Knowledgebase

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • MapWarehouse
  • MapCast
  • VuMAP
  • Orthophoto
  • Elevation
  • Parcels
  • Floodplain
  • Moraine Groundwater
  • Satellite
  • Ontario Base Map
  • LiDAR
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  • 1. What's the difference between JPG and MrSid? What file format is best for my project?
     

    JPG and MrSID are just a few compressed image formats. Both formats can be read by most up-to-date CAD and GIS software. JPG is a fine option where the goal is simply to view the imagery across as many platforms as possible and use it as a base layer to give context to your vector files. MrSID is the prefered choice where more demanding image manipulation or analysis will be involved and the resulting output needs to retain the data quality characteristics of the original.

    JPG offers a reasonable balance between file size and image quality, and is most useful for images with smooth transitions between tone and colour. For this reason, JPG is easily the most popular format in digital photography and can be used with countless types of software . It does not hold up well to image processing or multiple edits, however, and can tend to lose detail of colour variation, causing a blocky appearance after decompression and recompression (posterization). FBS offers georeferenced JPG imagery by using an auxiliary *.WLD world file, which references the coordinates where the image tile should be inserted in the map, read by geo-capable software.

    MrSID (multiresolution seamless image database) is a technology owned by LizardTech specifically for use with georeferenced imagery like orthophoto, which could have up to 8 - 16bit multispectral bands. The file size can be compressed up to 20:1 without degrading the image's appearance for RGB. Using MrSID format therefore allows very large files to be viewed quickly without the need to fully decompress the image. Furthermore, metadata like pixel resolution is inherent in the image and is updated automatically during processing.

    Learn more

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  • 2. How do I place my orthophoto in CAD software to align with other data tiles I bought?
     

    For some users, simply change the extension of the world coordinate file that came with your JPG photo from *.wld to *.jgw, or, use a utility to read the wld file, which references coordinates of the top left corner of each image, accounting for a small buffer around the photo.

    For some users, in the task pane, connect to data, add raster image or surface connection, choose the folder and files and add them to the map.

    To insert a single image, create a new layer and use the coordinates that are embedded in the file name (see Q&A below) using the command, IMAGEATTACH to insert a single image. Use the easting value for the X-coordinate and add two zeros to the end, use the northing value for the Y-coordinate and add two zeros to the end. The scaling factor is 500, because a single tile is 500m x 500m. Use the command CDORDER to change the image drawing order to the back, behind your text and linework. The image will be attached as an Xref, so use the command ETRANSMIT to package your work if you intend to share your DWG file.

    Learn more

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  • 3. What do the numbers in the file name mean?
     

    The first letters tell the data type, "orth" for orthophoto, "line" for a digital elevation model, "contour" for contour lines. The next 2 numbers are the UTM zone, usually 16, 17, or 18, for Ontario. The next 4 numbers are the easting value of the bottom left corner of the file, the next 5 numbers are the northing value for the bottom left corner of the tile. The next 4 digits are the year the data was captured. The last letters are the data owner, "fbs" for first base solutions, "tera" for teranet. For example, if the file name is orth171234567892012fbs.jpg. This is an orthophoto, taken by First Base Solutions in 2012. The UTM zone is 17, the X-value is 123400 and the Y-value is 5678900 for the lower left corner of the tile.
    Learn More

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  • 4. I need to do basic research with the orthophoto over a huge area which is going to run over budget and use my whole hard drive. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers two subscription based options to explore our data libraries through either an internet browser VuMAP, or, using your own CAD or GIS software using MapCast.

    Learn more

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  • 5. I need photos covering more than one tile, but I don't have software that can handle georeferenced data.
     

    As long as you have an internet connection, you can use our VuMAP service to view the orthophoto and other data in context. Other options include having the tiles mosaicked into a single file, or, having a custom large format print produced. Contact customer service to request a quote.

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  • 6. My area of interest has expanded and I need a few more tiles of photo. Can I add to an existing order and continue the bulk rate discount?
     

    Yes, but this discount will not be applied automatically as you place the order in MapWarehouse. If you need to expand your coverage, orthophoto tiles which are adjacent to tiles in a previous order can qualify to have the bulk rate discount extended, as long as the additional area is purchased within 2 weeks of receiving the original order. Make your online purchase as usual, then contact our customer support with the order numbers of both the original and additional orders to request a rebate. We will review your orders, recalculate the total and send along a revised invoice or apply a partial refund to your credit card if the order qualifies.

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  • 7. Is it possible to get the date and time when the photo I just purchased was taken?
     

    Yes, however, the photo tiles are made up of several photos stitched together. To locate the date and time for a tile, it is necessary to look up the flight plan to find the original photo most closely centered on the particular tile. The flight data is not available through the MapWarehouse website, but our customer service staff would be happy to look up the information for you.

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  • 8. Why are some orthophoto data sets labeled as "Winter", do they have snow cover?
     

    All FBS orthophoto is cloud-free, snow-free, and leaf-free to ensure ground features are visible. Early Spring photos are sometimes taken prior to March 20, which is technically still Winter.

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  • 9. I have a friend in real estate who would find this really useful. Is there a more basic version of the imagery available?
     

    Yes! We also provide a service called Zoom2It which can be accessed through a real estate agent's GeoWarehouse account. Simply chose a property from the map or by the street address, and you can download a set of three aerial photos of the property at a property, neighbourhood, and community zoom level, with the Teranet property boundary overlaid. Agents may use these images for marketing the chosen property.

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  • 10. I thought I was getting a complete map but this file is just a bunch of lines. Where are the road labels and other features?
     

    Only elevation information is included, either as DEM or contour, depending on the file you've chosen. The road edges frequently appear as break lines in the DEM, giving the appearance of unlabeled roads. There are a few options to give context to to the surrounding area. You can take advantage of the georeferencing inherent in the elevation data file and use it with your own spatial data you've collected for your project as a background layer. If you don't have your own data, the tile grid for elevation data coverage is the same as for orthophoto and Teranet parcel coverage. Users often purchase a few files of different data types for the same grid cell. The user can then use the orthophoto as a background layer and add elevation data on top, both files having identical geographical coverage. In this way, users can select data a la carte and pay for only the layers and coverage needed.

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  • 11. I can't find the elevation data for my area in MapWarehouse. How can I get this information?
     

    It's usually possible to produce a highly detailed custom elevation model using current orthophoto or satellite imagery, where this imagery exists. Contact us for a quote. We also have 1983 OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) for the entire province which has 5m interval contours in southern Ontario and 10m interval contours in northern Ontario.

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  • 12. I looked for PINs on MapWarehouse and there was no data for my area. Does this mean I can't get the data I need?
     

    Absolutely not! Whether you're after just one parcel or need the whole city, PINs and ARNs for all of Ontario can be purchased by placing a custom order through our helpful customer service staff. Send along a SHP or DWG file delineating the area you'd like to purchase, or, provide a list of the PIN or ARN numbers you're interested in. You'll receive a quote by email for the data in the area you've chosen.

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  • 13. Why doesn't the property boundary line up perfectly with the orthophoto?
     

    The orthophoto are generally spatially accurate to double the resolution value. Simply put, if a photo has resolution of 20cm, any point on the photo will be accurate within 40 cm of its true location. For the parcel data, different Land Registry Offices in Ontario were originally drawn to different standards and then later integrated into one dataset that's now maintained by Teranet. The most accurate being POLARIS (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System) which is based on surveys, followed by BIM (Basic Index Mapping) which is based on 1:10,000 scale mapping or smaller, and Pre-BIM, which is compiled in areas where good control data is less available, making it the least positionally accurate. In an area where pre-BIM standards are used, it's not unusual for the property lines to be off by 10 m or more from where you would expect them to lie on the photo. Where your orthophoto and property lines don't align perfectly, it's likely due to different accuracy standards used to create one or both of the datasets.

    Read More

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  • 14. The parcel tile I downloaded doesn't have the property I was expecting, just a couple of lines.
     

    Large properties often span several tiles, you're seeing only the portion of the parcel boundary that crosses the particular tile. You will either need to buy all the tiles that your property intersects and combine the boundary lines, or, request a quote for a custom order for the specific parcel. For a small order of large parcels, custom orders are often more economical than purchasing tiles. Read More

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  • 15. I need to do basic research with the parcels over a huge area which is going to run over budget. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers a subscription based options to explore our data libraries through an internet browser application VuMAP.

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  • 16. How does the quality of satellite imagery compare with orthophoto?
     

    Each sensor vehicle is different. In general, the level of detail seen in the image and geolocational accuracy will be better for orthophoto flown from aircraft. Satellite imagery is superior in that new imagery can be collected and delivered on much shorter notice anywhere in the world, and includes more spectral bands outside the visible range.

    Compare imagery products

    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 17. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

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  • 18. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

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  • 19. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

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  • 20. Can I get data in other formats than the options I see online?
     

    Yes. FBS makes the most popular format types available on MapWarehouse, however, we can also perform file format conversions on request. An extra fee for labour may apply.

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  • 21. How often is data updated in MapWarehouse?
     

    Update cycles are different for each type of data.

    Parcel data has a regular quarterly update, although not every update is clipped into tiles and made available on MapWarehouse. To access to most current parcel data, make a custom order by contacting customer service.

    Orthophoto are captured by aircraft during March, April and May each year, after the snow pack is melted but before foliage obscures the ground, usually based on the limits of county boundaries. Not every county will be flown each year. The images captured in the Spring are processed during the Summer and Fall and made ready for sale on MapWarehouse by Winter.

    Other data sets including elevation data, OBM, floodplain mapping and moraine groundwater mapping are available on an "as is" basis and do not have regular updates.

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  • 22. I got spatial data from the City of Toronto, but FBS's data doesn't line up, it's shifted east by 300,000km. How do I fix this?
     

    FBS data is usually in UTM NAD83 Zone 17N. City of Toronto offers their data in MTM NAD27 Zone 10. Some of the files may need to be re-projected into to a common coordinate system in order to align properly, a simple procedure for vector files. If you require imagery to be reprojected, however, contact customer service. A fee for custom labour will apply.

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  • 23. How is the data projected? Can I change the projection to suit my project?
     

    Data is in UTM NAD83(original) in most cases, Zone 17N unless otherwise specified. While converting datum and projection settings for vector files is a simple task for most users, the same operation with raster data like orthophoto may require a higher level of expertise. Conversion to other datums such as MTM NAD27 Zone 10, which is typical for City of Toronto data, is a service FBS can provide. A fee for custom labour would apply. Contact us for a quote.

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  • 24. I'm using the data for academic, research, or non-commercial purposes. Do you offer educational-use licensing or discounts?
     

    For FBS's own products such as orthophoto and elevation models, we may be able to provide such a discount. Call us to discuss what you're planning to do. Partner data such as Teranet parcel fabric is subject to the existing licensing agreements. FBS does not have discretion to re-price our partners' data.

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  • 25. How do I choose more than 200 tiles?
     

    For large orders, the best option is to contact customer service with a SHP file delineating the area you would like quoted and let us know which data sets and file formats you're most interested in. You will receive a quote to sign and return. You can also send us the boundaries of the specific tiles you'd like to order using the tile indexes.

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  • 26. What can I do with the downloadable tile indexes?
     

    Lots! The tile indexes are georeferenced vector files in SHP or KML format and can be downloaded for each dataset via the coverage map. These can be used in your own software to see the context of where the tile boundaries fall in relation to your existing data. You will be able to see at a glance how many tiles you will need to cover your area of interest. You can identify the tiles from the index you'd like to order, and use the itemID or filename information in the associated table to select the tiles on MapWarehouse.

    You may also select and export a subsection of an index as a new shape file and forward it to our customer service staff as your ordering polygon when requesting a quote. This not only helps us get the quote to you quickly, it also allows you to keep the exact boundary of your area of interest confidential.

