County Highway Map Series - Georeferenced Image Files (GeoTIFF and EPPL7 formats)

This page last updated: 04/09/2007
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines


Metadata Summary

Originator Minnesota Department of Transportation and Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
Abstract This set of GeoTIFF and EPPL7 files represents the Minnesota Department of Transportation's County Highway Map Series in georeferenced image formats. These images of the standard Mn/DOT County Highway Map product can be used in GIS systems and overlayed with other GIS information. The origin of this data is Mn/DOT's Microstation CAD system, where all linework, feature type coding, and symbolization is stored and updated. To produce these data sets, Mn/DOT exported the data from Microstation into postscript files. LMIC then imported the data into GIS systems for georeferencing and further processing. The GeoTIFF data are distributed in both County Highway Map map sheet and full county extents; EPPL7 data sets are distributed only as full county files. Map collars have been removed. This data set represents the Mn/DOT County Highway Map as of January 1, 2002.
Browse Graphic View a sample of the data.
Time Period of Content Date 01/01/2002
Currentness Reference Original County Highway Map .eps files were created from linework in Mn/DOT Microstation CAD system as of January 1, 2002. Within the CAD system, roads, railroads, and minor civil division (city and township boundaries) are updated annually. (Township roads are updated annually to the extent that changes are reported to Mn/DOT.) Rivers, lakes, and section lines were originally captured from USGS 7.5-minute topographic maps. Water feature name changes reported through the Minnesota Board of Geographic Names are updated. Information on cultural features (for example, pipelines, transmission lines, dwellings, public service facilities) were captured from aerial photography in the 1970's and are not routinely updated.
Access Constraints None
Use Constraints Subject to distribution liability conditions.
Distributor Organization Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
Ordering Instructions The online linkage references a summary page about the County Highway Map georeferenced images. This Summary Page includes a listing by county, with links to download each available format. Formats available for download include:

1. Full county GeoTIFF files
2. MnDOT County Highway Map Sheet GeoTIFF files
3. Full county EPPL7 files

Alternatively, to purchase a CD of all 87 EPPL7 county files, contact Ken Pekarek at 651.296.1201 or use data order form at http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/EPPL7/EPPLorderForm.pdf
Online Linkage Click here to download data. (See Ordering Instructions above for details.) By clicking here, you agree to the notice in "Distribution Liability" in Section 6 of this metadata.

Full Metadata

County Highway Map Series - Georeferenced Image Files (GeoTIFF and EPPL7 formats)

Go to Section:
1. Identification Information
2. Data Quality Information
3. Spatial Data Organization Information
4. Spatial Reference Information
5. Entity and Attribute Information
6. Distribution Information
7. Metadata Reference Information

