[Mapserver-users] National Atlas Datasets

[Chip Hankley]

> What projections do these datasets use.
> <snip>
> Could someone please give me an example of the projection section of
the map
> file that would work with this kind of data.

Scott,

When you download data from the National Atlas, there is a link to a
description of the dataset:

http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html#layerstable

Under (Column 2)

This provides the metadata for each file, which describes, among other
things, the spatial reference information for the data set. I think that
all of the data on the NA site is in Decimal Degrees, and uses NAD83.

That said, since it seems like you are a new MapServer user, I would
encourage you to start with as few variables as possible. You don't HAVE
to supply projection information in the Mapfile. Start with a simple
mapfile that only has one layer. In the Identification_Information
section of the metadata is a section that describes the spatial domain's
bounding coordinates. Use these to specify your mapextent.

You'll most likely face enough issues initially figuring out how to
configure everything. Once you get it working with a simple mapfile, you
can add in projection information and start working with data sets that
use different projections, OGR, etc.

My $0.02.

Chip

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