1. A New Generation of Topographic Maps Rebuilding Canada’s National Mapping Program

2. Presentation Plan 1:50 000 Topographic Mapping of Canada Objectives
Approach and Methodology
Results
Future
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

3. History of 1:50,000 Mapping The long road from analogue to digital
Start of 1: map production
1989 – Digital Mapping Center created to vectorize cartographic data
1993 – Map revision program set aside
2000 – Provinces and federal government collaborate to generate updated national framework data layers
2007 – Vectorization of conventional data is complete
2008 – New Topographic Mapping Program

4. Current GeoBase Layers
Satellite Imagery Layer (Spot 10m resolution)
Geodetic Control
Canadian Digital Elevation Data
Geographic Names
National Road Network
National Hydro Network
Land Cover (vegetation)
Aboriginal Land – Reserves
In Progress
Municipal Limits
Railways
Electrical transmission lines
Collected closest to source
Maintained by the source
Single geometry
Free on the web

5. Decision to Initiate Targeted Mapping
Initial Consultation with Map Distributors - January 2007
National Topographic Series of maps is most preferred
Paper map sales would increase if updated
Topographic Mapping Initiatives Program
Selected geographic areas
“GeoBase inside” + resource roads where lacking
Complement GeoBase data where necessary
Work with partners
“Map Generator” to publish “print-ready” files on the Web
Maximum automation
no field checks
Initial Objective : 900 maps in 3 years
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

7. Toponyms Administrative Labels
Consultation Process
Analysis of Sources
Content decisions based on :
Availability
Reliability of data
Cartographic decisions based on:
Technology
International standards
ContoursHydro
Vegetation
Built-up
Areas
Feature Decision Table
Production system
Development
Internal Discussion
External Discussion
Preliminary Prototype
Presentation Prototypes
Carto 2008
Toponyms Administrative Labels
Transport.
Pipelines Electrical
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

8. Map Generator Evolution June 2007-March 2009
Software Platform Selection - 4 months
ArcSDE already implemented for Geospatial Database
Automate generation of Map Surround
Limit editing for text placement to 2 hours per map
Prototyping & cost analysis - 6 months
Production System Development - 12 months
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

9. Creation of the Map Generator
Prototype symbology and surround with ArcGIS 9.2
Created a Cartographic Database to store text, administrative limits, grids, etc
Automatic map creation using VB, .NET and ArcObjects
Implemented several FME scripts to enhance GDB data
Integrated the sequence of production
Ensured the metadata was kept all along
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

10. Final Software for Production System
Enterprise Architect for architecture design
ArcSDE 9.1 on Oracle for Database
ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.2 for map publishing
ArcObject
ESRI Grid Manager extension for grids
Safe Software’s FME for data manipulation
MapText’s Label-EZ, Label-Edit and Label-Contour for text placement
Opalis ,VB, .net for scheduling tool
Python
TerraGo for GeoPDF output
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

11. Minimum Data Preparation Outside GeoDatabase
Convert imperial contour into metric
Prepare UTM Grids for published sheets
Update and integrate :
Place names
Provincial administrative boundaries, e.g. municipalities and parks; and
Federal boundaries, e.g. NavCanada airports, National Defence, etc.
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

12. Text Placement Name key linked to feature geometry
How will the MapGenerator use it?
The GDB geometry will be symbolized on the map
The Toponymy Inventory element will be an overlay with a label, but with a transparent symbol
The Label-EZ software will place the label according to our specifications
A QC will be performed and the labels saved into a SDE Annotation (text) layer so the placement is preserved
In the future the MapGenerator will draw from the Annotation layer for text placement
Name key linked to feature geometry

13. Symbology
Before
After

14. Map Surround & Grids
Before / After

15. Map Surround
The metadata database is used to create the surround automatically

16. Work Flow Grids Toponymic Delineation Administrative Boundaries
Contours
Revision
Ancilliary Data
Surround
Map Generator
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

17. Map Generator Process from operator perspective
Inside the neatline - automated
Editing of text and QC - manual
Addition of the surround - automated
QC of surround and final inspection - manual
Creation of the digital files - automated
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

18. Where we are today start of production - April 2009
110 maps in 3 months with 3 operators
CanTopo brand for digital files
First quarterly release of 54 maps in June 2009
Print-ready formats available for free
TIFF
PDF
GeoPDF
Full-size paper plots available through Regional Distributor network
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

20. Evolution of Map Generator
The Map Generator project will evolve:
GeoPDF - Thematic layers
Adapt the Geo Database to facilitate revision and corrections using multiple sources
Multiple surrounds
Dynamic legends
Multiple scales
Image maps
Transition to Web Mapping
Canada’s Natural Resources – Now and for the Future

21. To complete the mapping of the North at 1:50 000 scale
1,630 maps remain to be published at the 1:50,000 scale.
$7.3 M is being reallocated to accelerate and complete mapping over the next three years.
To complete the mapping of the North at 1: scale

22.
Yvan Désy (613)