ABSTRACT
For approximately 25 years, organizations have been creating digital databases of spatial or cartographic information. These digital data are often the most expensive part of the GIS to which they belong. Yet, often, not enough attention is given to the quality of these data or the processes by which they are prepared for automation and then captured for the database. This paper reviews some of the data commonly used in these cartographic information systems, and some of the tools and techniques people are using to capture this information for creation of digital databases, including the many different exchange formats and conversion procedures for information already in digital form. Generally, this paper deals with GIS having vector map information represented in topological data structures linked to attributes in a relational database. ESRI’s primary experience has been in using the ARC/INFO system, although our staff have also had experience using other vector GIS systems.
