[OSGeodata] VMAP0 license update

[Stephen Woodbridge]

1. Have we considered getting a copy in the VPF format and converting it 
to shapefiles using ORG2OGR?

2. Does someone have a copy of ArcView or ArcMap that can to the 
conversion for us? I thought one of these had VPF loader.

3. These links claim to have VFP to shapefile convertors
http://www.mapability.com/index1.html?http&&&www.mapability.com/info/vmap0_soft.html
http://openmap.bbn.com/doc/api/com/bbn/openmap/layer/vpf/VMAP2Shape.html
http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/oceanteacher2/08_Exercises/03_DtaMgtEx/Roadmaps/C_AOI/4_Vmap0/Vmap0.htm

-Steve W

Ned Horning wrote:
> All,
> 
> I wanted to give a quick update on the process to enable the VMAP0 dataset
> to be freely distributed.
> 
> A couple months ago I contacted colleagues at ESRI and was told that the
> only non-public domain data sets in VMAP Level 0 edition 5 are parts (some
> admin boundary lines) of the BND  Boundaries) layer and the data sets in the
> small scale reference library.  ESRI has a separate license for these other
> data sets. 
> 
> It is theoretically possible to get a license to redistribute these data.
> The time frame, however, for getting small non-monetary license agreements
> through the ESRI Contracts Department can take a long time (6 - 8 months).
> To do this we would need to contact ESRI's Contract's Department with a list
> of the data sets we want to distribute and how we plan to do it. While ESRI
> will most likely grant a request to redistribute they, at this time, will
> not allow these data to entry into the public domain so we would need to
> license these data to end users which is less than ideal.
> 
> I am working with folks in the Conservation Commons to lobby ESRI to release
> the entire dataset with a Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike license or
> something along those lines. ESRI has endorsed the Conservation Commons so
> this is an opportunity for them to put their endorsement into action.
> Progress has been slow but discussions are happening. 
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Ned 
> 
>