    Read More

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  • 27. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

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  • 28. Compare Data Delivery Services
     
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  • 29. Compare Downloadable Imagery Sources
     

     
    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 30. What's The Difference Between MapWarehouse's Orthophoto and Tiled Satellite Imagery?
     

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  • 31. Can I preview the exact image I'll receive before buying it?
     

    Yes. From the item selection list in MapWarehouse, click the info icon beside any item to see it's metadata and a thumbnail of the actual image you'll receive. The Google base map is just to help you locate your area of interest.

    Here's how.

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  • 32. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

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  • 33. I purchased flood plain mapping and the file I received was 0 kb.
     

    Floodplain mapping is available on an "as-is" basis with no routine update schedule. Sections of floodplain mapping will be updated from time to time as needed when major storm events cause flooding that exceed predictions. While a section of floodplain is being updated, the map status will be temporarily listed as "DRAFT" in the info on MapWarehouse, and no file will be attached to your purchase.

    Flood plain mapping will have a

    Please contact us for a refund if you purchase a DRAFT status flood plain map.

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  • 34. How do I remove unwanted selections from the shopping cart?
     

    From the 'Get Maps' page, look in the shopping cart drawer near the bottom right of the page. Hover over the items in the shopping cart list to determine the map coverage of each. Click the trash can next to the item you want to remove.

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  • 35. Which regions were flown this year?
     

    Year by year breakdowns of historical image collection areas, resolutions of processed imagery, and the latest releases can be found here.

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  • 36. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

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  • 1. What’s MapCast?
     

    MapCast is a live, on-demand connection to First Base Solutions' complete library of high-resolution orthophotography and elevation contours served directly into your CAD or GIS workstation. It’s a Web Mapping Service (WMS); a standard protocol used for serving georeferenced map images over the Internet. Once you connect MapCast into your WMS compliant software, the aerial imagery base layer will load into your mapping project in a similar way as data layers you store locally. Having an external data source available through a WMS like MapCast reduces internal network loads and the costs associated with data storage and management. It is an efficient and cost effective way for organizations to access large data sets, reduce network overhead, and avoid data purchase, management and update costs. First Base Solutions handles it for you.

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  • 2. Is there a tutorial to see MapCast in action?
     

    Yup. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn!

    MapCast Tutorial

    If you want to quickly learn how to use a WMS (web mapping service) to stream aerial imagery and geographic data into your desktop GIS or CAD software, or just want to improve your skills and learn a few tricks of the trade, this video will get you up to speed quickly with real world examples.

    In this this video you will learn how to Connect to MapCast, Display aerial imagery and elevation contours, Analyze your own mapping data in context, and Explore year over year changes in land use patterns. Follow the transcript here.

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  • 3. What kind of data layers are available and how are they organized?
     

    MapCast connects you to all of First Base Solutions’ high resolution aerial imagery, plus 1-m elevation contour lines. Layers are grouped by province, upper tier municipality, region and vintage. For each region and vintage, high, medium and low resolution layers are available, each resolution will only be active between preset scale ranges to ensure maximum display speed.

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  • 4. Can I connect to MapCast through a proxy?
     

    Proxy servers will affect how you connect to the service, consult your IT staff if working behind a proxy.

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  • 5. I'm having trouble connecting to MapCast
     

    Our users have recommended this article.

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  • 6. How do I check my bandwidth usage on MapCast?
     

    Login to the MapCast dashboard: http://fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com/index.php From this website, you can access your unique URL for connecting to the MapCast orthophoto library, monitor usage, generate reports, add users and access help documents.

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  • 7. What coordinate reference systems does MapCast support?
     

    The WMS supports requests for the following coordinate reference systems:

    EPSG Code Description
    EPSG:2018 NAD27(76) / MTM zone 9
    EPSG:2019 NAD27(76) / MTM zone 10
    EPSG:2020 NAD27(76) / MTM zone 11
    EPSG:2021 NAD27(76) / MTM zone 12
    EPSG:26909 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N
    EPSG:26910 NAD83 / UTM zone 10N
    EPSG:26911 NAD83 / UTM zone 11N
    EPSG:26912 NAD83 / UTM zone 12N
    EPSG:26913 NAD83 / UTM zone 13N
    EPSG:26917 NAD83 / UTM zone 17N
    EPSG:26918 NAD83 / UTM zone 18N
    EPSG:26919 NAD83 / UTM zone 19N
    EPSG:26920 NAD83 / UTM zone 20N
    EPSG:26921 NAD83 / UTM zone 21N
    EPSG:26922 NAD83 / UTM zone 22N
    EPSG:3161 NAD83 / Ontario MNR Lambert
    EPSG:32189 NAD83 / MTM zone 9
    EPSG:32190 NAD83 / MTM zone 10
    EPSG:32191 NAD83 / MTM zone
    EPSG:3775 NAD83 / Alberta 3TM ref merid 111 W
    EPSG:3776 NAD83 / Alberta 3TM ref merid 114 W
    EPSG:3777 NAD83 / Alberta 3TM ref merid 117 W
    EPSG:3778 NAD83 / Alberta 3TM ref merid 120 W
    EPSG:4326 WGS 84 Geographic
    EPSG:900913 World Mercator

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  • 8. Is bandwidth usage for contours the same as for imagery?
     

    Yes, all data transferred through the MapCast WMS subscription is tracked the same way.  However, the size of the file will vary depending on the data contained, so in general, the contours would contain less data (colours) than an orthophoto image and therefore use less bandwidth.

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  • 9. How can I make the most of my bandwidth?
     

    There are several options:

    1. Turn off the MapCast layer off when panning and zooming.
    2. Turn the MapCast layer off when zoomed out to smaller scales beyond 1:10,000.
    3. In CAD, choose the resample raster option to crop the imagery to your view so excess imagery will not draw when you zoom out.
    4. In ArcMAP, choose the cache option to avoid reloading the image when turning the MapCast layer off and on.
    5. Make sure that only the relevant imagery set for the study area is active and turn all others off.
    6. Select “jpeg” for the image format to reduce the size of the image requested.
    7. Decrease the size of the image being requested by making your application window smaller.
    8. Wait for the MapCast layer to draw completely before requesting a new image.
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  • 10. Can I print or manipulate the image layer in MapCast?
     

    Maximum printing sizes vary depending on the dpi of the print. A 300dpi print has a maximum size of 6.8 inches, a 200dpi print has a maximum size of 10.2 inches and a 150dpi print has a maximum size of 13.6 inches. The image layers in MapCast are not editable for end users to manipulate, but your local display can be usually adjusted for brightness and contrast. Consult your specific software provider for instructions on how to do this.

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  • 11. How is bandwidth measured?
     

    Users on MapCast with WMS compliant software can request an image that will match the screen resolution or scale of the software’s window. The request is sent through the Internet to the FBS servers where the image is generated and then returned to the user to be displayed in the software’s window. This action will count as one image, each time the user refreshes, pans or zooms in or out on the software’s window, an image will be generated and counted against the bandwidth monthly limit. The maximum image size returned by the service is 2048 x 2048 pixels.

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  • 12. There's no imagery on MapCast for my area, is there anything else available?
     

    Yes. First Base Solutions can acquire new photo as a custom request. First Base Solutions is also a licensed reseller of DigitalGlobe satellite imagery. Satellite imagery is an ideal option for remote or inaccessible areas, and offers excellent value for large coverage areas with a moderate reduction in image resolution compared to imagery captured by aircraft. Contact us for a quote.

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  • 13. I need to do basic research with the orthophoto over a huge area which is going to run over budget and use my whole hard drive. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers two subscription based options to explore our data libraries through either an internet browser VuMAP, or, using your own CAD or GIS software using MapCast.

    Learn more

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  • 14. I have a friend in real estate who would find this really useful. Is there a more basic version of the imagery available?
     

    Yes! We also provide a service called Zoom2It which can be accessed through a real estate agent's GeoWarehouse account. Simply chose a property from the map or by the street address, and you can download a set of three aerial photos of the property at a property, neighbourhood, and community zoom level, with the Teranet property boundary overlaid. Agents may use these images for marketing the chosen property.

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  • 15. I can't find the elevation data for my area in MapWarehouse. How can I get this information?
     

    It's usually possible to produce a highly detailed custom elevation model using current orthophoto or satellite imagery, where this imagery exists. Contact us for a quote. We also have 1983 OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) for the entire province which has 5m interval contours in southern Ontario and 10m interval contours in northern Ontario.

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  • 16. Why doesn't the property boundary line up perfectly with the orthophoto?
     

    The orthophoto are generally spatially accurate to double the resolution value. Simply put, if a photo has resolution of 20cm, any point on the photo will be accurate within 40 cm of its true location. For the parcel data, different Land Registry Offices in Ontario were originally drawn to different standards and then later integrated into one dataset that's now maintained by Teranet. The most accurate being POLARIS (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System) which is based on surveys, followed by BIM (Basic Index Mapping) which is based on 1:10,000 scale mapping or smaller, and Pre-BIM, which is compiled in areas where good control data is less available, making it the least positionally accurate. In an area where pre-BIM standards are used, it's not unusual for the property lines to be off by 10 m or more from where you would expect them to lie on the photo. Where your orthophoto and property lines don't align perfectly, it's likely due to different accuracy standards used to create one or both of the datasets.

    Read More

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  • 17. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

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  • 18. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

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  • 19. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

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  • 20. Compare Data Delivery Services
     
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  • 21. Can I piggyback on MapCast to sell and distribute my own high quality geo data collection?
     

    Yes. First Base Solutions, hosts, distributes, and resells spatial data from qualified sources through MapCast, VuMAP, and MapWarehouse. Contact us about forming a reseller relationship at partnership@firstbasesolutions.com.

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  • 22. Can I use MapCast without CAD or GIS software?
     

    Yes, you can. There are a few ways to do this. You can use the Google Earth application, or Google Maps in a web browser. In either case, the first step is to log in to the MapCast dashboard.

    For Google Earth
    1. Choose the 'KML Files' tab.
    2. Click on the name of the region you'd like to view.
    3. Google Earth will launch with your selected region listed under 'Temporary Places'.
    Watch an example

    For Google Maps
    1. Go to Help page and choose the 'Code Samples' tab.
    2. Copy and paste the Google Maps API code into a text editor and save it as an HTML file.
    3. Open the file with an internet browser.
    Watch an example

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  • 23. Which regions were flown this year?
     

    Year by year breakdowns of historical image collection areas, resolutions of processed imagery, and the latest releases can be found here.

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  • 24. Troubleshooting
     

    Please review the troubleshooting checklist here.

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  • 1. How can I use the imagery offline?
     

    Imagery can purchased and downloaded in 500m x 500m tiles through MapWarehouse.

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  • 2. Can I see an overview of the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any dataset and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

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  • 3. I need to do basic research with the orthophoto over a huge area which is going to run over budget and use my whole hard drive. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers two subscription based options to explore our data libraries through either an internet browser VuMAP, or, using your own CAD or GIS software using MapCast.

    Learn more

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  • 4. I need photos covering more than one tile, but I don't have software that can handle georeferenced data.
     

    As long as you have an internet connection, you can use our VuMAP service to view the orthophoto and other data in context. Other options include having the tiles mosaicked into a single file, or, having a custom large format print produced. Contact customer service to request a quote.

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  • 5. I have a friend in real estate who would find this really useful. Is there a more basic version of the imagery available?
     

    Yes! We also provide a service called Zoom2It which can be accessed through a real estate agent's GeoWarehouse account. Simply chose a property from the map or by the street address, and you can download a set of three aerial photos of the property at a property, neighbourhood, and community zoom level, with the Teranet property boundary overlaid. Agents may use these images for marketing the chosen property.

