • fish hatcheries
  • industry areas
  • miscellaneous population points
  • native settlements
  • place names
  • railroads
  • spot elevation
  • trails
  • tree areas
  • barriers
  • city points
  • crop areas
  • grass areas
  • lakes
  • miscellaneous transmission lines
  • ocean sea areas
  • political boundaries
  • rail yards
  • sand areas
  • storage points
  • transportation lines
  • tundra areas
  • bathymetry
  • contours
  • danger points
  • highways
  • land ice
  • miscellaneous water lines
  • pipelines
  • power plants
  • rivers
  • sea ice
  • swamps
  • transportation points
  • utility lines
 

Spatial reference and data type

These data sets are available in geographic co-ordinates; horizontal datum is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84). They are stored in two formats: shapefile and .TAB files. Other data formats can be accommodated, as the Geospatial Centre has access to a number of conversion utilities. Files sizes vary from 30 KB to 559 MB, many being less than 28 MB. 

Data access

In order to access these data sets, please visit the Geospatial Centre Reference Desk during reference hours. Library reference staff are available to provide further information about these data sets and to deliver data upon request. Under the terms of the library's license agreement, these data sets are for use by students, faculty, and staff at the University of Waterloo only.

Data manipulation and storage

There are public workstations in the Geospatial Centre that provide access to both ArcGIS and ArcView software programs, program extensions and data manipulation utilities. Patrons may use the Geographic Information System (GIS) software in the library to view and manipulate the data. UWaterloo faculty, students and staff may copy these data to other media (for example: CD, DVD or Zip disc) for use elsewhere.

Data output

These files may be exported from ArcGIS in a choice of bitmapped formats (also known as raster graphics) including JPG, TIFF, GIF, and BMP or in a choice of vector graphics formats including Adobe Illustrator (AI), Encapsulated Postscript (EPS), and Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). Yet another option is PDF. 

Sample view of data

carribbean (JPEG)