Would a GPS Help?

Navigating STC GeographySiobhan Hanratty

Atlantic DLI Training, Acadia University, 28 February 2003

Five Questions to Find Your Way…

1. What Census and which product do I want?

2. What format do I need?

3. What themes do I require?

4. What geographical hierarchy do I need?

5. Which specific file do I need?Show me!

Where Do We Start?

Geography is not yet on the web

Start on the ftp site

ftp.statcan.ca

/geography/census2001/

1. What Census & Product do I Need?

Spatial(This is where the gems are)

Chose a product subdirectory

/geography/census2001/spatial/…

AttributeCARS

Concordance

Documentation

Geosuite

Maps PCCF

PCFC

Census2001

Census1996

2. What Format Do I Want?

MapInfo ArcInfo

/geography/census2001/spatial/Arcinfo…

It’s a matter of choice…

what software is your patron using?

Spatial

3. What themes do I require?

Census Boundary Files

Road Network Files

Skeletal Road Network Files

Ecumene (Population density)

/geography/census2001/spatial/Arcinfo/CBF…

Spatial

ArcInfo

CBF RNF SRNF Ecumene

4. What geographical hierarchy do I need?

Which path do I take???

Spatial

ArcInfo

CBF

National Provincial CMA Extra

/geography/census2001/spatial/Arcinfo/CBF/provincial …

4. What slice of the geographical hierarchy do I

need? CANADA

PROV/TERR

CAR ERFED CMA/CA Non-CMA/CA

CD

CCS

CSD

DA

CT

Block

CMA CACT No CT

MIZ Terr.

DPL

UA Rural

/geography/census2001/spatial/Arcinfo/CBF/provincial /da…

Spatial

ArcInfo

CBF

NationalProvincial CMA Extra

4. What geographical hierarchy do I need?

ccs csd ct da

cd ccs cma ct csd da dpl fed er pr ua dpp

csd ct da

/geography/census2001/spatial/Arcinfo/CBF/provincial /da/gda_13b02.zip

Spatial

ArcInfo

CBF

Provincial

5. What specific file do I need?

ccs csd dact

Gda_10b02.zipGda_11b02.zipGda_12b02.zipGda_13b02.zipEtc.

Now What?

Thanks, but that was a lot more confusing than I thought it would be!

Why don’t I just get a DMTI census file from UT? I’ve heard they are easy to use…

Oh.

Yikes!

Wow.

I need a moment…

Okay, Tell Me More…

DMTI+ Project files (.apr)

available; ArcView-ready+ Individual files come as

shape, no need for importing

+ 96 Census boundaries are paired with Census tables in .dbf format, ready for joining to spatial files

- Bundling is still a “challenge”

Alternative route: IDLS

STC+ STC spatial data

only; census geo rocks!

+ STC Documentation is at your fingertips

- Organization still chaotic

- Tables still have to be tweaked before merging

Is It Worth It?

You bet!

It gives research an entirely new dimension and, though there is new language, you still have two feet on the ground at all times.

We promise!

Making a Sandwich

Where in the world are we and is that really PB over

there?

GIS is really about…

Where…What…

&

Location:

e.g. Latitude & longitude

X

Attributes:

Palm tree cover, old growth, near Joe’s oasis

Sounds Simple! Let’s Go!

“Now, just hold on to your shopping cart,

missy!”

GIS is Much, Much More!

•Data networks

•Technology (software, hardware)

•Data creators

•Institutional arrangements

•Policies and Standards

•Spatial Data

•Metadata

•Users

GIS

In

frastr

uctu

re

“What” can be any spatially-referenced entity or phenomena.

This means that a project can get out of control very quickly….

Why You Want More Lessons

Especially if you don’t use the standard or compatible scale, data

and projection in your project.

Why You Want More Lessons

Imagine a sandwich in which everything imaginable including drano was added in random order, dropped at heights varying from two inches to 30,000 feet (yuck, the pickle just came through the roof and onto the kitchen table---sort of), the mayo ended up in the living room and the bread in the backyard, and the chicken—well someone forgot to cook it.

So Start Gently!

Your first map doesn’t have to be that kind of disaster.

We’re going to take a look at one concept today—layers or themes of a map. It is a great concept to see in action and will really help with the reference questions you get!

You begin with an idea…