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  • 6. I can't find the elevation data for my area in MapWarehouse. How can I get this information?
     

    It's usually possible to produce a highly detailed custom elevation model using current orthophoto or satellite imagery, where this imagery exists. Contact us for a quote. We also have 1983 OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) for the entire province which has 5m interval contours in southern Ontario and 10m interval contours in northern Ontario.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(1)
    Viewed 907 Times No Comments
  • 7. Why doesn't the property boundary line up perfectly with the orthophoto?
     

    The orthophoto are generally spatially accurate to double the resolution value. Simply put, if a photo has resolution of 20cm, any point on the photo will be accurate within 40 cm of its true location. For the parcel data, different Land Registry Offices in Ontario were originally drawn to different standards and then later integrated into one dataset that's now maintained by Teranet. The most accurate being POLARIS (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System) which is based on surveys, followed by BIM (Basic Index Mapping) which is based on 1:10,000 scale mapping or smaller, and Pre-BIM, which is compiled in areas where good control data is less available, making it the least positionally accurate. In an area where pre-BIM standards are used, it's not unusual for the property lines to be off by 10 m or more from where you would expect them to lie on the photo. Where your orthophoto and property lines don't align perfectly, it's likely due to different accuracy standards used to create one or both of the datasets.

    Read More

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  • 8. I need to do basic research with the parcels over a huge area which is going to run over budget. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers a subscription based options to explore our data libraries through an internet browser application VuMAP.

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  • 9. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

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  • 10. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

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  • 11. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

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  • 12. Compare Data Delivery Services
     
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  • 13. Compare Online Imagery Viewers
     

     

    MapViewersCompared

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  • 14. Why Can't I Log In?
     

    There's usually a simple explanation. This article covers the top three quick fixes.

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  • 15. How much does VuMAP cost?
     

    A subscription for a single user costs $1500+tax per year, with progressive discounts on multiple licenses if your company plans to have several users.

    The subscription includes unlimited access to the service for one year.

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  • 16. What tools are available in VuMAP?
     

    Drawing Tool
    Draw lines or closed shapes over the map, name and save your sketch under the "My Marks" tab.

    Measure Tool
    Measure distances and areas in your choice of units, name and save your measurements under the "My Marks" tab.

    Annotation Tool
    Add labels to features you see in the aerial imagery below.

    Query Tool
    Get more information for properties, soils, and more, then save your research to a spreadsheet.

    Save View Tool
    Bookmark locations you plan to visit often.

    Print Tool
    Export a layout of your map, add a title and notes for the user.

    Import Data Tool
    Bring in csv files with lat/long locations of points, or import a zipped shapefile you've created elsewhere.

    Level 21 Zoom Tool
    Get a little closer than maximum zoom for areas with the best resolution aerial imagery, where available.

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  • 17. What data is available in VuMAP?
     

    The following data layers are available. Review a detailed interactive coverage map here.

    FBS Data
        2002 FBS Imagery
        2006 FBS Imagery
        2007 FBS Imagery
        2008 FBS Imagery
        2009 FBS Imagery
        2010 FBS Imagery
        2011 FBS Imagery
        2012 FBS Imagery
        2013 FBS Imagery
        2014 FBS Imagery
        2015 FBS Imagery
    2016 FBS Imagery
    2017 FBS Imagery
    2018 FBS Imagery
        Aquatic Ecosystems
        DRAPE 2008
        Dundee Holmwood
        Dundee Parcels
        FBS 1m Contours
        Geodetic Control
        Hydrology
        New Brunswick Property
        OBM Contours
        Ontario Road Network
        Parks and Nature Reserves
        Places to Grow
        Restricted Growth Areas
        Soils Descriptions
        Terrestrial Ecosystems
        Township Fabric

    Google Data
        Google Roads
        Google Satellite

    Ontario Parcel
        Assessment Parcel
        Teranet Parcel

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  • 18. Who is VuMAP recommended for?
     

    Some of the top industries using VuMAP include:

    Construction and Landscaping

    • Use VuMAP's measurement tools to accurately find roof or pavement areas to estimate your material costs.
    • Communicate your work plan with images identifying where bins and machinery can be located on site.
    • Identify work site hazards and obstacles before the job begins.

    Land Development

    • Perform non-intrusive environmental assessments.
    • Design to make the most of your site's unique features.

    Renewable Energy

    • Measure rooftop areas for solar panels and distances to grid tie ins.
    • See the context of the surrounding land use to identify the best potential locations.

    Natural Resources Management

    • Accurately measure acreage of woodlots to estimate harvest yields.
    • Monitor year by year changes to land use patterns.
    • Research remote site conditions without the hassle of a ground survey.

    Legal

    • Research PINs for every property in Ontario along with boundary mapping to visually identify dominant and servient parcels.
    • Compare current and historical imagery to objectively show past conditions at a property.
    • Measure distances and sight lines to reconstruct accident scenes.
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  • 19. Is there a free trial?
     

    Yes. Your company may sign up for one free trial subscription to evaluate the product. Some third party data, however, will be restricted during the free trial period.

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  • 20. There are so many imagery layers! How can I tell which one I'm seeing?
     

    The layers will draw in the order you see them in the layers list, drawing the bottom most visible layers in the list, then drawing the visible layers above it over top. Since the imagery is opaque and completely covers an area, it will hide any layers that have drawn below it. In the image below, only the 2015 imagery can be seen even though the 2013 imagery is also visible.

    It's a good idea to keep imagery layers at the bottom and put points, lines, and areas such as roads and property lines at the top. You can adjust the order the layers draw in by using the up and down arrows below the layer's name.

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  • 21. I've turned on some layers but nothing is drawing. Why?
     

    There are two reasons why this may occur.

    1. Some layers are too detailed to draw when you are zoomed out to view a large area. Below the name of each layer, you'll see "Zoom Levels: [#-##]" which indicates how close you need to be zoomed in before the layer will start to draw. You can see your current zoom level at the top centre of the map, 1 being the farthest out, 20 being the closest in. Zoom in so your map is within the zoom level range indicated by the particular layer to see it draw.

    2. Not all layers cover all geographic areas. Check the coverage map to see the geographic extents of each individual layer. If your area of interest falls outside the layer's highlighted area, there won't be any data to draw.

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  • 22. Which regions were flown this year?
     

    Year by year breakdowns of historical image collection areas, resolutions of processed imagery, and the latest releases can be found here.

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  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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  • 2. Is orthophoto different from aerial photo?
     

    Yes. Orthophoto is produced by manipulating aerial photo to correct for movement of the aircraft and variations in the camera angle. Orthophoto has a top-down perspective and uniform scale, just like a map. Aerial photos are the original, unprocessed images. While they appear to be taken from an overhead viewing angle, they will inherently contain small distortions and can not be used as a map to accurately measure distance and direction like the orthophoto can.

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  • 3. What does the photo resolution in cm mean?
     

    Resolution in cm refers to the area on the ground covered by each pixel in the image. In an image with 15 cm resolution, for example, each pixel covers a patch of ground 15cm x 15cm in size. Objects on the ground which are smaller than that size will not be clearly visible in the image. In general, the smaller the resolution size, the more detail can be seen in the image.

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  • 4. What's the positional accuracy of the orthophoto?
     

    It depends on the photo resolution. Whatever the stated photo resolution in cm, positional accuracy is double that value. A 15 cm photo, for example, has positional horizontal accuracy of +/- 30 cm. This means that for any point on the photo, the true location of that point on the ground will be within 30 cm of where it is located in the photo.

    Read More

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  • 5. What's the difference between JPG and MrSid? What file format is best for my project?
     

    JPG and MrSID are just a few compressed image formats. Both formats can be read by most up-to-date CAD and GIS software. JPG is a fine option where the goal is simply to view the imagery across as many platforms as possible and use it as a base layer to give context to your vector files. MrSID is the prefered choice where more demanding image manipulation or analysis will be involved and the resulting output needs to retain the data quality characteristics of the original.

    JPG offers a reasonable balance between file size and image quality, and is most useful for images with smooth transitions between tone and colour. For this reason, JPG is easily the most popular format in digital photography and can be used with countless types of software . It does not hold up well to image processing or multiple edits, however, and can tend to lose detail of colour variation, causing a blocky appearance after decompression and recompression (posterization). FBS offers georeferenced JPG imagery by using an auxiliary *.WLD world file, which references the coordinates where the image tile should be inserted in the map, read by geo-capable software.

    MrSID (multiresolution seamless image database) is a technology owned by LizardTech specifically for use with georeferenced imagery like orthophoto, which could have up to 8 - 16bit multispectral bands. The file size can be compressed up to 20:1 without degrading the image's appearance for RGB. Using MrSID format therefore allows very large files to be viewed quickly without the need to fully decompress the image. Furthermore, metadata like pixel resolution is inherent in the image and is updated automatically during processing.

    Learn more

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  • 6. How do I place my orthophoto in CAD software to align with other data tiles I bought?
     

    For some users, simply change the extension of the world coordinate file that came with your JPG photo from *.wld to *.jgw, or, use a utility to read the wld file, which references coordinates of the top left corner of each image, accounting for a small buffer around the photo.

    For some users, in the task pane, connect to data, add raster image or surface connection, choose the folder and files and add them to the map.

    To insert a single image, create a new layer and use the coordinates that are embedded in the file name (see Q&A below) using the command, IMAGEATTACH to insert a single image. Use the easting value for the X-coordinate and add two zeros to the end, use the northing value for the Y-coordinate and add two zeros to the end. The scaling factor is 500, because a single tile is 500m x 500m. Use the command CDORDER to change the image drawing order to the back, behind your text and linework. The image will be attached as an Xref, so use the command ETRANSMIT to package your work if you intend to share your DWG file.

    Learn more

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  • 7. What do the numbers in the file name mean?
     

    The first letters tell the data type, "orth" for orthophoto, "line" for a digital elevation model, "contour" for contour lines. The next 2 numbers are the UTM zone, usually 16, 17, or 18, for Ontario. The next 4 numbers are the easting value of the bottom left corner of the file, the next 5 numbers are the northing value for the bottom left corner of the tile. The next 4 digits are the year the data was captured. The last letters are the data owner, "fbs" for first base solutions, "tera" for teranet. For example, if the file name is orth171234567892012fbs.jpg. This is an orthophoto, taken by First Base Solutions in 2012. The UTM zone is 17, the X-value is 123400 and the Y-value is 5678900 for the lower left corner of the tile.
    Learn More

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  • 8. I'm using ArcExplorer, why doesn't my imagery georeference properly?
     

    ArcExplorer is a free viewing platform with limited capabilities compared to the licensed versions of Arc software. Auxillary files containing coordinate system information (*.sdw for MrSID files) can not be read by ArcExplorer. Extent and coordinate system information must be embedded in the main file directly; this is normally achieved via ArcCatalog.

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  • 9. I need to do basic research with the orthophoto over a huge area which is going to run over budget and use my whole hard drive. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers two subscription based options to explore our data libraries through either an internet browser VuMAP, or, using your own CAD or GIS software using MapCast.

    Learn more

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    Viewed 1060 Times No Comments
  • 10. I'm looking for historical aerial photo. Can I get this through MapWarehouse?
     

    MapWarehouse has digital photo dating back to 2000. Older photo taken on film can be sourced on a case by case basis by contacting our customer service.

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  • 11. Can I have several tiles merged into a single file?
     

    No problem. Choose the photos you'd like to purchase, then contact our customer service and request the photos be mosaicked. Our staff can combine the tiles into a single large image while still maintaining the geographical referencing, provided the tiles you've chosen have the same photo resolution and file format. A fee for custom labour will apply for this service.

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  • 12. I need photos covering more than one tile, but I don't have software that can handle georeferenced data.
     