 
Section 1 Identification Information   Top of page
Originator Minnesota Department of Transportation and Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
Title County Highway Map Series - Georeferenced Image Files (GeoTIFF and EPPL7 formats)
Abstract This set of GeoTIFF and EPPL7 files represents the Minnesota Department of Transportation's County Highway Map Series in georeferenced image formats. These images of the standard Mn/DOT County Highway Map product can be used in GIS systems and overlayed with other GIS information. The origin of this data is Mn/DOT's Microstation CAD system, where all linework, feature type coding, and symbolization is stored and updated. To produce these data sets, Mn/DOT exported the data from Microstation into postscript files. LMIC then imported the data into GIS systems for georeferencing and further processing. The GeoTIFF data are distributed in both County Highway Map map sheet and full county extents; EPPL7 data sets are distributed only as full county files. Map collars have been removed. This data set represents the Mn/DOT County Highway Map as of January 1, 2002.
Purpose The GeoTIFF version of the County Highway Map Series images were created by LMIC as background imagery for the Environmental Quality Board's High Voltage Transmission Line project. It has since been used as background imagery to support a number of GIS-supported activities, including pipeline mapping and municipal boundary updates. The EPPL7 county files are part of the Minnesota Environmental Atlas Project and the Local Planning Assistance (Hazard Mitigation) project. As a georeferenced background layer these data files can be used in GIS project and overlayed with GIS data.
Time Period of Content Date 01/01/2002
Currentness Reference Original County Highway Map .eps files were created from linework in Mn/DOT Microstation CAD system as of January 1, 2002. Within the CAD system, roads, railroads, and minor civil division (city and township boundaries) are updated annually. (Township roads are updated annually to the extent that changes are reported to Mn/DOT.) Rivers, lakes, and section lines were originally captured from USGS 7.5-minute topographic maps. Water feature name changes reported through the Minnesota Board of Geographic Names are updated. Information on cultural features (for example, pipelines, transmission lines, dwellings, public service facilities) were captured from aerial photography in the 1970's and are not routinely updated.
Progress Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency Updates to the Mn/DOT Microstation CAD are made continuously; there is no plan in place to update EPPL7 and GeoTIFF versions.
Spatial Extent of Data Minnesota, Statewide
Bounding Coordinates -97.5
-89.0
49.5
43.0
Place Keywords Minnesota, Statewide
Theme Keywords transportation, Basemaps, County Highway Maps, Roads, Rivers, Lakes, Cities, Townships, Public Land Survey, Cultural Features
Theme Keyword Thesaurus ISO 19115 Topic Category
Access Constraints None
Use Constraints Subject to distribution liability conditions.
Contact Person Information Richard Schlosser, Geographic Information and Mapping Unit
Minnesota Department of Transportation
MS 642, Transportation Building, John Ireland Blvd.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-296-5131
FAX:
E-mail: richard.schlosser@state.mn.us
Browse Graphic View a sample of the data.
Browse Graphic File Description .PDF file of Ramsey County
Associated Data Sets GIS data layers - such as roads, public land survey, lake and river features - that were used to create the Mn/DOT County Highway Maps are available for download from the Mn/DOT Basemap web page:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/tda/basemap/index.html

 
Section 2 Data Quality Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Attribute Accuracy Not applicable
Logical Consistency File is not topologically structured.
Completeness Full state coverage.
Horizontal Positional Accuracy Locational accuracy for features derived from USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles cannot be assumed to exceed National map Accuracy Standards for 1:24,000 scale map (+/- 40 feet or 12 meters).
Vertical Positional Accuracy Not applicable
Lineage 1. Creation of Minnesota County Highway Maps 2001 Postscript (.eps) files from Mn/DOT Basemap GIS layers (Minnesota Department of Transportation):

a. Linework for all features is digitized into the Microstation CAD system at Mn/DOT. Features include roads, rivers, lakes, ditches, public land survey lines, municipal boundaries, and cultural features. Originally, many of these features had been digitized by Mn/DOT from the USGS 1:24,000-scale topographic maps. Cultural features were captured from 1970's aerial photography. Road and municipal boundary information is updated continually. Other features are updated or corrected on a less regular basis. Cultural features have not been systematically updated since the original data capture. All features except township roads and cultural features are considered current as of January 1, 2002.

The CAD system information includes linework coded by feature type (level) and map symbolization. The map symbolization is used to create the Mn/DOT County Highway Map Series. Data are stored by County Highway Map map sheet. Smaller counties can be represented on a single map sheet; larger counties require multiple sheets. (Note: from the Microstation CAD system, the linework, by feature type (level) is exported into Arc/Info, where attribute information is added. This set of GIS files becomes the basis for the Mn/DOT Basemap GIS data set).

b. Data for each county highway map sheet is exported from the Microstation CAD system as an .eps (postscript) file. Linework within the CAD system is in UTM Zone 15, NAD83. The .eps file itself has no projection.

2. Conversion of Minnesota County Highway Maps Postscript (.eps) files to GeoTIFF and EPPL formats (Land Management Information Center):

a. LMIC obtained from Mn/DOT a set of County Highway Map map sheet .eps files.

b. Conversion of .eps files to TIFF files: Using Transverter Pro software, LMIC converted the individual map sheet .eps files to TIFF format, rasterizing the files at 720 ppi, or approximately 4.7-meter pixels. These files were black and white, uncompressed.

