Vector Map


The Vector Map , also called Vector Smart Map, is a vector-based collection of geographic information system data about Earth at various levels of detail. Level 0 coverage is global and entirely in the public domain. Level 1 is only partly in the public domain.
There are ongoing discussions about making most of the information available in the public domain.

Description

Features and data attributes are tagged utilizing the international Feature and Attribute Coding Catalogue.
  1. major road networks
  2. railroad networks
  3. hydrologic drainage systems
  4. utility networks
  5. major airports
  6. elevation contours
  7. coastlines
  8. international boundaries
  9. populated places
  10. index of geographical names

    Levels of resolution

The vector map product are usually seen as being of three different types: low resolution, medium resolution and high resolution.

Level Zero (VMAP0)

Level 0 provides worldwide coverage of geo-spatial data and is equivalent to a small scale. The data are offered either on CD-ROM or as direct download, as they have been moved to the public domain. Data are structured following the Vector Product Format, compliant with standards MIL-V-89039 and MIL-STD 2407.

Data sets

The entire coverage has been divided into four data sets:
  1. North America
  2. Europe and North Asia
  3. South America, Africa, and Antarctica
  4. South Asia and Australia

    Level One (VMAP1)

Level 1 data are equivalent to a medium scale resolution. Level 1 tiles follow the MIL-V-89033 standard.
  • Horizontal accuracy: 125–500m
  • Vertical accuracy: 0.5–2 Contour Interval

    Data sets

VMAP Level 1 is divided in 234 geographical tiles. Only 57 of them are currently available for download from NGA.
Among the available datasets, coverage can be found for parts of Costa Rica, Libya, United States, Mexico, Iraq, Russia, Panama, Colombia and Japan.

Level Two (VMAP2)

Level 2 data are equivalent to a large scale resolution. Level 2 tiles follow the MIL-V-89032 standard.
  • Horizontal accuracy: 50–200m
  • Vertical accuracy: 0.5–2 Contour Interval

    Debate about availability of data

The USA Freedom of Information Act and the Electronic Freedom of Information Act guarantee access to virtually all GIS data created by the Federal government of [the United States|US government]. Following the trend of the United States, much of the VMAP data has been offered to the public domain.
But many countries consider mapping and cartography a state monopoly; for such countries, the VMAP Level1 data are kept out of the public domain. However, some data may be commercialised by national mapping agencies, sometimes as a consequence of privatisation.
Various public groups are making efforts to have all VMAP1 data moved to the public domain in accordance with FOIA.
Further steps have been taken by the Free World Maps Foundation and others to have the data licensed under the GNU General Public License, while remaining copyrighted, as an alternative to the public domain. This is an ongoing debate.

Copyrights

VMAP0

The U.S. government has released the data into public domain, with the following conditions imposed :
The VMAP0 download page states:
However, all is not quite what it seems. There is a 'readme1.txt' file located in the v0eur, v0sas, and v0soa directories. This file contains information saying that layers: Boundaries Coverage and the Reference Library, are copyrighted to the Environmental Systems Research Institute.
If these copyrighted layers are not used there is no violation of any copyrights.

Tools to read and convert VMAP data

VMAP is a slightly more detailed reiteration of the DCW.
VMAP has much higher resolution data.
  • 2004 The National Imagery and Mapping Agency is renamed to National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency which will include other mapping agencies such as the Defense Mapping Agency , the Central Imagery Office and the Defense Dissemination Program Office . All VMAP data will subsequently be distributed through the NGA.