    As long as you have an internet connection, you can use our VuMAP service to view the orthophoto and other data in context. Other options include having the tiles mosaicked into a single file, or, having a custom large format print produced. Contact customer service to request a quote.

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  • 13. Can I print orthophoto and use them with a stereoscope?
     

    No. The topographic displacement where you might see the side of a tall building in the photo may seem deceiving, but orthophoto by definition have been rectified to remove perspective. Without two camera angles, stereo viewing won't work. The original uncorrected imagery can be retrieved upon request. Since each original photo has sufficient overlap with neighbouring images, stereoscopic viewing can be possible using two adjacent photos taken from our aircraft a few seconds apart.

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  • 14. Is it possible to get the date and time when the photo I just purchased was taken?
     

    Yes, however, the photo tiles are made up of several photos stitched together. To locate the date and time for a tile, it is necessary to look up the flight plan to find the original photo most closely centered on the particular tile. The flight data is not available through the MapWarehouse website, but our customer service staff would be happy to look up the information for you.

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  • 15. Why are some orthophoto data sets labeled as "Winter", do they have snow cover?
     

    All FBS orthophoto is cloud-free, snow-free, and leaf-free to ensure ground features are visible. Early Spring photos are sometimes taken prior to March 20, which is technically still Winter.

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  • 16. How do I order hard copy prints of custom photo maps?
     

    FBS can produce large format custom printing of our digital data products. These printed maps typically include a large map portion with orthophoto, road labels and property lines, and a title block containing the title, scale, scale bar, north arrow, photo details, data source details and disclaimers, print date, our logo, and can include other data or labels you provide. We'll provide a sample soft proof for you to review and make changes. Pricing is dependent on a combination of labour, print size, map content, number of copies and whether the print will be on photo paper or mounted on a board, and, depending on your specifications, if it can be printed in-house or must be sent out to a specialty printing company. For a custom quote, please contact customer service and provide details of the geographical coverage, print size, and type of features you'd like to see on your map.

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  • 17. There's no orthophoto for my area, is there anything else available?
     

    Yes. First Base Solutions can acquire new photo as a custom request. First Base Solutions is also a licensed reseller of DigitalGlobe and GeoEye satellite imagery. Satellite imagery is an ideal option for remote or inaccessible areas, and offers excellent value for large coverage areas with a moderate reduction in image resolution compared to imagery captured by aircraft. Contact us for a quote.

    Compare options

    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 18. Why doesn't the property boundary line up perfectly with the orthophoto?
     

    The orthophoto are generally spatially accurate to double the resolution value. Simply put, if a photo has resolution of 20cm, any point on the photo will be accurate within 40 cm of its true location. For the parcel data, different Land Registry Offices in Ontario were originally drawn to different standards and then later integrated into one dataset that's now maintained by Teranet. The most accurate being POLARIS (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System) which is based on surveys, followed by BIM (Basic Index Mapping) which is based on 1:10,000 scale mapping or smaller, and Pre-BIM, which is compiled in areas where good control data is less available, making it the least positionally accurate. In an area where pre-BIM standards are used, it's not unusual for the property lines to be off by 10 m or more from where you would expect them to lie on the photo. Where your orthophoto and property lines don't align perfectly, it's likely due to different accuracy standards used to create one or both of the datasets.

    Read More

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  • 19. How does the quality of satellite imagery compare with orthophoto?
     

    Each sensor vehicle is different. In general, the level of detail seen in the image and geolocational accuracy will be better for orthophoto flown from aircraft. Satellite imagery is superior in that new imagery can be collected and delivered on much shorter notice anywhere in the world, and includes more spectral bands outside the visible range.

    Compare imagery products

    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 20. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

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  • 21. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 22. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 23. How is the data projected? Can I change the projection to suit my project?
     

    Data is in UTM NAD83(original) in most cases, Zone 17N unless otherwise specified. While converting datum and projection settings for vector files is a simple task for most users, the same operation with raster data like orthophoto may require a higher level of expertise. Conversion to other datums such as MTM NAD27 Zone 10, which is typical for City of Toronto data, is a service FBS can provide. A fee for custom labour would apply. Contact us for a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
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  • 24. I'm using the data for academic, research, or non-commercial purposes. Do you offer educational-use licensing or discounts?
     

    For FBS's own products such as orthophoto and elevation models, we may be able to provide such a discount. Call us to discuss what you're planning to do. Partner data such as Teranet parcel fabric is subject to the existing licensing agreements. FBS does not have discretion to re-price our partners' data.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 891 Times No Comments
  • 25. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 26. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 27. Compare Downloadable Imagery Sources
     

     
    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 28. What's The Difference Between MapWarehouse's Orthophoto and Tiled Satellite Imagery?
     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 29. Can I preview the exact image I'll receive before buying it?
     

    Yes. From the item selection list in MapWarehouse, click the info icon beside any item to see it's metadata and a thumbnail of the actual image you'll receive. The Google base map is just to help you locate your area of interest.

    Here's how.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 30. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 835 Times No Comments
  • 31. Which regions were flown this year?
     

    Year by year breakdowns of historical image collection areas, resolutions of processed imagery, and the latest releases can be found here.

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  • 32. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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  • 2. What's the difference between contours and DEM?
     

    The DEM capture was produced from 2002 orthophoto at 1:10,000. It includes elevations on a 40m grid spacing together with break lines along all visible terrain impacting features (road edges, drainage, etc.) The DEM is a representation of a topographical surface, specifically a regular grid of spot heights and break lines (noticeable changes in slope). The file is available in UTM NAD83 in DWG format. The DEM does not contain contours, but they can be generated from the DEM.

    The contour file is a separate product that is derived from the DEM. The contour interval is 1m.

    If you have the software to generate contours from the DEM, then all you would require is the DEM and produce the contours yourself. The contours became available for those users who do not have this software ability.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(6) / No(1)
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  • 3. How can I generate a contour file or tin surface from the survey points and break lines in a DEM?
     

    Here are tutorials that demonstrate the general process, although a some steps such as creating the break lines have already been done by First Base Solutions.
    Youtube: Civil 3D Surface Creation
    Youtube: Terrain Model from Survey Points

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  • 4. What are the intervals of the contours? Can I get sub-metre intervals?
     

    The contours provided in tiles by FBS on MapWarehouse are in 1m intervals. In any area where high resolution orthophoto is available, it is usually possible to produce a more detailed elevation model. Contact us for a quote.

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  • 5. What's the positional accuracy of the elevation data?
     

    In the 2002 Golden Horseshoe data set, the horizontal and vertical accuracy is +/- 40 cm, and +/- 80 cm for the 2002 Simcoe-Kawartha data set. This means that the difference between the true elevation on the ground compared to what's shown in the digital file can be as great as 40 cm or 80 cm. The most accurate areas will be those with excellent ground visibility in the source orthophoto which the elevation model was derived from. Areas with dense forest, especially coniferous forest where the ground is obscured, tend to have the lowest accuracy.

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  • 6. I thought I was getting a complete map but this file is just a bunch of lines. Where are the road labels and other features?
     

    Only elevation information is included, either as DEM or contour, depending on the file you've chosen. The road edges frequently appear as break lines in the DEM, giving the appearance of unlabeled roads. There are a few options to give context to to the surrounding area. You can take advantage of the georeferencing inherent in the elevation data file and use it with your own spatial data you've collected for your project as a background layer. If you don't have your own data, the tile grid for elevation data coverage is the same as for orthophoto and Teranet parcel coverage. Users often purchase a few files of different data types for the same grid cell. The user can then use the orthophoto as a background layer and add elevation data on top, both files having identical geographical coverage. In this way, users can select data a la carte and pay for only the layers and coverage needed.

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  • 7. Why are there sometimes negative values for elevation in the DEM?
     

    Some tiles have 1000m vertical shift applied, to work with a different global origin. For example, a value of -800m should be considered +200m.

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  • 8. I'm looking for contour for a large area and I don't really need the level of detail that comes with FBS 1m contours. Is there a more economical option suitable to my project?
     

    Yes! We have OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) available in a variety of vector formats such as SHP and DWG. These maps were produced in 1983 by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at 1:10,000 (5km x 5km sheets)and 1:20,000 (10km x 10km sheets) for southern and northern areas respectively. These maps show, among other features, contours at 5m intervals in the south and 10m intervals in the north. We can also source worldwide coverage of elevation models through our partnership with DigitalGlobe. Contact us for quote.

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  • 9. I can't find the elevation data for my area in MapWarehouse. How can I get this information?
     

    It's usually possible to produce a highly detailed custom elevation model using current orthophoto or satellite imagery, where this imagery exists. Contact us for a quote. We also have 1983 OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) for the entire province which has 5m interval contours in southern Ontario and 10m interval contours in northern Ontario.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(1)
    Viewed 907 Times No Comments
  • 10. I've purchased adjacent tiles of contour lines. How can I connect all the lines end to end at the tile boundaries?
     

    Copy the line work from one file, open the file for the adjacent tile and use the command "paste to original coordinates" to have them together in one DWG. Use the command PEDIT (polyline edit). Select M (multiple), and choose all the linework from both tiles and hit enter. You will be prompted with, "Convert Lines and Arcs to polylines?" choose Y (yes), then enter the option J (join), the join type is "extend". Enter a small fuzz distance 5 (mm). The line work from adjacent tiles with identical elevation values will be joined into single line features.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 921 Times No Comments
  • 11. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 12. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 13. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 14. I'm using the data for academic, research, or non-commercial purposes. Do you offer educational-use licensing or discounts?
     

    For FBS's own products such as orthophoto and elevation models, we may be able to provide such a discount. Call us to discuss what you're planning to do. Partner data such as Teranet parcel fabric is subject to the existing licensing agreements. FBS does not have discretion to re-price our partners' data.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 891 Times No Comments
  • 15. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 16. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 17. Compare Elevation Products
     

     
    ElevationDataCompared

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  • 18. How can I use the elevation attributes to label my contour lines in CAD?
     

    You will need to create an attribute definition. Here are a few articles that describe the process:

    How to: Label Coordinate in AutoCAD
    Tutorial: Create attributes

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 783 Times No Comments
  • 19. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 835 Times No Comments
  • 20. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 608 Times No Comments
  • 1. Compare Property Boundary Mapping
     

     
    CadastralMappingCompared

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    Viewed 1126 Times No Comments
  • 2. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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  • 3. What's the difference between PIN and ARN? Why aren't the boundaries the same?
     

    PIN stands for "Property Identification Number" which is linked to ownership, ARN stands for "Assessment Roll Number" and is used for property value assessment purposes. More information can be found on the Ontario Parcel web site at: www.ontarioparcel.ca

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(9) / No(23)
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  • 4. I need to contact all the property owners around my AOI. Is this information included when I purchase Teranet parcel data?
     

    No. Our licensing agreement allows for sale of property boundary mapping and PIN or ARN identifier information only.

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  • 5. I looked for PINs on MapWarehouse and there was no data for my area. Does this mean I can't get the data I need?
     

    Absolutely not! Whether you're after just one parcel or need the whole city, PINs and ARNs for all of Ontario can be purchased by placing a custom order through our helpful customer service staff. Send along a SHP or DWG file delineating the area you'd like to purchase, or, provide a list of the PIN or ARN numbers you're interested in. You'll receive a quote by email for the data in the area you've chosen.

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  • 6. Why doesn't the property boundary line up perfectly with the orthophoto?
     

    The orthophoto are generally spatially accurate to double the resolution value. Simply put, if a photo has resolution of 20cm, any point on the photo will be accurate within 40 cm of its true location. For the parcel data, different Land Registry Offices in Ontario were originally drawn to different standards and then later integrated into one dataset that's now maintained by Teranet. The most accurate being POLARIS (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System) which is based on surveys, followed by BIM (Basic Index Mapping) which is based on 1:10,000 scale mapping or smaller, and Pre-BIM, which is compiled in areas where good control data is less available, making it the least positionally accurate. In an area where pre-BIM standards are used, it's not unusual for the property lines to be off by 10 m or more from where you would expect them to lie on the photo. Where your orthophoto and property lines don't align perfectly, it's likely due to different accuracy standards used to create one or both of the datasets.