c. Conversion of TIFF files to TIFF World files: Georeferencing was done using ArcMap Georeferencing tools. Georeferencing was done on each County Highway Map sheet. The TIFF files were loaded into ArcMap as image files. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Public Land Survey GIS layer section lines were used as the basis for the georeferencing. Initially, two points from the DNR PLS layer were used for rough positioning in the geographic environment. Then two more points were chosen for better fitting of the data. At that point, the two original points were dropped and two more added and the file was re-referenced. The operator then scanned around the image to look for areas of bad fit between the DNR PLS section lines and the section lines on the County Highway map TIFF file. Adjustments were made as necessary. Sometimes a good georeferencing fit could be made with just 4 points; sometimes it took 5 or 6 points for a good fit. Finally the 'georeference' command was run again, and the file was saved out to a georeferenced image (TIFF World file).

d. Create GeoTIFFs: Georeferenced images were brought back into Arc/Info; converted to GRID; then saved out in a CCI4 compression (Arc grid-to-image export option:CCI4).

e. Create Full County GeoTIFFs and EPPL7 files from County Highway Map Sheet GeoTIFFS: The EPPL7 software was used to clip out the map collar information from the GeoTIFF files, to adjust the map pixel size, and to mosaic the map sheets into full county files. A shapefile was created of County Highway Map map sheet boundaries. This was imported into EPPL7 as the clipfile, and used to clip the map collar information off of the GeoTIFF map files. EPPL7 processing was then used to simplify the map from a 4.7-meter to a 5-meter pixel size. An EPPL7 program was written to mosaic (append) all county map sheet files together into a full county map file. The county EPPL file was then exported out as a GeoTIFF file and loaded back into ArcGRID in order to modify the color file created in EPPL processing to have just two values (0,1) for black and white.
Source Scale Denominator 24000
 
Section 3 Spatial Data Organization Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Native Data Set Environment Microstation CAD
Geographic Reference for Tabular Data Not applicable
Spatial Object Type Vector
Vendor Specific Object Types
Tiling Scheme Full county and Mn/DOT County Highway Map Sheets
 
Section 4 Spatial Reference Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Horizontal Coordinate Scheme UTM
Ellipsoid GRS80
Horizontal Datum NAD83
Horizontal Units Meters
Distance Resolution
Cell Width 5
Cell Height 5
UTM Zone Number 15E
 
Section 5 Entity and Attribute Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Entity and Attribute Overview The file is an image made up of a combination of features arranged cartographically. The individual elements such as roads and section lines cannot be extracted from the image, but could be obtained as digital GIS file from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. (See Associated Data Sets). The Detailed Citation provides a list of features which are part of the cartographic image. A sample Highway Map legend is provided as a TIF image with all county files, since county files made up of multiple map sheets have had the original map legends clipped out.
Entity and Attribute Detailed Citation The following are the data features, or levels, stored in the Microstation CAD database. An asterisk indicates that the feature is not plotted on the final map.

Level(#)/ Data Description
------------------------------------------
* 1./Quad corner monuments, Lat. Long. base symbols
* 2./Quad borders, flag monuments
3./Border
4./Legend, Key Map
5./Latitude & Longitude Symbols (county maps); MSAS Routes & Legend (city maps)
6./Latitude Longitude Descriptions
7./Information ouside the county border on the county map (Adjoining county names, Adjoining CSAH road symbols, Township & range, Destination arrows and descriptions)
8./State Boundary Line
* 9./Section corner monuments (Complete grid)
10./Trunk highway alignments
11./Trunk highway designation symbols
12./County state aid highway alignments
13./CSAH designation symbols
14./County road alignments
15./County road designation symbols
16./Corporate limit dots
17./Drainage text
18./Non-designated street and road alignments
19./Drainage (shorelines and contours)
20./Street names
21./Section coner monuments (municipal maps); section lines and numbers (county maps)
22./County boundary and names
23./Municipal boundary
24./Municipal names and populations, unincorporated place names
25./Route termination arrows
26./Railroad alignments and names
27./Airport runways and names
28./Undocumented street and road alignments
29./Private roads (Street series); Trails (County maps)
30./Township roads
31./Urban boundary
32./Township boundary
33./Township names
34./Overpass symbols, pedestrian bridges
35./Highway enter-exit tamps (Municipal maps); Ramp Symbols (County map)
36./One way arrow
37./Congested area boundary
38./Forest boundary
39./Park boundary
40./Reservation boundary
41./Refuge and wildlife areas
42./Text for parks, forest & reservations; Miscellaneous letter (municipal maps)
43./Swamp
44./Dwellings and farms symbols
45./Industrial and commercial symbols
46./Recreation and public service symbols
47./Miscellaneous symbols
48./Gravel pit symbols
49./Public access symbols; navigation & conservation symbols
50./Historic sites and monuments
51./Triangulation symbols
52./Federal route designations (FAP, FAS, etc.)
53./Distance measurements
54./Pipelines
55./Transmission lines
56./Exit numbers and/or symbols
57./Match line between map sheets
58./Island filled shapes
59./Lake and river filled shapes
60./Interstate highways
61./Interstate road symbols
 
