Natural Resources Canada Provides Free Access to Digital Mapping Data
Users of topographic data will no longer have to pay to use digital versions of government maps and data. As of April 1, 2007, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) began providing this data free of charge over the Internet.
Topographic data provides information on the location of landscape features – such as lakes, rivers and elevations – as well as roads, railways and administrative boundaries. This information is used by government, academia and the private sector for various purposes.
Available through the GeoGratis web portal (www.geogratis.gc.ca), the data is grouped in collections and is compatible with the most popular geographic information systems (GIS), with image analysis systems and the graphics applications of editing software. Data can be downloaded via web browser or FTP.
The no-fee access policy applies to data that is solely owned by NRCan. In addition to waiving access fees, NRCan is lifting all cost and licence restrictions on the redistribution of the data with the goal of ensuring the availability of accurate and consistent information. This policy expands on an earlier initiative (www.GeoBase.ca), which provided free access to various co-owned federal, provincial and territorial topographic data.
For more information, or to access GeoGratis data, please go to www.geogratis.gc.ca.