[Qgis-user] New user

[Brent Fraser]

Stephen,

   I'm glad to hear you were successful.  There used to be an easier to 
use site called GeoBase (http://www.geobase.ca/), but now it just points 
to Geogratis.  Still, it can be a useful list.

   Another data source you might consider is OpenStreetMap 
(https://www.openstreetmap.org/).  It is basically open data citizen 
cartography and you can contribute to the data by digitizing features in 
your browser you find missing (like your creek), or uploading GPS tracks.

   As for the PDF, while you can add attachments to the email to the 
mailing list, there may be a size limitation.

Best Regards,
Brent Fraser

On 2/16/2017 11:03 AM, Stephen Wandling wrote:
> Brent,
>
> Thanks for the reply.  I had spent literally hours on the geogratis 
> site and always came away empty handed.  But, after your email, I gave 
> it another try, and found useful data!
>
> I seem to have a genetic aversion to acronyms, which may also have 
> something to do with my being 76. ;-)   Their layered menus are 
> strings of acronyms, but I selected things at various levels. After 
> sending my request off to what I am sure is a robot (Canadian 
> govrnment employees sitting around to process my 10:30 PM request.  
> Not.) I received a download link.  With the data, combined with data 
> from the local Regional District, I was able to create a useful map.
>
> I have to confess that I built that map in ArcMap.   I was drawn to 
> QGIS by the belief that they would have a friendly community that 
> could rescue me when needed.  And I was right.  But, I have struggled 
> with ESRI software for years to get to the primitive level I now 
> reside on.  The thought of having to learn a whole new software was 
> too daunting, at least for now.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Stephen
>
> PS: Can I attach files, such as PDFs on the list?
>
>
>
> On 15/02/2017 5:20 PM, Brent Fraser wrote:
>> Stephen,
>>
>>   I can't speak about BC data specifically, but the Canadian federal 
>> government has geographic data available at their Geogratis site 
>> (http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/).  And there are lots of base map tile 
>> servers available, but they may be hard to use if your intent is to 
>> print a large map.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Brent Fraser
>>
>> On 2/15/2017 6:04 PM, Stephen Wandling wrote:
>>> I had worked a bit with ArcGIS about 12 years ago and have been 
>>> struggling to make it work for me again.  I have been pretty 
>>> successful except in one area.
>>>
>>> I do not have an ESRI account, so when I built a map on their free 
>>> World Topographic Map and exported it as a PDF, it was of very low 
>>> quality.  It would have been a waste of time and money to have it 
>>> plotted.
>>>
>>> My quest is for high res data.  I live in the SW of British Columbia 
>>> and have spent a week looking for all of the "free" GIS data that 
>>> the federal and provincial governments say they have made 
>>> available.  So, far my searches have failed to find this data.  I 
>>> can get census data from 2002, but I can not get a topographic base 
>>> map of the area where I live.
>>>
>>> I had some data from my school days, and I can build a fairly decent 
>>> map with it.  But, it lacks any contour lines.  And being based on 
>>> the British Columbia government cartography, which was shut down in 
>>> 1992, it has significant errors, like missing a creek that runs 
>>> quite near to my home.
>>>
>>> 8 or 9 years back, when I was seeking a map for my Garmin GPS, there 
>>> were a few guys in British Columbia that had good data and were 
>>> giving it away.  They did not mention where they got this data.  I 
>>> do not seem to find them these days.
>>>
>>> If you can point me in the right direction for this data, I will 
>>> much appreciate it.
>>>
>>> Stephen
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>