Using CanVec from Natural Resources Canada?

The CanVec dataset will be merged into the OpenStreetMap database, over the next 2 years (i estimate on how long it should take) http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/CanVec

For those interested im helping out, feel free to just ask on the OSM mailing list. (this link can be found on the CanVec wiki page) this website does not allow for more than 1 link.

And BTW the CanVec dataset is derived from multiple datasources, including GeoBase.

I use the CanVec offerings somewhat regularly in building teaching assignments for profs, but the data require a good amount of work to go from what's provided to what a novice GIS user (who may or may not actually be interested in GIS) can handle.

As an example, if I want to supply a layer of fire station points in our region as part of an assignment, the process is as follows:

• Download and extract the zip file for each of the 4 tiles that intersect our region (not CanVec's fault, the boundaries between tiles have to go somewhere)
• Look up in the documentation what the number is for the buildings and structures layer, and what the code is for fire stations
• Isolate the 8 shapefiles that have the information I need (1 polygon and 1 point layer for each tile)
• Merge the 4 polygon layers and the 4 point layers
• Select and export the features I need in each
• Convert the selected polygons to points
• Merge the two point layers I now have
• Remove the duplicated points, if any (there are sometimes features in the polygon and point layers that represent the same feature on the ground, this tends to bug me more than anything else)

That's a decent amount of processing to get what I need, but it's not hard and probably not more than what the average GIS professional has to do to wrangle their data.

That said, maybe the complexity of the data model scares people off (particularly the naming conventions, as the question mentioned). I think you can usually find what you're looking for in CanVec, as long as you know how to look and are willing to read the documentation.

The other (more anecdotal) thing is that in my experience, compared to NTDB, there are a lot more features categorized as "unknown" in CanVec. This sometimes includes features that were properly categorized in NTDB, but then became unknown in CanVec.

We use the Canvec WMS server on a regular basis for localized mapping, and love it. Simple to use, easy to access, free, well rendered and consistent (well free if you ignore the fact that it is supported by the taxpayer).

It works well in ArcGIS but I am having difficulties connecting to the data using the AutoCAD Map 2001 3D FDO.