    Read More

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  • 7. I've purchased adjacent tiles of parcel and they're polylines clipped at the tile boundary, but I want full parcels as polygons. How can I connect line work from adjacent tiles together to complete the parcels which cross the tile boundary into single features and/or convert the geometry to polygons?
     

    Polygons would not be a good representation of the data in this case because the geometry of the parcels is clipped to the boundary of the tiles, so the area, perimeter, and parcel boundaries of the properties on the edge of the tile would be misleading. A closed polyline indicates the entire property is included in the tile, an open polyline indicates that only a portion of the property is included in that tile, the remaining area will appear in the adjacent tile. There are several methods to convert the geometry, a few are discussed below:

    In CAD:
    Copy the line work from one file, and use the command "paste to original coordinates" to have them together in one DWG. Use the command PEDIT (polyline edit). Select M (multiple), and choose all the linework from both tiles and hit enter. You will be prompted with, "Convert Lines and Arcs to polylines?" choose Y (yes), then enter the option J (join), the join type is "extend". Enter a small fuzz distance 5 (mm). The line work from adjacent tiles will be joined into single line features.

    In ArcMap:
    To convert a polyline tile to polygons with an "Editor" license, in ArcToolbox, export the polyline file as text using "Write Features to Text File". Open the *.txt file you've created and edit the header information to read "polygon" instead of "polyline." In ArcToolbox, import the modified text file using "Create Features from Text File". A polygon shape file will be created.
    or:
    In ArcCatalog, right-click the line layer, export it as a *.dxf file. In ArcMap load this * .dxf file and it will behave like a DWG file, comprised of several layers, including a polygon file. Export the polygon file and point file and save as a shapefile. Choose the matching portions of parcels which cross the tile boundaries and merge the features. Use the "transfer attribute" tools or "spatial join" tools to transfer PIN attributes from the point file to the polygon file based on spatial location.
    or:
    Using a script, an example can be found at the link.
    or:
    Using a utility such GeoWizard, available here.

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    Viewed 1067 Times No Comments
  • 8. The parcel tile I downloaded doesn't have the property I was expecting, just a couple of lines.
     

    Large properties often span several tiles, you're seeing only the portion of the parcel boundary that crosses the particular tile. You will either need to buy all the tiles that your property intersects and combine the boundary lines, or, request a quote for a custom order for the specific parcel. For a small order of large parcels, custom orders are often more economical than purchasing tiles. Read More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 9. I need to do basic research with the parcels over a huge area which is going to run over budget. Is there a way to just view the data without downloading it?
     

    Yes! FBS offers a subscription based options to explore our data libraries through an internet browser application VuMAP.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 996 Times No Comments
  • 10. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 11. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 12. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 13. I'm using the data for academic, research, or non-commercial purposes. Do you offer educational-use licensing or discounts?
     

    For FBS's own products such as orthophoto and elevation models, we may be able to provide such a discount. Call us to discuss what you're planning to do. Partner data such as Teranet parcel fabric is subject to the existing licensing agreements. FBS does not have discretion to re-price our partners' data.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 891 Times No Comments
  • 14. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 15. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 16. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 835 Times No Comments
  • 17. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 608 Times No Comments
  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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    Viewed 1148 Times No Comments
  • 2. What's floodplain mapping?
     

    Floodplain mapping defines the limits of the Regulatory Floodplain for a particular watershed, used for regulatory purposes. These maps are produced and maintained by the TRCA (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) for watercourses in the greater Toronto area, showing properties, topographic information and high water levels. Floodplain mapping was compiled photogrammetrically from 1/10,000 aerial photography flown in 2002. The vertical datum is mean sea level as established by the Geographic Survey of Canada, North American Datum, 1983, U.T.M projection Zone 17. Please Note: Floodline elevations are subject to change due to revised information. Full information can be found here on TRCA.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 903 Times No Comments
  • 3. How accurate is it?
     

    The information shown on this map series is subject to change. The volume of water introduced into a regional drainage system from rain and snow melt can vary wildly between different points in the system and from one storm event to another. Ground cover, slope, channel depth, meander, and soil drainage characteristics all play a role, and the accuracy of the flood predictions are in part, limited by the quality of the data and assumptions used in the hydraulic model. For these reasons, the regulations that are derived from flood modeling are often conservative, erring on the side of caution.

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  • 4. How is it different from contour or topo mapping?
     

    Other elevation models are simply a record of the elevations across an area. Modeling and flooding predictions made by any agency other than the Conservation Authority are of no regulatory effect. The hydraulic analysis performed by the Conservation Authority takes into account not just the volumetric limitations of a stream corridor, but also site specific characteristics such as soil types, and impervious material like rooftops and asphalt, which affect the rate at which a watershed can discharge surplus water and return to normal flow. The floodplain map alone can be considered an administrative tool.

    Compare elevation products

    ElevationDataCompared

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  • 5. How up to date is it?
     

    Floodplain mapping is available on an "as-is" basis with no routine update schedule. Sections of floodplain mapping will be updated from time to time as needed when major storm events cause flooding that exceed predictions. While a section of floodplain is being updated, the map status will be temporarily listed as "DRAFT" in the info on MapWarehouse, and no file will be attached to your purchase.

    Flood plain mapping will have a

    Please contact us for a refund if you purchase a DRAFT status flood plain map.

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  • 6. If my property is outside the regulatory flood line, does this mean I can develop the land as I wish?
     

    In the course of having your development application approved, you may need to apply for a Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses permit if your property is adjacent to water or near other significant natural features. You'll need to contact the TRCA to interpret how the regulations apply to your development application specifically.
    Read More

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  • 7. Where can I get more information about floodplain mapping?
     

    By visiting the TRCA's website.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(0) / No(0)
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  • 8. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 9. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 10. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 11. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 12. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 13. Compare Elevation Products
     

     
    ElevationDataCompared

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  • 14. I purchased flood plain mapping and the file I received was 0 kb.
     

    Floodplain mapping is available on an "as-is" basis with no routine update schedule. Sections of floodplain mapping will be updated from time to time as needed when major storm events cause flooding that exceed predictions. While a section of floodplain is being updated, the map status will be temporarily listed as "DRAFT" in the info on MapWarehouse, and no file will be attached to your purchase.

    Flood plain mapping will have a

    Please contact us for a refund if you purchase a DRAFT status flood plain map.

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    Viewed 751 Times No Comments
  • 15. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(3) / No(0)
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  • 2. What is "Moraine Groundwater" and how do I use these files?
     

    The data was produced by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. Each of the asc files represent the elevation you would find the various levels of substrate (e.g. Kettleby Till) along with the ground elevation and bedrock elevation. You can therefore determine the thickness of each substrate over a given location. The asc file is a raster data set similar to an image, where each pixel value represents an elevation value rather than a colour. Depending on the data set, the pixel sizes vary from 100 to 250 meters in ground resolution with each asc file covering 1km x 1km area. The individual files can be viewed with most GIS software - ArcGIS etc. TRCA has recommended an application called "VIEWLOG" which can be used to create cross sections. ViewLog website.
    There is also an open source application called Quantum GIS that can be used to view and query the files.
    First Base Solutions does not maintain or have the in house expertise to provide technical support for the CAMC data. For more in depth questions, contact the CAMC.

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  • 3. I plan to drill a well on my property or have a groundwater related dispute, can I use these files to answer questions about groundwater on my land?
     

    Yes and no. While the data can be used to identify good places to drill wells and identify flow direction to help identify the source of groundwater contamination, these services are best left to qualified professionals. The average landowner will not be able to correctly interpret or make use of this information on their own.

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  • 4. What Series sets do you supply?
     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater data consists of 3 sets: 2004 Regional Model, geology model and hydrogeology model (250m grid) , 2004 Core Model, geology model and hydrogeology model (100m grid) and 2006 Expanded Core Model, geology model (100m grid).

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 5. What format is this data offered in?
     

    Moraine groundwater are presented as asc files (ASCII grid). The asc file is a raster dataset similar to an image, where each pixel value represents an elevation value rather than a colour. Each of the asc files represent the elevation where you would find the various levels of substrate (e.g. Kettleby Till) along with the ground elevation and bedrock elevation.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 853 Times No Comments
  • 6. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 7. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 8. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 9. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 10. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 11. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 608 Times No Comments
  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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  • 2. There's no orthophoto for my area, is there anything else available?
     

    Yes. First Base Solutions can acquire new photo as a custom request. First Base Solutions is also a licensed reseller of DigitalGlobe and GeoEye satellite imagery. Satellite imagery is an ideal option for remote or inaccessible areas, and offers excellent value for large coverage areas with a moderate reduction in image resolution compared to imagery captured by aircraft. Contact us for a quote.

    Compare options

    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 3. How do I order custom satellite imagery from FBS?
     

    First Base Solutions is a licensed reseller of DigitalGlobe satellite imagery. We have access to search a library of historical satellite imagery with worldwide coverage at 50cm and 60cm resolution, as well as place orders to capture new imagery on request. Imagery is available as natural colour, greyscale, colour infrared or 8-band multispectral for use in a variety of false-colour applications.
    To request a quote for a custom order, simply submit an ordering polygon in SHP, DWG or a similar file to customer service which outlines your area of interest and let us know any specific requirements. Our customer service staff will review the various imagery options available with you. Please note, there is a minimum order size of 25 sq. km for archive imagery and 100 sq. km for new imagery, and ordering polygons must be regular shapes (rectangles or circles preferred, no doughnut holes allowed) and corridors must be buffered to at least 3km wide to locate archived imagery for you.

    Imagery from the SPOT6 and 7 satellites provided by Planet Labs is also be available to pick, pay, and download through MapWarehouse's online store. Details.

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  • 4. How up to date is the imagery?
     

    All imagery is time and date stamped, dating back to 1999. Since imagery is continuously collected, images can be processed and ready for sale within a few hours of being captured.

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  • 5. What spectral bands are available?
     

    Each sensor vehicle captures imagery with slightly different spectral ranges and capabilities. Imagery can be ordered as panchromatic (grayscale), natural colour (R-G-B), false colour infrared (IR-R-G), 8-band (includes additional radiation in both ultraviolet and infrared ends of the spectrum) and SWIR (short wave infrared).

    Compare satellites

    SatelliteSensorsCompared

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  • 6. Can I preview the imagery to ensure there is no snow or cloud cover?
     

    Thick cloud cover expressed as a percent of the photo's coverage area is available from DigitalGlobe for archived imagery. Seasonal snow pack coverage can be seen clearly in the preview, the probability of trace amounts of snow on the ground that aren't obvious in the preview will be estimated by cross-referencing the image date and location against historical weather data. Our customer service team will preview the archived imagery available for your area of interest and choose the best options for you to select from.

    For imagery captured on demand, imagery with snow cover can be rejected in regions where permanent snow packs are not typical if specified in advance, subject to seasonal norms. Customers must accept imagery containing cloud cover of 15% or less, with pricing options to accept only imagery meeting more stringent conditions.

    Satellite imagery tiles purchased through MapWarehouse are unlikely to have snow coverage, but previewing the image you'll receive is recommended. Here's how.

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  • 7. How does the quality of satellite imagery compare with orthophoto?
     

    Each sensor vehicle is different. In general, the level of detail seen in the image and geolocational accuracy will be better for orthophoto flown from aircraft. Satellite imagery is superior in that new imagery can be collected and delivered on much shorter notice anywhere in the world, and includes more spectral bands outside the visible range.

