Frequently Asked Questions

The Geography Network Canada provides access to geographic content from hundreds of organizations around the world. The content ranges from dynamic map services that can be viewed online to static geographic data sets that can be downloaded for use with mapping software. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions organized by topic.

About The Geography Network Canada

Finding Content
Using the Metadata Explorer
Using Content
Publishing Content

Tips for Users

Tips for GIS Users
Tips for Publishers

Finding Content

What types of content can I find?
How do I find content?

What types of content can I find?

There are three categories of geographic content available on the Geography Network Canada: data, documents, and resources. Each category has a number of content types. Search for data if you want to download, order, or add data or map services directly to your map. Search for documents if you are interested in map files, static map images, and geographic information. Search for resources if you are seeking links to external Web sites, data clearinghouses, geographic information system (GIS)-based Web applications, and geographic services. More details.

How do I find content?

There are two ways to find content: the Geography Network Canada Explorer, the Geography Network Canada site, and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Clearinghouse.

  1. The Explorer lets you search or browse for content. You can then view details describing the content and preview it through the Explorer. More details.
  2. The Web site is organized by major types of content: data, maps, and solutions. Each section lists specific content with links to product information.

Using the Explorer

How do I use the Explorer to find content?
How do I preview content in the Explorer?
How do I add content from the Explorer to ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web?
How do I print Explorer results?

How do I use the Explorer to find content?

The Geography Network Canada Explorer lets you search and preview metadata for a vast collection of geographic content. There are two ways to find geographic content using the Explorer.

  1. Searching. The Explorer enables you to search based on specific criteria such as area of interest, keyword, or type of content. To confine your search to a specific geographic area, enter a place name or draw a box on the map. To find a specific type of content, select a content type and/or content theme. Or you can enter a keyword. Use any combination of search criteria to narrow your results. More details.
  2. Browsing. Metadata documents are organized into a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories, making them easy to browse. Select the Browse tab on the left side of the Explorer, then choose a specific publisher to view their content. More details.

How do I preview content in the Explorer?

Your searching or browsing results are summarized in the right panel of the Explorer. If searching or browsing returned more than one result, the records are listed by content type. Descriptions of each data set include the name of the publisher, the content title, and often the coverage area and map scale. Select the View Details or View Map button beneath a specific record to see its detailed description or preview the map. More details.

How do I add content from the Explorer to ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web?

If you launched the Geography Network Canada Explorer from ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web, an Add to ArcMap, Add to ArcExplorer, or Add to ArcExplorer Web button is available from the Search Results. Click this button to add the selected data or service directly to your current ArcMap, ArcExplorer, or ArcExplorer Web map display.

How do I print Explorer results?

Anything that appears in the right panel of the Explorer can be printed. This includes metadata, maps, and search results. To create a printable version of content displayed in the right panel (excluding the navigation and map tools buttons), click the Create Printable Version button located in the upper right corner. More details.

Using Content

Do I need special tools to use content found in the Geography Network?
What types of content are available?
What kinds of data are available?
What kinds of documents are available?
What kinds of resources are available?

Do I need special tools to use content found in the Geography Network?

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.

What types of content are available?

Three categories of content can be found on the Geography Network: data, documents, and resources.

  1. Data can be added directly to your map, downloaded, or ordered.
  2. Documents include map files, static map images, and other documents.
  3. Resources are GIS-based Web applications, geographic services, links to external Web sites, and data clearinghouses.

When choosing content, consider the level of interaction you want to have with the data and whether or not you want to download it to your own machine.

What kinds of data are available?

There are a variety of data types available to discover and use on the Geography Network. These include:

  • Dynamic Data and Maps: GIS users can access "live" data and maps, such as ArcIMS or Web map server (WMS) map services, using software tools such as ArcGIS, ArcExplorer--Java Edition, or ArcExplorer Web available on this site.
  • Offline Data: Many publishers offer data that can be ordered online and delivered in CD or DVD format or as other shippable media. This data cannot be directly downloaded to your computer.

What kinds of documents are available?