Section 6 Distribution Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Publisher Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
Publication Date 2003
Contact Person Information Norman Anderson
GIS Project Manager
Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
300 Centennial Building; 658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651.201.2483
FAX: 651.296.3698
E-mail: norm.anderson@state.mn.us
Distributor's Data Set Identifier hwy_map1
Distribution Liability Minnesota Department of Transportation Distribution Liability Statement:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation makes no representation or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the reuse of data provided herewith, regardless of its format or the means of its transmission. There is no guarantee or representation to the user as to the accuracy, currency, suitability, or reliability of this data for any purpose. The user accepts the data 'as is', and assumes all risks associated with its use. By accepting this data, the user agrees not to transmit this data or provide access to it or any part of it to another party unless the user shall include with the data a copy of this disclaimer. The Minnesota Department of Transportation assumes no responsibility for actual or consequential damage incurred as a result of any user's reliance on this data.

Land Management Information Center Distribution Liability Statement:

Limitations: Although extensive effort has been made to produce error-free and complete data, all geographic information has limitations due to the scale, resolution, date and interpretation of the original source materials. Users should consult available data documentation (metadata) for this particular data to determine limitations and the precision to which the data depict distance, direction, location or other geographic characteristics. Data may be subject to change without prior notification.
No warranty: Data is provided as is, without any warranty whatsoever, including but not limited to any warranty as to performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.
Liability: The entire risk as to the results of the use of this data is assumed by the user. LMIC is not responsible for any interpretation or conclusions made by those who acquire or use it. LMIC shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, compensatory or consequential damages or third-party claims resulting from the use of this data, even if LMIC has been advised of the possibility of such potential loss or damage. In states that do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, this data may not be used.
Redistribution conditions: In obtaining this data from LMIC, it is understood that individuals or organizations have the right to use it for any internal purpose. If data is modified, changes should be documented in a metadata record that should accompany all redistributed data. If data is transmitted or provided in any form to another user, the data MUST be accompanied by a copy of this disclaimer and all documentation provided with the original data set, including the full metadata record.
Data Delivered on Electronic Media: If these data have been requested from LMIC on magnetic media, CD-ROM or any other physical media, LMIC will deliver this product in the computer-readable format agreed upon with the requestor. LMIC will re-issue these data if they are determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input devices, or when the medium is delivered in a damaged condition. Requests for re-issue of this digital data product must be made within 30 days of the date shipped from LMIC.
Transfer Format Name GeoTIFF, EPPL7
Transfer Format Version Number
Transfer Size Varies. See data download page for individual file sizes.
Ordering Instructions The online linkage references a summary page about the County Highway Map georeferenced images. This Summary Page includes a listing by county, with links to download each available format. Formats available for download include:

1. Full county GeoTIFF files
2. MnDOT County Highway Map Sheet GeoTIFF files
3. Full county EPPL7 files

Alternatively, to purchase a CD of all 87 EPPL7 county files, contact Ken Pekarek at 651.296.1201 or use data order form at http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/EPPL7/EPPLorderForm.pdf
Online Linkage Click here to download data. (See Ordering Instructions above for details.) By clicking here, you agree to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above.
 
Section 7 Metadata Reference Information Top of full metadata Top of page
Metadata Date 04/09/2007
Contact Person Information Susanne Maeder, GIS Specialist
Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC)
300 Centennial Building; 658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651.201.2488
FAX: 651.296.3698
E-mail: gisinfo.mngeo@state.mn.us
Metadata Standard Name Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
Metadata Standard Version 1.1
Metadata Standard Online Linkage http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/gc/stds/metadata.htm


This page last updated: 04/09/2007