The Rural Technology Initiative ceased operations in 2011. This site is maintained as an archive of works from RTI collaborators from 2000 to 2011 and is no longer updated. RTI's successor and remaining staff can be found at NRSIG.org


     
 
   
Search the RTI Website
  
Click to go to the Precision Forestry Cooperative website
Click to go to the RTI Home page
Click to go to the About RTI page
Click to go to the RTI Projects page
Click to go to the RTI Publications page
Click to go to the RTI Tools page
Click to go to the RTI Geographic Information Systems page
Click to go to the RTI Streaming Video Directory
Click to go to the RTI Training page
Click to go to the RTI Contacts page
Click to go to the RTI Image Archive
Click to go to the RTI Site Map
Click to go to the RTI Links page


Basic Map Data

*** Back to Desktop Mapping Information for Resource Managers ***

There are four basic categories of geographic data:

  1. Images (e.g., aerial photos, scanned maps, satellite imagery, screen captures)
  2. Lines, Points and Areas (roads, streams, power lines, lakes, county boundaries, topographic lines, well sites, section corners, tower locations, etc.)
  3. Elevations (arrays of terrain heights)
  4. Spatial Databases (census data, resource inventory data, spatial event data, etc.)

Mapping data comes in dozens of different formats, projections, scales and file compression schemes. For a brief explanation of the types of data you are likely to encounter, the Help Desk at GeoCommunity is a great reference. See the Links page for a summary of digital mapping data sources. Click the graphics below for more information.

 

Images

Aerial photographs are the starting point for many mapping projects. Digital aerial photos are called Digital Orthophotos (DOP) or Digital Orthographic Quarter Quads (DOQQ). One of the most common sources of free DOP data in the United States is the Microsoft TerraServer. See the 2D Maps page for instructions about downloading TerraServer images for use as base maps. Free digital aerial photographs might be available through your state conservation agency, county or other local sources. DOP and DOQQ files (which are usually distributed on CDs due to their size) can be purchased from a number of the vendors listed in Links.

TerraServer is a free source for digital topographic maps (known as Digital Raster Graphics or DRG) for use as base maps. Many states offer free DRG data. You might also have fun experimenting with space imagery such as the Landsat data available from NASA, or National Elevation Data (NED) shaded relief raster images. (See Links for sources.)

 

Lines, Points and Areas

Geographic data described with mathematical formulae (with beginning and ending points, length and area) is known as vector data or Digital Line Graph (DLG) data. It takes up a lot less file space than image (or raster) data. DLGs for roads, streams, land surveys, etc. can be viewed without any background image or placed over the top of aerial photos and other images. One of the advantages of DLG vector format information is that it can be resized without any loss of clarity, whereas raster (or image) data becomes pixilated if enlarged too much.
USGS DLG data comes in large scale (1:24,000, corresponding to 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps), intermediate scale (1:100,000) and small scale (1:2,000,000). They vary in the amount of detail presented. See Links for sources.
If you want to map your own thematic information (like the forest cover types on the left), programs in the Toolbox can help you create vector lines, points or areas. Mapping programs have unique vector file formats for storing object information (like size, color, line width, etc.). Shapefiles (*.shp), for example, are used by ESRI ArcView® software and many other products. Other common vector types are DRA (Map Maker), OCD (OCAD), MIF/MID (MapInfo), DXF (AutoDesk), AI (Adobe Illustrator), etc. Some file formats are definitely "smarter" than others, including additional information such as geospatial locations, the map projection used and links to databases.


Elevations

A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) contains an array (or grid) of numbers recording the height of ground positions at regularly spaced horizontal intervals. The heights can be represented by a wire frame or colors like the next two examples below. Computer software can use a DEM to create 3D images of a landscape, applying lighting effects that reveal hills and valleys. 2D aerial photos or satellite images can be overlaid on a DEM to create a "virtual reality" view.


 There are a number of different types of DEMs, but the most commonly used in the United States are those produced by the USGS. They are available in 10 and 30 meter resolution sets, at various scales. Click the image to the left for more information.
Another type of fascinating DEM produced by the Space Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) is available from NASA. Click the image to the left to see an example of a SRTM elevation model combined with a Landsat 7 satellite image.
Laser pulses from aircraft and satellites can also be used to model Earth's surface. The evolving technology is called LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). LIDAR flown in aircraft can produce 3D images of not only the terrain, but tree and shrub vegetation, buildings and other structures by precisely measuring the time it takes for the reflected pulses to return. Space-based LIDAR is being used to model and analyze Earth's atmosphere.

See the Links page for sources of free DEM downloads.

 

Spatial Databases

A Geographic Information System (GIS) goes beyond cartography to find answers to geospatial questions. GIS is the mechanism for visualizing spatial data related to the Earth's surface. For example, where do tornadoes occur most frequently? Which habitat types have the highest deer populations? Where are the oldest pine forests with the highest risk of pest damage? For an example of GIS in action, visit the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atmospheric Modeling and Mapping Internet site. For more information about geospatial analysis, visit GIS.com.

Where to begin?

Exploration is one the best ways to learn about the treasure of geographic data that is available. See the Links page for sources of digital mapping data. For software to look at data or to make your own maps, see the Digital Grove Toolbox. You might also want to try some of the on-line mapping sites like National Geographic's Map Machine, the US National Park Service or those at the Geography Network.

 

*** Back to Desktop Mapping Information for Resource Managers ***
 
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
USDA Forest Service State & Private Forestry
WSU Cooperative Extension
The Rural Technology Home Page is provided by the College of Forest Resources. For more information, please contact the Rural Technology Initiative, University of Washington Box 352100 Seattle, WA 98195, (206) 543-0827. © 2000-2004, University of Washington, Rural Technology Initiative, including all photographs and images unless otherwise noted. To view the www.ruraltech.org privacy policy, click here.
Last Updated 10/13/2022 11:33:48 AM