Several types of documents are available on the Geography Network Canada including:

  • Map Files: Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping application such as ArcReader or ArcMap. Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing, and printing.
  • Static Maps: You cannot directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps. You can view them and download them to your computer.
  • Other Documents: This category includes geographic information stored in text files, spreadsheets, or other formats and can be used in conjunction with geographic data. In many cases, they can be viewed and downloaded.

What kinds of resources are available?

Application developers and GIS users can find important resources on the Geography Network Canada including:

  • Applications: An online application is 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. GIS Web Services:
  • GIS Web services are Internet applications with a geographic focus-using data and related functionality to perform basic geoprocessing tasks such as place name searches, address matching, or routing. GIS Web services use simple object access protocols (SOAP) to transfer information back and forth to clients and bring together two industry-standard languages for communicating over the Internet: HTTP and XML.
  • Clearinghouses: 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.

Publishing Content

Can I be a publisher?
What kind of content can I publish?
How do I publish a map service?
How do I publish links to geographic data and maps?
How do I use ArcCatalog to publish metadata to the Geography Network?
When will my content appear on the Geography Network?
How do I use ArcCatalog to review metadata records published on the Geography Network?
Are there limitations to using ArcCatalog to search metadata records on the Geography Network?
Can I set up my own metadata structure when I use ArcCatalog to add records to the Geography Network?
Can I use ArcCatalog to publish ArcReader (*.pmf) files to the Geography Network?
Is more information available about publishing?

Can I be a publisher?

If you have geographic content you are interested in sharing with others, we invite you to publish it through the Geography Network Canada so it can be discovered and accessed by our users.

What kind of content can I publish?

There are two ways to provide content through the Geography Network:

  1. Publish map services using an Internet mapping system that users can view online and/or download.
  2. Publish links to geographic data and maps that users can access and download from the Internet.

How do I publish a map service?

It's quick and easy to publish your map service on the Geography Network.

  • First, create a map service implemented with an Internet Map Server that speaks one of the languages used by the Geography Network, either ArcXML or WMS.
  • Use your Internet Map Server software to author and publish map services with your geographic data.
  • Then, register as a publisher on the Geography Network.
  • Finally, publish links to your content with descriptive information to help users find and evaluate your offerings.

More details
Publish using ArcCatalog

How do I publish links to geographic data and maps?

To publish links to your data and maps

  • First, register as a publisher on the Geography Network.
  • Then, publish links to your content with descriptive information to help users find and evaluate your offerings.

More details.

How do I use ArcCatalog to publish metadata to the Geography Network?

To use ArcCatalog to publish metadata records to the Geography Network:

  • Open ArcCatalog and click Internet Servers. Then click Add Internet Server.
  • Enter http://www.geographynetwork.ca as the URL.
  • Under Account, check Show Secure Services and enter your Geography Network Canada username and password.
  • Click OK. The Geography Network Canada Internet server will appear in ArcCatalog.
  • Click to select the items whose metadata you want to publish in the Geography Network Canada contents tab or catalog tree.
  • Click Copy.
  • Under www.geographynetwork.ca, click the metadata service.
  • Next, click your publisher folder in the metadata service, making sure all new records are moved to this folder.
  • Click Paste.

For more details, see Using ArcIMS Metadata Server, Chapter 4, Publishing to a Metadata Server [PDF-982 KB].

When will my content appear on the Geography Network?

Publishing can take a few moments. Should there be a problem, a report will appear to explain why a document could not be published. If you are publishing something that has been previously published on the Geography Network, the report shows which documents have been updated.

Our editors review new documents for accuracy and completeness before they are published on the Geography Network. Notification will be sent to you when your new records are published.

How do I use ArcCatalog to review metadata records published on the Geography Network?

To view published and approved records:

  • Open ArcCatalog and click Internet Servers.
  • Then click Add Internet Server.
  • Enter http://www.geographynetwork.com as the URL.
  • Click OK. The Geography Network Canada Internet server will appear in ArcCatalog.
  • Click the Geography Network Canada Internet server to display its contents.
  • Click the Browse_Metadata metadata service.
  • Now, click any of the items shown to view the published metadata record.

For more details, see Using ArcIMS Metadata Server, Chapter 4, Finding Data [PDF-982 KB].

