Digital Cartographic Reference Base GIS Data - 2002

The Ministry of Transportation has created a vector based GIS dataset called the Digital Cartographic Reference Base (DCRB) of Ontario at a data capture map scale of 1:100,000. The DCRB version 3.0 is used to develop various hardcopy cartographic products such as the Official Road Map of Ontario and acts as the base data for TMI (Transportation Mapping Interface). Features are identified by using an MTO Code, which is based on feature classifications as portrayed on the Ministry's Official Road Map of Ontario. The file size of the entire vector dataset is approximately 99.8mb.

Coordinate system: Geographic (Lat. and Long.) - NAD 83
Source format: ESRI Coverages (ArcGIS/ArcInfo)
Released: January 21, 2002, version 3.0
Library Call Number: GD.CA.16 (Ontario)

Available Themes / Layers

Airports, Border Crossings, Boundaries (Lower and Upper Tier, MTO Townships, MTO Districts, MTO Regions), Carpool Lots, Communities, Drainage, Electoral Districts, Highway Interchanges, Indexes (OBM, NTS 50k, NTS 250k), Islands, Lakes, Medical Centres, OPP Stations, Parks, Picnic Areas, Railways, Rivers, Roads, Service Centres, Tourist Attractions, Train Stations, Travel Information Centres, and UTM Zones.

Restrictions on Access

This resource is available to University of Western Ontario students, faculty and staff for academic, research or personal reasons.   Patrons will be required to present a valid UWO ID card and sign a release form when requesting the data. Data must be requested in person at the Map and Data Centre Reference desk.

Data Manipulation / Usage

The Map and Data Centre has 2 GIS workstations equipped with ArcGIS 10.0 and other software to explore/manipulate the data.  UWO users may also copy requested resources to a data storage device (ex. USB flash drive, CD-R) for research or teaching use outside of the library. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) should be cited in any maps or graphics generated.

Sample View of the Data

Digital Cartographic Reference Base Data in the London, Ontario area  -  1:2,000,000

Sample Citation

Digital Cartographic Reference Base version 3.0  [computer file]. Toronto : Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2002.