    Compare imagery products

    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 8. How long does it take to receive my imagery?
     

    For archived imagery, once you approve your quote, delivery of your imagery generally takes less than a week. To order tasking for new imagery, you can select the preferred time frame for collection, but delays may occur because of unfavourable ground conditions at the site. For very large sites, it may take more than one pass for the sensor to complete the collection, which could occur days or weeks apart. Once the new imagery is collected, delivery will be within a week.

    For orders of tiled satellite imagery through the MapWarehouse store, an email with a link to you orders will be sent within 10 minutes.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 771 Times No Comments
  • 9. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 10. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 11. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 12. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 13. Compare Downloadable Imagery Sources
     

     
    DownloadableImageryCompared

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    Viewed 979 Times No Comments
  • 14. Compare Satellite Sensors
     

     
    SatelliteSensorsCompared

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    Viewed 973 Times No Comments
  • 15. What's The Difference Between MapWarehouse's Orthophoto and Tiled Satellite Imagery?
     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 16. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 1. What types of features are shown on Ontario Base Maps?
     

    An example of legend:

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  • 2. What is the map scale of OBM?
     

    1:10,000 in southern Ontario, meaning each 24" x 30" map sheet covers 5km x 5km, or, 1:20,000 for northern Ontario, meaning each sheet covers 10km x 10km.

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  • 3. How do I order hard copy prints of Ontario Base Mapping (topos)?
     

    It's easy. We don't keep paper maps in stock, but we will gladly print them for you on demand as they are ordered. We can then send you the map(s) by courier or you can pick them up from our office in Markham. First, you'll need to provide the sheet numbers for the area you'd like to purchase to our customer service staff. The sheet numbers along with the geographical coverage of each map sheet can be found in MapWarehouse by searching for data in your area of interest. Sheet numbers are listed as the "filename" (1017... or 2017...) under the individual item info pop-out boxes, accessible by clicking the "i" symbol beside each item number in your selection.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 893 Times No Comments
  • 4. What file formats are available?
     

    Besides printed hard copies, OBM can be purchased as PDF (read-only), as a georeferenced raster (tiff), or in vector formats (SHP for GIS or DWG for CAD), consisting of points, lines, polygons, and annotations, with each individual layer contained in separate files. Vector files are fully editable and can be used in simple spatial analysis techniques.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
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  • 5. Is there anything more current than 1983?
     

    The current edition, referred to as the 1983 series was produced between 1977 and 2000 using the NAD83 datum. The year of the photo each sheet was based on is recorded at the bottom of the map sheet. Natural features such as topography rarely change, so the mapping will continue to be up to date for years to come. Read More

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  • 6. Where are the Ontario Base Maps for City of Toronto?
     

    Map sheets for this particular area are not available.

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  • 7. Do you have the small scale topo sheets as well?
     

    No. The familiar topos named by letter-number combinations, (030M, for example covers the the Golden Horseshoe at 1:250,000, 030M14, covers Markham at 1:50,000) come from the NTS (National Topographic System) and are maintained by Natural Resources Canada. These can be downloaded for free from the GeoGratis website.

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    Viewed 833 Times No Comments
  • 8. I bought a DWG format of Ontario Base Map (OBM) and it's 30 separate files! Is there an easy way to load them into CAD all at once?
     

    Yes! From the task pane, select "Data"/"Attach Source Drawings" and choose the layers you would like to load.

    Learn more

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  • 9. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

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    Viewed 1148 Times No Comments
  • 10. The DWG files of Ontario Base Map (OBM) does not show the labels for elevations etc. How can I use the properties of the individual polylines to produce annotation?
     

    Here's a tutorial that shows how to use the features' properties to apply a label. This is for the latest edition of the software, but there should be similar options available in whatever software you're using.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 868 Times No Comments
  • 11. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 12. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 13. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 14. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 838 Times No Comments
  • 15. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 856 Times No Comments
  • 16. Compare Elevation Products
     

     
    ElevationDataCompared

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(4) / No(0)
    Viewed 982 Times No Comments
  • 17. Is there anything newer?
     

    We update large portions of our aerial imagery every year to keep up with demand for new data, especially in suburban areas where land development is taking place. In the built environment, the imagery will be different every single year, so it's worth the effort to fly the same areas over and over.

    The same is true for many types of "cultural" features such property line boundaries. Not every parcel changes every year, but within our large database covering all of Ontario, enough parcels change to need scheduled updates to maintain the relevance of the information a few times a year.

    Not so, however, with other types of mapping. One of our most popular data products is elevation mapping which was produced in 2002. Since our DEM and contour mapping is looking at bare earth topography, and the lay of the land doesn't generally change, there's no reason to update the data based solely on its age.

    There are a few exceptions. Activities that change the landscape such as mining, dam building, and urban expansion would require an updated map if those activities took place at your area of interest since the DEM was produced in 2002.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 835 Times No Comments
  • 18. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 608 Times No Comments
  • 1. Compare Data Products
     

     
    DataProductDetails

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(3) / No(0)
    Viewed 1148 Times No Comments
  • 2. How much does it cost?
     

    Most downloadable data is priced based on 500m x 500m tiles. For most orthophoto, the cost is $70 per 500m tile, and $150 per 1km tile, with progressive discounts applied automatically for orders greater than 5 tiles. Vintage imagery may be priced lower in certain areas. Contours are $60 per tile. DEM are $60 per tile in Golden Horseshoe and $30 per tile for the Simcoe-Kawartha dataset.
    LiDAR costs $100 per tile.

    Teranet parcels are $77 per tile at a flat rate, regardless of the number of parcels contained in the 500m square area. Property mapping can also be purchased as a custom order at $13 per parcel plus labour, with progressive discounts for orders over 10 parcels.

    For Ontario Base Mapping, each map sheet is priced based on file format. View-only PDF or print copies are $15. Georeferenced raster copies (GeoTiff format) are $30. GIS and CAD formats are $100 per map sheet.

    For Floodplain mapping, PDF maps are $30, CAD formats are $125 each.

    Subscription based services such as VuMAP are priced based on the number of users, starting $1500 per year. MapCast subscriptions are priced based on bandwidth, starting at $500 per year for 500MB of bandwidth per month.

    We are always open to providing custom services and solutions. Contact us directly to request a quote.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(2) / No(0)
    Viewed 1410 Times No Comments
  • 3. Can I get a sample file to try in my own software?
     

    Yes! Several sample files are available in different formats on FBS University Please let us know if there's something more you'd like to see available.

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1105 Times No Comments
  • 4. What's the difference between raster and vector?
     

    "Raster" refers to data made of pixels, like our orthophoto. Common raster file types you'll find on our website include JPG, MrSID, GeoTIFF and ECW. "Vector" refers to data made of points, lines, polygons, and often includes text elements as well. Common vector file types you'll find on our website include SHP, DWG, and DGN. Learn More

    Was this answer helpful ? Yes(1) / No(0)
    Viewed 1028 Times No Comments
  • 5. Can I see an overview of the the area each dataset covers?
     

    From the coverage map, click the magnifying glass beside the name of any data set and the extent of the coverage will be highlighted in pink on the map.

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  • 6. How do I reference maps from FBS as cited works?
     

    It depends on the map and it's source. A full explanation can be found here.

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  • 7. Compare Elevation Products
     

     
    ElevationDataCompared

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  • 8. What are the technical specifications of LiDAR?
     
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  • 9. How do I use LiDAR?
     

    LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) bare earth elevation models in GeoTiff format are easy to use and highly accurate. This video will help you get started.

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  • 10. The sample download doesn't work
     

    If you're having trouble with the sample request form, you can also access a selection of data here:

    Orthophoto

     

    Parcel

     

    Elevation

     

    Flood Lines

     

    Ontario Base Mapping

     

    Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater

     

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Blog: How To Interpret MapWarehouse File Names

Did you know the string of numbers actually means something useful? By interpreting the file names you can find: Tte data type (orthophoto, parcel, contours), the UTM coordinates of the file’s insertion point, the year the data was produced, the data provider (FBS, Teranet, TRCA)…


Cheat Sheets:

  • Cheat Sheet
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  • 1. Compare Property Boundary Mapping
     

     
    CadastralMappingCompared

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  • 2. Compare Data Delivery Services
     
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  • 3. Compare Online Imagery Viewers
     

     

    MapViewersCompared

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  • 4. Compare Downloadable Imagery Sources
     

     
    DownloadableImageryCompared

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  • 5. Compare Satellite Sensors
     

     
    SatelliteSensorsCompared

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  • 6. Compare Elevation Products
     

     
    ElevationDataCompared

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Blog: How To Remove An Item From Your MapWarehouse Shopping Cart

You need to review your shopping cart before heading to the checkout. The tools to do this are hiding in plain sight. Before placing that angry phone call, please watch this one minute video…


Glossary:

  • A-B-C
  • D-E-F
  • G-H-I
  • J-K-L
  • M-N-O
  • P-Q-R
  • S-T-U
  • V-W-X-Y-Z
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  • 1. AOI
     

    Area Of Interest. When you request a quote for data or services, we'll ask for your AOI to define the geographical limits of your study area.

  • 2. API
     

    Application Programming Interface, such as the Google Maps API.  The API describes and defines the rules of how building blocks of software work together.

  • 3. ARN
     

    Assessment Roll Number.  A 15 digit number used to uniquely identify a property for the purposes of tax assessments.

  • 4. ASCII Grid
     

    American Standard Code for Information Interchange.  In terms of map data, ASCII's cell-based information storage system can be used to store raster image data.  FBS distributes Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater files in ASCII format.

  • 5. Break Line
     

    In an elevation model, a break line is delineated along any terrain impacting features seen in an orthophoto such as road edges, ridges, and valleys.  When the spot heights are interpolated to create a surface model such as contours, the surface disruptions defined by the break lines are taken into account. The resulting surface is more detailed and true to life than without the use of break lines.

  • 6. BIM / Pre-BIM
     

    Basic Index Mapping / Pre-Basic Index Mapping.  BIM and Pre-BIM describe parcel mapping of lower spatial accuracy than POLARIS.  BIM quality parcel mapping was derived from moderate quality base mapping, at scales of 1:10,000 or less for areas of Ontario where legal  surveys or control points are not consistently available.  Pre-BIM is the lowest quality mapping for areas where base mapping is not available. The locational accuracy of BIM and Pre-BIM mapping in highly variable and comes with no guarantees of quality.

  • 7. CAD
     

    Computer Aided Design.

  • 8. Cadastre
     

    The mapping fabric describing the locations, dimensions, tenure and other details of real properties within a defined region like a county. Digital cadastral records form the basis of the administrative systems used to record legal title and in taxation.

  • 9. CAMC
     

    Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition.  A inter-regional organization dedicated to protecting groundwater resources across the Oak Ridges Moraine and surrounding watersheds.  The geological and hydrogeological strata models produced by CAMC are available for sale on MapWarehouse.

  • 10. CAVIS
     

    Cloud. Aerosol. Vapour. Ice. Snow.  The CAVIS imager is mounted on the new WorldView 3 space vehicle, used to captured longer wavelengths at 30m resolution for the purpose of enhancing satellite imagery affected by these distortions, which obscure ground features in the visible and infrared spectrum.  The introduction of CAVIS technology is expected to standardize the condition of imagery, allowing for more automated data extraction.

  • 11. CE90
     

    Circular Error 90%.  Usually expressed as a distance in metres, the CE90 describes the positional error and accuracy of an aerial or satellite image.  It means, an identified control point in an image will fall within a circle having the radius of the stated CE90, 90% of the time, when compared to the true position on the Earth. The smaller the number, the better the positional accuracy will be. For example, our satellite imagery has a CE90 of 23m for the Quickbird satellite, but WorldView 3 and WorldView 4 have CE90 of only 3.5m.

