From: bthoen@gisnet.com (Bill Thoen)
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.gis
Subject: re: CIA's World Data Bank II -- info? (LONG! 283 lines)
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 04:13:17 EST
News-Software: FSUUCP 1.3r1
Reply-To: bthoen@gisnet.com (Bill Thoen)
Distribution: na
Organization: GISnet BBS 303-447-0927

In newsgroup comp.infosystems.gis, cwb4923@usl.edu (Bennett Chris W) said:

>Some time ago I posted a request for information about the CIA's 
>World Data Bank II digital maps.  I've since found several interesting

If you're referring to the origianl CIA WDB II, it is available via
ftp at hanauma.stanford.edu.  There is also some c source that will
help you figure out the packed format (you WILL need this... if you
can program in c, you'll be a bit out of luck).

There are other "World database" sets out there.  Here's some food for
the GIS FAQ gleaned from messages that have crossed the net recently:

 Relational World Data Bank II
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   from: karl@grebyn.com  (Karl A. Nyberg)

   The EROS Data Center <ORG17>, is now making copies of the Relational
   World Data Bank II and shipping them.  The copies are about 450
   megabytes of data (about 170 megabytes when compressed using the UNIX
   compress program).  They can only distribute on Exabytes using the
   UNIX tar format and 6250 BPI 9-track tapes (I don't know what
   format).  Copies cost $320 and they can charge your credit card.

   This is "raw" data.  EROS sent me a big disclaimer letter stating
   that they considered it unusable in its current condition and that
   they would be preparing an updated distribution later this year

   The deal is this:  the company for which I work (and own :-)) will
   make such copies available for $60 (if you're in Virginia, you'll
   have the pleasure of paying our wonderful 4.5% sales tax, meaning
   $62.70).

 What is the Relational World Databank?
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Relational World Data Bank II (RWDB2) marks the latest stage in the
   evolution of the World Data Bank file system developed for use by the
   CIA.  This evolution is not complete.  Line work is undergoing
   periodic revision.  Attributes other than RANK have been noted for
   inclusion in various categories of coverage.  Some WDB2 categories
   have been split, and other categories have been added to RWDB2.  This
   evolution is expected to continue. ...

   There are major differences between the structures of the WDB2 and
   RWDB2 file systems. ...

   WDB2 stores unstructured line work in 22 header/coordinate file
   pairs.  These file pairs define 6 categories of coverage for 7 world
   regions.  Lines from the WDB2 files have not been topologically
   clean, and this line work has not been updated for several years.
   RWDB2 is topologically structured and uses sets of geographic panel
   files with an attribute data base.  There are 727 geographic panels
   with 5 binary files per panel.  The panel HEADER file has no
   practical use.  The remaining panel files store the topological
   BOUNDARIES, the EDGES that form those boundaries, the OWNERS
   (feature-components) of those edges and the geographic COORDINATES
   that spatially define those edges.  The attribute database has 35
   relational files.  These files provide: a list of theme names and
   them id numbers; lists of category names and category id numbers; a
   list of panels and their geographic limits; a list of super-features
   that are retrievable by name; lists that link super-features with
   their feature-components; lists of node, area and
   linefeature-components; lists by category of feature-component
   attributes; and a schema for the category attribute relational files.

   The feature-component files are the key to retrieval of RWDB2
   features.  They have links to the category, panel, and feature-
   component attribute files that help to qualify feature-components for
   use in a query.  They also have the necessary offsets into the binary
   panel files for the spatial retrieval of feature-components.

   While the RWDB2 schema has evolved extensively from that of WDB2, the
   content of RWDB2 has not changes much from WDB2.  Currently, RWDB2
   amounts to topologically clean WDB2 with some added categories,
   revised ranks and new attributes for most categories. ...

   The CIA implementation of RWDB2 has the 35 feature-component
   attribute files loaded into an INFORMIX database with the panel files
   stored as binary files outsides the data base.  ...

   An alternate implementation of RWDB2 would use flat ASCII files (the
   files delivered on the distribution tape) for the selection of
   qualified feature-components.  ...

   The Relational World Data Bank II data set is not readily usable in
   its current form.  The number of files is large (3670), and the disk
   requirements are significant (over 414 MB).  The number of open files
   may become prohibitive for the application and the query response
   time may become excessive.  Missing is a data base schema describing
   all of the relational files delivered on the distribution tape.  The
   user must define an appropriate schema for an intended relational
   database system by reading the RWDB2 Distribution Format Guide and
   keying in the pertinent information. ...

   The EROS Data Center is in the process of building sets of
   WDB2-formatter header and coordinate file pairs from RWDB2
   categories.  These files will give us topologically clean line work
   that is as current as our current delivery of RWDB2.  Each set of
   files will provide world coverage for its category.  There will be a
   set of files for each RWDB2 LINE category.  Although AREA categories
   have been defined, there are currently no AREA features in RWDB2.
   NODE categories are under consideration for conversion, but are not
   being converted at this time.  The boundary-edge topology in RWDB2 is
   being dropped in our conversion.  RANK is the only attribute that
   will be retained in our header files.  The WDB2 formatted files could
   become available by summer of 1992.


   RWDB2 Users' Guide, Edition 1.5:

   In January 1972 the first World Data Bank 2 (WDB2) input sheet was
   digitized.  Five years later the basic coverage of coast, islands,
   lakes, rivers and international boundaries was completed and released
   to the general public.  Changes in technology over the past twenty
   years have allowed for the storage and production of large, complex
   maps that can be displayed on desktop computers and plotted in full
   color with tones and text.  In order to to take advantage of this
   technology, WDB was restructured to include topological relationships
   between linear feature with names and attributes and point features.
   It is now known as Relational World Data Bank 2 (RWDB2).

