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Digital Spatial DataPlanimetric and Topographic Mapping
Both Federal and local level governments have conducted large-scale mapping of planimetric and topographic features. Planimaetric features are those items that can be seen on the ground from an aerial perspective and represented on a map. Examples include building footprints, road edges and curblines, sidewalks, trees, rivers, lakes, utility poles, etc. Topographic features are those that define elevation information. The AGSL has USGS topographic maps in both analog and digital formats. Other digital planimetric and topographic mapping data in a large scale available at the AGSL are those of Milwaukee county, Ozaukee county (part), Waukesha County, and other miscellaneous areas of the US.
USGS Topographic Maps (paper, web) USGS produces various scale (1:250,000, 1:100,000, and 1:24,000) topographic map coverage of the US. The most popular series topographic map are the maps produced at a scale of 1:24,000 (or 1"=2,000'). They are also known as 7.5 minute quadrangle maps because each map covers a four-sided area of 7.5 minutes of latitude and 7.5 minutes of longitude. The AGSL archives historical USGS topographic maps in a traditional paper format. There are also two types of digital data derived from the USGS topographic maps: DRG and DLG. DRGs, or Digital Raster Graphics, are scanned images of USGS topographic maps. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator projection. Most statewide free DRGs are available from local governments websites (use keyword "free drg" and "by state" in google, for example). In WI, it is DNR which provides free and enhanced (georeferenced in WTM and ) DRGs on the DNR web site.
DLGs, or Digital Line Graphs, are the digital representations of planimetric and topographic features typically found on USGS topographic map, such as boundaries, transportation, hydrography and hypsography (contours and spot elevations). One drawback of DLGs is that DLGs is not a complete set (DLG is not available for all quadrangles). However, if DLG is available, it is a good source of large scale geographic information. Its original format is SDTS (Standard Data Transfer Standard), which can be translated into other popular GIS formats, such as shapefiles and CAD formats. DLG is available from USGS geographic data download site.
USGS topographic maps aids:
MCAMLIS - Milwaukee County One of the most popular datasets at the AGSL is a MCAMLIS (Milwaukee County Automated Mapping and Land Information System) topographic map. The digital topographic map data have been created through collaborative efforts among commercial utility companies and local goverment, and thus are copyrighted by the MCAMLIS sub-committee (Ameritech, Wisconsin Electric Power Company, and Wisconsin Gas Company). The MCAMLIS data files are only available to the students, faculty, and staff of the UW-Milwaukee for educational purposes. These data files, and any electronic files derived from them cannot be used for commercial application, sold, redistributed, or published in any electronic format (including the World Wide Web). Paper copies of the original maps created with the data or published in reports may be produced, and the AGSL reserves the right to verify the educational purpose of each request.
The AGSL acquired topographic/planimetric mapping data of Ozaukee County from the Ozaukee County Land Information Office. Some data are available for downloading from their website. Other related data are also available at the AGSL. Please see the list of data for Ozaukee County.
The AGSL acquired planimetric, 2-foot elevation, and other geographic data of Waukesha County from the Waukesha County Land Information System Division (see the list of data available at the AGSL) The planimetric mapping product covers the entire county and was compiled at a scale of 1" = 100'. The planimetric features consist of four core features. These features are pavement edges (improved and unimproved), road centerlines, water, and railroads.
The AGSL collects and archives planimetric and topographic data of other places/counties for educational purposes. Please send email to gisdata@uwm.edu to inquire about the data availability and accessibility, or visit our Wisconsin data page to check availability of the Wisconsin data. In Wisconsin, planimetric and topographic data are generally produced and managed by the land information office at the county level, and/or by regional planning commissions. The state of Wisconsin's Department of Administration maintains a list of county land information offices, and the Department of Commerce maintains a list of regional planning commissions. Comments for the AGSL? Send them to agsl@uwm.edu. |
