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Use Content on the Geography Network Canada
Most Geography Network Canada content
can be used with one of two tools: a standard Web browser
or a GIS software package. Web browsers can be used to access
content such as map services, solutions, and clearinghouses.
Other content, including map data files and data services,
require GIS software to be fully utilized.
Below is a summary of how Geography
Network Canada content types can be used:
Map Services
Map services can be used with both Web browser and GIS software
applications. Web users can access map services using the
Geography Network Canada Explorer by selecting the View Map option.
The Explorer includes a mapping application that allows users to pan and zoom
on map services as well as generate printable maps with legends. The Explorer
can be used to display both ArcIMS and WMS map services (refer to
Geography Network Content for more information on map services).
Click 'View
Map' Option
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Navigate Map
Service
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GIS Users
can access ArcIMS map services using software tools such
as ESRI's ArcGIS
and ArcExplorer-Java Edition. Both ArcView and ArcExplorer-Java Edition include
links to add map services directly from the Geography Network.
These links launch a customized version of the Geography
Network Explorer that can be used to find map service. Once
an appropriate map service is found, the user can click
the Add to ArcMap or Add to ArcExplorer button
to add the map service to the map view. Users can integrate multiple map services, by using the image transparency
options, as well as integrating local data with the map
services.
Canadian Ecozones Map Service
Displayed in ArcView
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Canada's Physical Environment
Image Service
In ArcExplorer
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Data Services
Data services
are intended to support GIS users. Data services enable
users to perform a custom download of the digital data they
are viewing to access locally with GIS software, such as
ArcExplorer. The Geography Network Canada site contains
a list of data services that
can be accessed through the Geography Network Canada Explorer.
To download data from a data service, first access the data
service through the Explorer and then display a map of the
area of interest. To download the digital data for this
map, click the Download button on the Explorer toolbar and
select the layers to be downloaded. The data will be provided
in a compressed shapefile format that can be used with GIS
software such as ESRI's ArcView and ArcExplorer.
Solutions
Solutions
are intended to be accessed by Web users. A solution is
an online application built using Geography Network Canada
content or other Internet hosted data. The application includes
a complete user interface and set of geographic content
needed to perform one or more tasks. The Geography Network
Canada site contains a list of solutions that can be accessed through a Web browser.
Map Data Files
Map data files
are intended to be used with GIS software. Map data can
be presented in vector format (e.g., shapefile, coverage,
DBF) or raster format (e.g., TIF, MrSID, JPG). The Geography
Network Canada contains links to scores of map data files
that can be accessed through your Web browser. Users can
find these files by searching for this type of content in
the Geography Network Canada Explorer.
Map Image
Files Map image files
may be used with Web browsers, GIS software, or other graphics
programs depending on the format of the image. A map image
file is a finished map that is presented in any static graphics
format (e.g., GIF, TIF, BMP, MrSID). The Geography Network
Canada contains links to numerous map image files that can
be downloaded through your Web browser. Users can find these
files by searching for this type of content in the Geography
Network Canada Explorer.
Clearinghouses
Clearinghouses
are intended to support GIS users. A clearinghouse is a
Web site that contains references and links to a variety
of free geographic data. Many clearinghouses offer geographic
data for download while other sites include metadata references
or hyperlinks to data sets that may be acquired through
other mechanisms. The Geography Network Canada site contains
a list of clearinghouses
that can be accessed through a Web browser.
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