Delaware Spatial Data Framework

Last updated: 3/14/99

Introduction

A spatial data 'framework" as described and championed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is:

"a collaborative effort to create a widely available source of basic geographic data. It provides the most common data themes geographic data users need, as well as an environment to support the development and use of these data. The key aspects are

The framework represents 'data you can trust' -- the best available data for an area, certified, standardized, and described according to a common standard. It provides a foundation on which organizations can build by adding their own detail and compiling other data sets."

(from Overview: What the framework approach involves. FGDC Web pages)

http://www.fgdc.gov/framework/overview.html

Numerous projects have been sponsored by FGDC to develop framework. Links can be found at the FGDC framework page (www.fgdc.gov/framework/projects.html).

A Spatial Data Framework for Delaware

The seven themes of geographic data include; geodetic control, orthoimagery, elevation, transportation, hydrography, governmental units, and cadastral. A list of data in these categories that could serve as a framework for Delaware follows. Landuse, addressing, and demographic units are three additional themes that are suggested. This information has been compiled by the Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research (CADSR), and Research Data Management Services at the University of Delaware, as part of the federal and state sponsored project to implement the Delaware Spatial Data Clearinghouse. In no way is the list or references complete, and at this point is an effort to focus efforts of the community toward the development of a high quality, core data set to support spatial data applications. Corrections, additions, and comments are welcome and encouraged and can be sent to David Racca at CADSR (email - dracca@udel.edu).

FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY. ALL DATA IS NOT INCLUDED AND NOT REFERENCED PROPERLY AT THIS TIME.

Geodetic Control

Sources:

Compilation of Survey Landmarks in Delaware   Delaware Geologic Survey
 
GPS Ground Stations?

Other?

Orthoimagery

Current Sources:

Spring 1992 Orthophotography
Comments: Color infrared originally available as 3 band image (150 MB per quarter quad), and composite (50 MB per quarter quad). Resample by some agencies to 3 and 5 meter resolution.
Full CD set may be available at DelDOT or DNREC. Spatial Analysis Lab contains 5 meter resolution.
Clearinghouse reference:
SiteRef: University of Delaware Spatial Analysis Lab http://bluehen.ags.udel.edu/spatlab/spatlab.html
Also search on Orthophotography in the Clearinghouse for quarter quad based files.

Spring 1997 Orthophotography
Comments: Black and White, 1 meter pixel resolution (50 MB per quarter quad). Being distributed on 15 compact disks now circulating government agencies.
DELDOT, DNREC

Other?

Elevation

Digital Elevation Models  
Clearinghouse reference:
SiteRef-Delaware DRG and DLG Server
SiteRef: 30 meter resolution Digital Elevation Models, Spatial Analysis Lab, Food and Resource Economics, University of Delaware
 
Hypsography by USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle   Delaware Geological Survey

Other?

Transportation and Basemaps

DELDOT Road Center Line File
Comments: Accurate road layer developed from orthophotography. Includes route and milepoint attributes. A Feb.1999 version has been created by DelDOT. August 1998 version without route and milepoint information available at the Clearinghouse. Scale = 12,000.
Clearinghouse references:
DelDOT Center Line File for Kent County
DelDOT Center Line File for New Castle County
DelDOT Center Line File for Sussex County
 
USGS 7-1/2 Minute Quadrangle Map Digital Line Graphs for Delaware
Comments: Consistent prepackaged base map features, (roads, streams, municipal boundaries,etc)
Delaware State Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) and Digital Line Graph Server Homepage
Clearinghouse reference: SiteRef-Delaware DRG and DLG Server
 
TIGER Line Files
Comments: 100,000 scale road, water, political boundaries, and census geography data.
Useful as a base map and for census boundaries. Contains address range information for address matching. Includes official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) names for features.
Numerous products are based on this data, many commercial products.
Clearinghouse references:
SiteRef -RDMS-TIGER Line Geographic Database http://gis.rdms.udel.edu/rdms/gis/tiger95/
SiteRef U.S. Census Bureau Tiger http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/
 
Transit routes and stops
Comments: Transit routes and stops are continually changing. A standard method for identifying stops has been established and maintained through the years.
Clearinghouse references:
Transit Stops February 1999
Transit Routes February 1999
Transit Routes June 1996
Transit Stops June 1996
 
DELDOT Cartographic Base Map, roads, hydrography, and other features
 
DELDOT Rail facilities  DELDOT

Other?