  • 12. CIR
     

    Colour infrared.  Often used for false colour images to enhance vegetation, since healthy plant life reflects far more infrared energy than visible light in the green portion of the spectrum.  CIR is produced by substituting infrared-red-green light bands for the usual red-green-blue bands which produce natural colour images in image processing software.

  • 13. Contour Mapping
     

    Also called topographic relief mapping, contour mapping shows variability in the elevation, slope, and aspect of the terrain using isolines, lines connecting points of equal elevation.

  • 14. Coordinates System
     

    A reference system used to correlate locations on a map with real locations on the Earth's surface.  Coordinate systems are generally based on grids where locations are described based on distance from the origin of the grid.  Geographic coordinates, for example, are a spherical coordinate system expressed in latitude, longitude, and sometimes elevation, meaning degrees north from the equator, west from the prime meridian and distance above sea level, where the degrees are radial from the earth's centre.  Projected coordinate systems are based on a cartesian grid expressed in distance north and east from the origin of the grid cell, where the curved surface of the Earth has been conformally projected to flat plane.  Geographic coordinate systems work well for worldwide applications, projected coordinate systems, of which there are many, work best for local level applications.

  • 15. Crabbing
     

    When capturing aerial photo from fixed wing aircraft, crabbing is the adjustment of the flightline on the fly to compensate for wind in order to remain on the intended path and capture the intended targets.  The consequence of crabbing is that the orientation of the images will not be parallel with the intended flight line, which affects the amount of overlap and side lap between images, which can cause difficulties with creating stereo pairs.

  • 1. Datum
     

    Also called a geodetic datum, a datum is a reference system to describe the ellipsoid, or Earth-shaped model used to define the origin and orientation of a coordinate system.  The most common datums used in Canada to translate coordinates to correct locations on the Earth are WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984, based on the WGS84 ellipsoid) for geographic coordinates, and NAD83 (North American Datum 1983, based on the GRS80 (Geodetic Reference System 1980) ellipsoid for projected coordinates.

  • 2. DEM
     

    Digital Elevation Model. A surface model that includes only bare earth features without vegetation or structures. The DEM data is used to create a terrain surface, terrain orthorectification and to generate contour lines.

  • 3. DGN
     

    Design file format.  This is the vector format commonly used by Bentley Systems MicroStation for engineering and mapping applications.

  • 4. DigitalGlobe
     

    A partner company of FBS.  DigitalGlobe is a vendor of commercial satellite imagery.

  • 5. DN
     

    Digital Number.  In remotely sensed imagery like satellite images, each pixel in an image or colour band is assigned a numerical value between 0 and 255 (for 8 bit imagery) describing the relative quantity of electromagnetic energy captured by the sensor. Black represents a DN of 0, meaning all the energy was absorbed by the surface material, white represents a DN of 255, meaning all the energy was reflected by the surface material.  Graytone images represent of the variation in spectral reflectance values of the surface materials across a region.

  • 6. DSM
     

    Digital Surface Model. A topographic elevation model of the Earth's surface including every natural and artificial feature.  DSM forms the basis for creating true orthophoto production.

  • 7. DTM
     

    Digital Terrain Model. This type of surface uses break lines in addition to spot heights to refine the model.  The breaks are identified from our orthophoto and delineated along terrain impacting features such as ridges, valleys, watercourses, road edges and structures.  When the spot heights are interpolated to create the terrain model or contour lines, the terrain disruptions at the break lines are taken into account to produce a more true to life representation of the surface.

  • 8. DWG
     

    Drawing file format.  A common vector format used in CAD applications for engineering and mapping.

  • 9. ECW
     

    Enhanced Compression Wavelet file format.  A lossy compression format for raster images to manage large file sizes while retaining visual quality.

  • 10. EMR
     

    Electromagnetic Radiation.  In the electromagnetic spectrum, short wavelengths correlate with high frequency, such as gamma rays and X-rays, and long wavelengths correlate with low frequency such as radio waves and microwaves.  In the middle of the spectrum lies ultraviolet radiation (10-400 nm wavelength), visible light (400-700 nm wavelength), and infrared radiation (700-1000 nm wavelength).  The energy in this portion of the spectrum is captured in aerial and satellite imagery to classify surface materials based on the signature of what energy is reflected or absorbed by the material.

  • 11. ESRI
     

    Environmental Systems Research Institute.  A GIS software company.  Featured products include the ArcGIS suite of software.

  • 12. False Colour
     

    In satellite and aerial imagery, false colour imagery is used to distinguish features of similar colour that differentially reflect energy in parts of electromagnetic spectrum outside the visible range, such as infrared.  Non-visible spectral bands are assigned a visible colour; red, green, or blue, to produce false colour imagery such as CIR, colour infrared.

  • 13. FBS
     

    First Base Solutions. That's us!

  • 14. FBSWMS
     

    First Base Solutions Web Map Service. FBSWMS (now rebranded as "MapCast") is a live, streaming connection to First Base Solutions' complete library of high-resolution orthophotography and elevation contours directly into your CAD or GIS software. Use AutoCAD Civil and Map 3D®, ArcGIS, MapInfo®, MicroStation, Google Earth(TM) and other web map service (WMS) compliant software to stream the data directly into your workspace.

  • 15. Floodline
     

    Regulatory flood lines delineate the predicted high water mark along the bank of streams and rivers based on the hypothetical 100-year storm event, or, the observed high water mark in areas affected by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 which exceed the hypothetical prediction.  The regulatory flood line is used in setting policies for development in vulnerable, water adjacent property.

  • 16. Floodplain
     

    The land adjacent to watercourses defined by the regulatory flood line, where surplus water from storms and snow pack melt that exceeds the drainage capacity of the waterway can safely overflow without interfering with neighbouring land uses.

  • 1. GCP
     

    Ground Control Point.  A point on the Earth of precisely known geographic location and/or spectral characteristics which will be visible when captured in aerial imagery.  GCP's are used to improve the locational accuracy of georeferenced imagery and to calibrate colour or spectral qualities of imagery.

  • 2. Geocoding
     

    A technique to assign map coordinates to colloquial location information, such as street addresses or postal codes.  GIS software can be used to assign coordinate information in a batch based on a list of addresses using a road network with the address ranges for each block face as the attribute.  Reverse geocoding can be employed to assign to postal address to points mapped with only coordinates.

  • 3. GeoEye-1
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 2008 with 41cm resolution, 4 band multispectral image capture capability.

  • 4. Georeferencing
     

    A technique to add map coordinates and scale to raster data such as aerial imagery, images of scanned paper maps, or any vector datasets missing a spatial reference.  In a GIS, the new data is shifted, scaled, and rotated to align with an existing dataset based on observed control points that are visible in both datasets.

  • 5. GeoWarehouse
     

    Not to be confused with MapWarehouse, GeoWarehouse is a portal for accessing advanced property reports and neighbourhood statistics geared towards the real estate industry.

  • 6. GIS
     

    Geographic Information System.  A system of map-based content management to organize, store, display, and analyze, and manipulate spatial data such as aerial imagery and georeferenced vector files.

  • 7. Geotiff
     

    A raster (image) file type which allows georeferencing information to be embedded directly into a TIFF (Tagged Image Format File) without the need for an auxiliary file describing the imagery's geographic position.

  • 8. GPS
     

    Global Positioning System.

  • 9. GSD
     

    Ground Sample Distance.  Usually a value in cm, this value squared is the area on the ground covered by a single pixel in an aerial image.

  • 10. HEC-RAS
     

    Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System.  A computer program for modelling flow and discharge of river systems used to evaluate flood plains.

  • 11. IKONOS
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 1999 with 82cm resolution, and 4 band multispectral image capture capability.

  • 12. iLOOKABOUT
     

    A partner company of FBS.  iLOOKABOUT is a vendor of georeferenced street level imagery.

  • 13. IMU
     

    Inertial Measurement Unit. IMU detects altitude, location and motion such a pitch, roll and yaw when an airplane is in flight. Using a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes, an airplane can track position with a high degree of accuracy.

  • 1. J.D. Barnes
     

    The leading provider of land information services in Canada, and the parent company of First Base Solutions.

  • 2. JPG
     

    A raster (image) file format with lossy compression commonly used for storing digital imagery.

  • 3. KML / KMZ
     

    Keyhole Markup Language.  Files of this type are typically used with Google Earth to store geographic features such as points, lines, polygons, images, 3D models, textual descriptions, etc.

  • 4. LBS
     

    Location Based Services.  Services catering to customers based on geographic location, as determined the user's smartphone location or social networking settings, allowing customers and to connect more easily to local business, and service providers to focus advertising to local customers.

  • 1. MapWarehouse
     

    FBS's self-service online data store. Users can locate on a map, purchase, and download sections of orthophoto, elevation models, parcel boundaries and other geographic data in a variety of GIS and CAD formats.

  • 2. MapCast
     

    Formerly branded as  First Base Solutions Web Map Service (FBSWMS), MapCast  is a live, on-demand connection to First Base Solutions' complete library of high-resolution orthophotography and elevation contours directly into your CAD or GIS workstation.

  • 3. Metadata
     

    Data about data.  Metadata records the specifications for a dataset or file, including information such as the publication date, the data owner organization, file formats, keywords, projection and coordinate information, geographic coverage, tabular attributes descriptions, quality statements and any other relevant descriptions.

  • 4. MNR
     

    Ministry of Natural Resources.  In Ontario, the OMNR is the producer of the Ontario Base Map series of general purpose topographic maps.

  • 5. MODIS
     

    Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer.  An Earth-imaging instrument currently on board the Aqua (EOS PM-1) satellite.  This instrument primary captures large scale phenomenon such as weather systems and arctic ice monitoring with 250m pixel resolution using 36 spectral bands.

  • 6. Mosaic
     

    A large, overview image created by stitching geographically adjacent sections of images together.

  • 7. MPAC
     

    Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.  The agency responsible for property valuations which play a role in calculating municipal property taxes.

  • 8. MrSID
     

    Multiresolution Seamless Image Database.  A lossless file format owned by LizardTech, primarily used for rapid display of extremely large raster files such as orthophoto and satellite imagery without the need for complete decompression.

  • 9. NAD83
     

    North American Datum 1983.  The Earth ellipsoid model commonly used for UTM projected geographic data in North America.  It updates the NAD27 model of 1927.

  • 10. Nadir
     

    In remote sensing, the precise point in an image where the viewing angle of the sensor is directly overhead.

  • 11. NDVI
     

    Normalized Difference Vegetation Index.  Calculated from the pixel values between spatially coincident spectral bands from aerial or satellite imagery as (Near Infrared-Visible Red)/(Near Infrared-Visible Red) as a means to quantify the health and productivity of vegetation, separate from the background brightness of soil.

  • 12. NIR
     

    Near Infrared.  The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths in the range between roughly 700 - 1400 nm, longer than visible red light, but shorter than infrared energy.

  • 13. NRVIS
     

    Natural Resources Values Information System.  The system used by the Ontario MNR to manage land information resources in Ontario, consisting of spatial data layers including topographic relief, roads, vegetation, waterways, and a host of natural and cultural features. These layers are published into the OBM (Ontario Base Mapping) 1983 series.

  • 14. NTS
     

    National Topographic System.  NTS maps are produced by Natural Resources Canada at 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 with complete coverage across Canada. Often confused with OBM map sheets, the NTS series is not available through FBS, but can downloaded for free from Geogratis.gc.ca.

  • 15. Oblique
     

    Aerial imagery taken from a camera positioned at a slanted angle relative to the ground, allowing the observer to see the sides of tall buildings, trees and other ground features.  Sometimes referred to as a bird's eye view.