Are there limitations to using ArcCatalog to search metadata records on the Geography Network?

You can find ISO documents if you perform a full-text search or a spatial search of the Geography Network with the ArcIMS Metadata Service search engine in ArcCatolog. Other records are all hard coded to FGDC elements.

Can I set up my own metadata structure when I use ArcCatalog to add records to the Geography Network?

Yes. You can organize the metadata records in your publisher folder in a way that makes sense to you (e.g., by department, publisher, content, area, thematically). The metadata folders will be accessible through the Geography Network Explorer.

Can I use ArcCatalog to publish ArcReader (*.pmf) files to the Geography Network?

Yes. ArcCatalog can read and publish ArcReader (*.pmf) files to the Geography Network.

Is more information available about publishing?

Learn more about how to publish content on the Geography Network Canada by reading the ESRI white paper How to Participate in the Geography Network [PDF-154 KB].

Tips for GIS Users

The Geography Network Canada provides useful resources for the GIS user.

  • The Geography Network Canada Explorer lets you discover sources of GIS data, maps, and other content to help with your daily activities.
  • Publishing your own content, such as GIS data or applications, is quick and easy through the Geography Network.

Here are some basics about the Geography Network to help in getting started.

What's the best way to find data, maps, and other content for use in GIS?
What kinds of data for GIS are available on the Geography Network?
What kinds of maps for GIS are available on the Geography Network?
How can I publish content for other GIS users?
How will GIS users and others find my content?

What's the best way to find data, maps, and other content for use in GIS?

The Geography Network Canada Explorer is the primary tool for discovering and accessing content. Use the Search and Browse tools to find what you need. Learn more about using the Explorer.

What kinds of data for GIS are available on the Geography Network?

Currently, free data sets can be discovered on the Geography Network Canada including:

  • Dynamic Data and Maps: GIS users can access "live" data and maps, such as ArcIMS or WMS map services, using software tools such as ArcGIS and ArcExplorer--Java Edition.

What kinds of maps for GIS are available on the Geography Network?

Discover map services and published map files built for GIS software including:

  • Dynamic Data and Maps: GIS users can access "live" data and maps, such as ArcIMS or WMS map services, using software tools such as ArcGIS and ArcExplorer--Java Edition.
  • Static Maps: You cannot directly interact with static map images as you can with dynamic data and maps. You can view them and download them to your computer.
  • Map Files: Map files are digital maps that can be viewed in a mapping application such as ArcReader or ArcMap. Map files are typically completed maps that are ready for viewing, publishing, and printing.

How can I publish content for other GIS users?

Many GIS users regularly develop content that is useful to others. This content may include GIS data sets, static map images, map files, custom applications, and more. Publishing your content on the Geography Network Canada enables you to share your content with the GIS community and beyond.

How will GIS users and others find my content?

Content published through the Geography Network may be discovered through the Geography Network Canada Explorer as well as popular GIS data directories such as the CGDI Clearinghouse and GIS search tools such as ArcCatalog. We encourage you to use the Geography Network Canada to share your valuable content with others!

Tips for Publishers

Many GIS users regularly develop content that is useful to others in the GIS community and beyond such as GIS data sets, static map images, map files, and custom applications. The Geography Network Canada enables you to quickly publish this content so that others may discover and use it.

Here are some basics about the Geography Network to help in getting started.

Can I publish content?
What kind of content can I publish?
How will GIS users and others find my content?

Can I publish content?

If you have geographic content you are interested in sharing with others, we invite you to publish it through the Geography Network Canada so it can be discovered and accessed by our users. Here's how.

  • First, learn how easy publishing content on the Geography Network Canada is.
  • Then, register to begin publishing within minutes.

What kind of content can I publish?

There are two ways to provide content through the Geography Network.

  1. Publish map services using an Internet mapping system that users can view online and/or download.
  2. Publish links to geographic data and maps that users can access and download from the Internet.

How will GIS users and others find my content?

Content published through the Geography Network may be discovered through the Geography Network Canada Explorer as well as GIS search tools such as ArcCatalog. We encourage you to use the Geography Network Canada to share your valuable content with others!