   The CIA stores RWDB2 in an SQL format, however, the data is available
   to the public in a generic ASCII format from the Earth Science
   Information Office of the USGS.

   RWDB2 was designed for producing printed small-scale page-size maps
   and selected small-scale reference maps.  This data base should not
   be used for navigation or for producing maps needing high geodetic
   accuracy.  The input scale is normally 1:3,000,000.  Europe, Central
   America, parts of Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East were
   input at a scale of 1:1,000,000.  Northeast USSR [Ed - It's a little
   dated!] and the Antarctic were input at a scale of 1:4,000,000.

   Version information

   0.5     WDB2 files dumped into RWDB2 format
   0.7     data base topologically cleaned up.
   1.0     many rivers, islands, and lakes named
   1.5     released to the public
   1.6++   various stages of attribution and additions
                Philadelphia, PA 19120-5099

 --- RWDBII Contents --------------------------------------------------

   Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 09:31:13 MDT
   From: bill@gmi.org (Bill Dickson)

   RWDBII derives from a later CIA version of the World Databank II.  I
   am told that this has in turn been superceded by another system,
   which accounts for the fact that the RWDBII, while having added some
   topological structuring and additional feature types to the WDBII,
   has not really added any data.  This appears to be a dead-end
   product.

   The DCW is a joint project between the Defense Mapping Agency and its
   British, Canadian, and Australian counterparts.  Its aim is to
   publish the content of the Operational Navigational Chart series
   digitally (on CD-ROM).  The conversion to digital form was done
   mostly by ESRI.  Like the ONCs, DMA intends to keep the digital
   product up-to-date, and to re-issue the CD-ROMs periodically.

------------------------------
And finally a bit about the Digital Chart of the World:

from: Karl A. Nyberg (karl@grebyn.com)

   To order the DCW package by mail, send to:
   USGS Open File Section
   Box 25286
   Denver, CO 80225
   303-236-7476

   Payment (check, money order, purchase order, or Government account)
   must accompany order.  Make all drafts payable to the Department of
   the Interior -- U. S. Geological Survey.
   The DCW package can also be purchased over-the-counter from any
   Earth Science Information Center by check, money order, purchase
   order, Government account, credit card, or cash.  Missing or
   defective material will be replaced free if reported to the office
   that took the order, by telephone or in writing, within 90 days of
   purchase.

   Cost $200 per package.

   Includes 4 CD ROMs, 3 5.25 and 3.5 floppies containing various
   source and executable files for VPFVIEW, a program for displaying
   the data on the PC.

   You need DOS 3.1 or higher, CD-ROM Extensions 2.0 or higher.
   80[23]86 with 80[23]87, VGA or EGA and arrow key, mouse, 30MB hard
   drive with at least 20 percent free 1MB RAM, CD ROM drive.  I was
   told that the FASTEST way was to order it from Denver.  I sent in my
   check on 8/21 and received the package today from UPS.

   ------------------------------
   From: rcw@teal.csn.org (Robert C. White Jr.)
   Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 20:36:58 MST

   It's a reasonably comprehensive database.  It has country boundaries
   (no state or county), roads, railroads, some text, contours in some
   areas, land use data, etc.  Specifically:

   Hypsography, Drainage, Roads, populated places, oceans, land cover,
   vegetation, railroads, utilities, data quality, cultural landmarks

   They are really a digital version of the aeronautical charts and jet
   navigation charts (in Antarctica).  It comes with some C code
   software to display the data - you can save it to Postscript format
   which is really not very useful.  I am in the process of hacking the
   code to generate "real" coordinates.  It looks to be a big job.

   The contour coverage is not complete.  When you draw them, the
   software shades the different elevations.  It is not clear to me yet
   how the contours are actually stored.

   The software is heavily oriented towards 8.5 x 11 pieces of paper.

   ------------------------------
   From: ron@topaz.bds.com (Ron Natalie)

   DMA's Vector Product Format is defined by US military standard
   MIL-STD-600006 (make sure you get the right number of zeros).  The
   specification is available from "Defense Printing Service, 700 Robbins
   Ave.  (Bldg.  4D), Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094."

   If you buy Digital Chart of the World it comes with C source for a
   program to read VPW.

   ------------------------------
   Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 08:22:11 EST
   From: GRV@CORNELLC

   World Climate Disc is available from:

       Chadwyck-Healey
       1101 King St
       Alexandria, Va
       22314
       1-800-752-0515

   ------------------------------
   Date: Mon, 09 Nov 92 16:50:36 EST
   From DCOBB@HARVARDA (David Cobb)

   The World Climatic Disc is available Chadwyck-Healey Inc. 1101 King St.,
   Alexandria, CA 22314 (Tel 703-683-4890 or FAX 703-683-7589) for $995.

   They have recently distributed a brochure describing it - if you haven't
   received it I'm sure they would be happy to send anyone one.

   David A. Cobb
   Harvard Map Collection

   ------------------------------
   Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:34:18 EST
   From: PERKINS@VAX1.GEOGRAPHY.MANCHESTER.AC.UK (Chris Perkins)

   We have acquired the World Climate Disc in Manchester.  I have a student
   working on a comparative study of electronic atlas frontends, comparing
   amongst others DCW and World Climate Disc.  The initial reaction and my
   so far limited experience of using WCD is that the mix of functionality
   and ease of use is about right.  The Windows interface works well, and
   the vast datasets are accessed extracted and mapped with sufficient ease
   and flexibility.  Its much easier to use than DCW, and is worth the
   cost.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Hopefully, that should answer your questions.  I'd recommend the DCW
   CD-ROM set.  I just got it a couple of weeks ago, and though I have
   nothing good to say about the VPF format (yet), the data looks pretty
   decent.

   Bill Thoen  bthoen@gisnet.com
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.gis