Hydrography

FEMA Q3 Flood Data
Comments: National Flood Insurance Program, Data from FEMA Q3 Flood Data CD series.
Clearinghouse references:
FEMA Q3 Flood Data, Kent - 10001
FEMA Q3 Flood Data, New Castle - 10003
FEMA Q3 Flood Data, Sussex - 10005
 
USGS 7-1/2 Minute Quadrangle Map Digital Line Graphs for Delaware
Comments: Consistent prepackaged base map features, (roads, streams, municipal boundaries,etc)
Delaware State Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) and Digital Line Graph Server Homepage
Clearinghouse reference: SiteRef-Delaware DRG and DLG Server
 
TIGER Line Files
Comments: 100,000 scale road, water, political boundaries, and census geography data.
Useful as a base map and for census boundaries. Contains address range information for address matching. Includes official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) names for features.
Numerous products are based on this data, many commercial products.
Clearinghouse references:
SiteRef -RDMS-TIGER Line Geographic Database http://gis.rdms.udel.edu/rdms/gis/tiger95/
SiteRef U.S. Census Bureau Tiger http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/
 
Spring 1992 Orthophotography Hydrography
Comments: Streams and other water bodies as derived from 1992 Orthophotography
Clearinghouse references:
1992 Orthophoto Hydrography - Kent
1992 Orthophoto Hydrography - New Castle
1992 Orthophoto Hydrography - Sussex
 
Delaware State Wetlands Mapping Project
Comments: A Wetlands version produced in a DNREC project. Produced using 1992 Orthophotos.
Clearinghouse references:
State Wetland Mapping Project - Kent
State Wetland Mapping Project - New Castle
State Wetland Mapping Project - Sussex
 
Hurricane Inundation Areas for the Delmarva Peninsula
Comments: A collection of layers produced in Army Corps of Engineers projects. Estimates of inundated areas for various types of hurricanes. Compiled as part of a Delaware Emergency Management Project.
Clearinghouse reference: Hurricane Inundation Areas for the Delmarva Peninsula
 
National Wetlands Inventory
Comments: U.S. Fish and Wildlife product at the 1:250,000 scale National Wetland Inventory (NWI), the site referenced below provides dlg and arc data as well as metadata.
Clearinghouse reference:
SiteRef: NWI Products and Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife http://www.nwi.fws.gov/
 
Watersheds
Clearinghouse references:
Siteref: Watershed Deliniation Project, Food and Resource Economics, University of Delaware http://bluehen.ags.udel.edu/spatlab/basins/
 
Water Resources and Supply
Clearinghouse reference:
New Castle Water Resource Areas, Water Surveyors: New Castle County

Other?

Governmental Units

Source:

Municipal boundaries Clearinghouse reference:
Comments: Work in Progress: Municipal Boundaries, Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination
 
Senate and Representative Districts  DNREC
 
Kent County Levy Court Districts
 
Kent County Planning Department
 
Sussex County Council Districts
 
New Castle County Council Districts,  Water Resources Agency, University of Delaware

Other?

Cadastral

Sussex County Digital Tax Maps, kept current, Autocad format
 
Sussex County Addressing and Mapping, Kent County GIS Tax Map, July 1, 1997, CADSR, DNREC, OIS
 
New Castle County Digital Tax Maps, various degrees of completion
 
New Castle County Department of Land Use
 
Newark Digital Tax Parcel Map, City of Newark Electric Department

Demographic and Planning Analysis Units

Sources

TIGER Line Files / Census geography
SiteRef: RDMS-TIGER Line Geographic Database http://gis.rdms.udel.edu/rdms/gis/tiger95/
SiteRef: U.S. Census Bureau Tiger http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/
 
Delaware Traffic Zones DELDOT
 
Delaware Modified Grids DELDOT
 
Kent County Hundreds Kent County Planning Department

Other?

Addressing

Address ranges on a Geocoding network
 
TIGER Line Files, Numerous commercially available products
 
Kent County new addressing, Kent County Addressing, 911

Others?

 

Landuse

There are numerous items and sources in this category that could be used by many agencies. The following list includes some of the more generally useful data.

Clearinghouse references:
Landuse: SiteRef University of Delaware Spatial Analysis Lab
Landuse: USGS Quarter Quad for all of Delaware
 
Landuse, Spring 92, Spring97, from Orthophotography
 
Agricultural Preservation Districts, Delaware Department of Agriculture
 
Comprehensive Plans for each county and municipality
 
Zoning for each county
 
Public lands
 
Parks and recreational areas
 
Sewer districts
 
Water districts
 
Historic Sites

National Register of Historic Places

Delaware Investment and Resource Management Strategy

State Resource Areas

Wish List: Other data desired (3/1/99)


Agricultural Planning Districts
Comprehensive Plans for each county and municipality
Public lands
Parks and recreational areas
Sewer Districts
Water Districts
Super Fund Sites
Employment
Statewide growth analysis maps
Evacuation routes and shelters
Greenways
Delaware Traffic Zones
Delaware Planning Districts
Delaware Modified Grids
Hundreds
Kent County new addressing
Sussex County new addressing
Tax parcel centroid files and assessment records
Zip Codes, P.O. boxes
State representative districts
Kent County Levy Court Districts
Sussex County Council Districts
New Castle County Council Districts
Sussex County Digital Tax Maps (Autocad)
Kent County GIS Tax Map (July 1, 1997)
New Castle County Digital Tax Maps

 

Maintained by
Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research
University of Delaware
Last revised:10/15/98