  • 16. OBM
     

    Ontario Base Mapping.  A series of 1:10,000 and 1:20,000 general purpose map sheets covering the majority of Ontario, produced by the MNR.  This map series includes topographic relief, drainage, vegetation, and cultural features.

  • 17. ORM
     

    Oak Ridges Moraine.  A ridge of unconsolidated glacial material running parallel to the north shore of Lake Ontario, dividing the region into two watersheds, one draining south to Lake Ontario, one draining north to Lake Simcoe. The unique characteristics of the moraine's geology make this region ecologically sensitive, particularly as it affects groundwater quality.

  • 18. Orthophoto
     

    Aerial imagery taken from a camera positioned directly vertical relative to the ground, allowing the observer to see only the roofs of tall buildings, or, imagery which has been mathematically adjusted using photogrammetry techniques to achieve the same perspective.  Orthophoto are precisely orthogonal, or at a right angle to the camera.  The result is that the imagery is uniformly scaled and can be used to measure distances and angles in the same way as a planimetric map.

  • 1. Panchromatic
     

    in satellite imagery, one broad spectral band with all the colours of visible light combined into a single band, commonly referred to as grayscale or black and white imagery.  Texture and intensity of spectral reflectance is represented visually by tones of gray ranging from fully black to fully white.

  • 2. Pansharpen
     

    An image processing technique combining the high resolution ground sample distance of panchromatic images with the spectral resolution of multispectral imagery.  The panchromatic image is used to enhance contrast and texture in the colour imagery it coincides with.

  • 3. Parcel Mapping
     

    Mapping of line work depicting property boundaries, determined by either ownership (PIN mapping) or for assessment (ARN mapping).

  • 4. Photogrammetry
     

    An image processing technique where the stereo properties of overlapping images are used to calculate the position and elevation of objects in an image. Photogrammetry in employed by FBS in the production of orthophoto and 3D terrain models.

  • 5. Pictometry
     

    A partner company of FBS.  Pictometry is a provider of georeferenced oblique imagery.

  • 6. PIN
     

    Property Identification Number.  A 9 digit number used to uniquely identify a property related to ownership records.

  • 7. POI
     

    Point Of Interest.  Particularly featured locations on a map.

  • 8. POLARIS
     

    Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System.  POLARIS parcel mapping was drawn using recent surveys and control points, where available.  POLARIS quality mapping therefore has a high expected locational accuracy than BIM and Pre-BIM parcel mapping.

  • 9. Positional Accuracy
     

    Assessment and quantification of the difference between the location of a feature's geometry in a model such as a map and the true location of that feature on the Earth, in both horizontal and vertical planes.  There are different ways to express the estimated difference such as RMSE and CE90.  The outcome of spatial analysis depends on the quality of the inputs.

    The estimated range of error is important to understand the limitations of what the data can validly be used to assess.

  • 10. Quaternary Stratigraphy
     

    The layers, or strata, of highly variable unconsolidated glacial deposits which form the Oak Ridges Moraine.

  • 11. QuickBird
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 2001 with 60cm resolution, and 4 band multispectral image capture capability.

  • 12. Radial Perspective
     

    In an aerial photo, the apparent displacement of features on the ground radiating outwards from nadir. The effect of radial displacement causes features of similar height to appear taller than they actually are the father away from the image centre they are.

  • 13. Raster
     

    Data comprised of information stored in a grid, typically pixels in an image.

  • 14. Rectification
     

    In georeferencing, rectification is the second step, once the new data is basically in position. Rectification, also called warping or rubber sheeting, is the process of differentially skewing regions within an image to better align with known locations within the established coverage area.

  • 15. Registration
     

    In georeferencing, registration is the first step to shift, rotate and scale the new data to align with an existing dataset.  When registration is complete, the outer boundaries of the new data will be correctly positioned, delineating the total coverage area.

  • 16. Relief Displacement
     

    The effects of changes in elevation appear amplified in aerial imagery because of a combination of radial displacement, flight altitude, camera focal length, and topography.  Peaks will appear displaced away from nadir, depressions appear displaced inwards, towards nadir.  The effects of relief are minimized with distance from the subject, and are therefore negligible in satellite imagery.

  • 17. RF
     

    Representative Fraction.  RF can be as either a fraction (1/10,000) or as a ratio (1:10,000) to define the linear relationship between the dimensions of the map and the area on the ground it covers, regardless of the unit of measure.  For example, OBM map sheets are produced with RFs of 1:10,000, meaning for every 1 cm on the map, there are 10,000 cm (or 100 m) on the ground.

  • 18. Remote Sensing
     

    Any method which acquires information about the subject from a distance, most commonly referring to aerial or satellite image capture.

  • 19. Resolution
     

    In terms of aerial imagery, resolution refers to the radiometric clarity, the area on the ground covered by a single pixel in the image, usually expressed as a linear unit like 10cm, meaning a pixel is 10cm x 10cm square.

  • 20. RGB
     

    Red Green Blue.  These colours are the channels on most computer monitors that combine to produce natural colour images.

  • 21. RMSE
     

    Root Mean Squared Error.  A method to quantify the positional accuracy of spatial data that measures the difference between observed and predicted values.  When georeferencing imagery, RMSE is calculated with respect to ground control points.  Mathematically, it is the square root of the average of the square of all the error.  In practice, an RMSE of 0 is the target of no error, values less than 1 are desirable.  Since the calculation is based on the squared value, the output error value can inflate quickly as error increases.  Keeping the error low is important for the validity of predictions or models created from the data.

  • 1. Scale
     

    The linear relationship between the size of a model like a map and size of the real area it describes.  Scale is usually expressed as an RF (representative fraction) or by a scale bar which gives a graphical representation of the relationship, or both.  In general, large scale maps, such as 1:5,000 scale, show more detail and cover a smaller geographic area than small scale maps, such as 1:50,000, which cover large areas with less detail.

  • 2. Sensor Vehicle
     

    In satellite imagery, the sensor vehicle is the satellite carrying the camera equipment.

  • 3. SHP
     

    Shape or Shapefile.  SHP is a common vector file format used in GIS applications, particularly ESRI software.  A shapefile is made up of a handful of associated files with different extensions that record the geometry, tabular attributes, and spatial referencing information.

  • 4. Spectral Bands
     

    In aerial and satellite imagery, spectral bands are normally named by the section of the electromagnetic spectrum they describe, such as red, green, blue, NIR, IR, or panchromatic.  Each band is capturing a distinct wavelength range reflected from the surface material in the image. Each band can stand alone as a grayscale image, or can be viewed simultaneously with other bands, each assigned to display in one of the red, green, or blue colour channels on a computer monitor.

  • 5. Spectral Signature
     

    Spectral signature is a distinctive pattern of spectral reflectance by various materials, and can be used to identify and classify those materials based on comparison to known values.  In a similar way that an observer can identify objects in an aerial image qualitatively based on colour, the signature quantifies in a graph the reflectance quantity (intensity) vs wavelength (colour) to produce a curve which includes energy beyond the visible spectrum.

  • 6. Spot Height
     

    In digital elevation models, spot heights are used to record the precise elevation at a specific coordinate point, usually in a uniform grid or as close to a grid as possible depending on the limitations of the region's terrain and where the ground may be obscured, making accurate elevation measurements difficult.  Local high and low points in the terrain are typically recorded as well.  Spot heights are used to estimate the locations for contour lines of equal elevation.

  • 7. Stereo Pair
     

    In remote sensing, stereo pairs are two overlapping images taken from slightly different viewing angles, such as images captured in succession from a moving plane. Using a stereoscope (3D viewing glasses) the observer can view the imagery in 3D.  Stereo pairs are used to create elevation models and orthorectify aerial imagery.

  • 8. SWIR
     

    Short Wave Infrared.  Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths roughly 1400-3000 nm, longer than both visible light and infrared energy.  SWIR energy can captured as images by sensors in the same way a photo is captured from natural light by a camera.  The WorldView-3 satellite launched in 2014 is the first commercial satellite with SWIR offerings.  The advantage SWIR offers over other bandwidths is capacity to penetrate haze and smoke, and for distinguishing between different types of minerals.

  • 9. Tasking
     

    When ordering commercial satellite imagery, tasking means ordering a new image capture for your site according to your specifications, as opposed to ordering from a catalogue of archived imagery.

  • 10. Teranet
     

    A partner company of FBS.  Teranet is a provider of parcel mapping.

  • 11. TIN
     

    Triangulated Irregular Network.  A means of representing a terrain using a series of points with x, y, and z coordinates connected by straight lines to form a tessellated 3-dimensional surface.  TINs can be created from DEMs to form a vector surface.  TINs offer an advantage because of smaller file sizes compared to raster based surface models, but may be less suited to slope and aspect analysis.

  • 12. Topo
     

    A topo is another name for a topographic map, such as Ontario Base Mapping.

  • 13. Topographic Relief
     

    The shape of the surface of the Earth, particularly the variability in elevation.  Topographic relief is often represented on a flat map by contour lines.

  • 14. TRCA
     

    Toronto Region Conservation Authority. A partner company of FBS, TRCA is responsible for watershed management in the greater Toronto area. TRCA produces a series of floodplain maps including regulatory flood lines.

  • 15. UTM
     

    Universal Transverse Mercator.  The most commonly used projected coordinate system in Canada.  The Earth is divided into 60 zones like segments of an orange, each zone covering 6 degrees out of the 360 degree circumference. Ontario is covered by zones 15 in the extreme west through to zone 18 in the extreme east.

  • 1. Vector
     

    Data stored as points, lines, polygons, and annotation, such as DWG, DGN, and SHP files.

  • 2. VuMAP
     

    VuMAP is a feature-packed online mapping application that provides access to the entire library of high-resolution aerial imagery acquired by First Base Solutions as well as property fabric including PIN, ARN, address, and legal descriptions for every parcel in Ontario, contour lines, water features, green space, soil descriptions and more. VuMAP works through your web browser, using the familiar Google Maps(TM) and Google Street View(TM) controls and search, and does not require any plug-ins or installations.  VuMAP isn't just a viewing tool; it includes a number of easy-to-use tools to measure, annotate, draw or trace, save and share your results with other VuMAP users to help you get the most out of your data.

  • 3. Watershed
     

    The drainage basin where local watercourses collect surface water to a common reservoir.  Southern Ontario is part of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin which drains to the Atlantic Ocean, but local watersheds also exist draining to the Rouge River, Humber River, and Etobicoke Creek, just to name a few.

  • 4. WLD
     

    World file.  This is an auxiliary file type that accompanies a georeferenced raster image to hold information about the images size, rotation, and insertion point on a map, to be read by CAD or GIS software.

  • 5. WMS
     

    Web Map Service.  A WMS is a standard protocol developed and maintained by the Open GeoSpatial Consortium (OGC). This protocol allows a client application to directly request images over the Internet. The WMS will then dynamically create a view of the requested data and streams it back to the client application, positioning it in its correct geospatial location.

  • 6. WorldView-1
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 2007 with 50cm resolution, and panchromatic image capture capability.

  • 7. WorldView-2
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 2009 with 50cm resolution, and 8 band multispectral image capture capability.

  • 8. WorldView-3
     

    A commercial Earth imaging satellite launched in 2014 with 40cm resolution, 8 band multispectral image capture capability, SWIR, and CAVIS data.

  • 9. Zenith
     

    The infinite point directly above nadir, perpendicular to a plane lying tangent to curve of the Earth's surface.

  • 10. Zoom2It
     

    Zoom2It is a service provided by FBS geared towards real estate marketing.  Users can purchase aerial images of properties with their boundary lines in context with the surrounding neighbourhood.

Blog: All About Custom Mapping & Terrain Models

Custom photogrammetric mapping is a specialized service offered by First Base Solutions where the ground features you’re most interested in can be delineated from aerial photos and delivered in your choice of GIS or CAD formats…


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