Metadata for the

Transportation for the Lake Superior Basin


Developed by

Tiger/Line 1995 - US side, Environment Canada/Sensitivity Mapping Program 1996 - Canadian side


These metadata were created using the Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines .


Go to Section:
1. Identification Information
2. Data Quality Information
3. Spatial Data Organization Information
4. Spatial Reference Information
5. Entity and Attribute Information
6. Distribution Information
7. Metadata Reference Information


Section 1


Identification Information

Originator Tiger/Line 1995 - US side, Environment Canada/Sensitivity Mapping Program 1996 - Canadian side
Title Transportation for the Lake Superior Basin
Abstract This data set consists of lines and arcs taken from Tiger/Line files and Environment Canada to create a basin-wide transportation coverage. This data was clipped with a 50 km buffer of the Lake Superior Drainage basin, and then split into counties for the US side, and kept whole for the Canada side. The coverage displays most major and minor transportation pathways. For the fields 'time period of content and source scale denominator' the US information was used. The Canada information is 1996, and 250000, respectively.
Purpose A base data layer.
Time Period of Content Date 1995
Currentness Reference Date of Tiger/Line data and Canada sensitivity mapping program data
Progress Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency As needed
Spatial Extent of Data Lake Superior Basin, including parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada
Bounding Coordinates -97.293
-81.564
49.255
41.573
Place Keywords Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario
Theme Keywords transportation, major roads, minor roads, railroads
Theme Keyword Thesaurus None
Access Constraints None
Use Constraints None
Contact Person Information Gerald Sjerven, GIS Specialist
Natural Resources Research Institute
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth, Minnesota 55811
Phone: (218)-720-4388
FAX: (218)-720-4328
E-mail: gsjerven@sage.nrri.umn.edu
Browse Graphic File Name none available
Browse Graphic File Description
Associated Data Sets


Section 2


Data Quality Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Attribute Accuracy US side:
Topological Properties The attribute accuracy of the TIGER/Line ® files is as precise as the source used during the creation or update of the Census TIGER ®
data base. Accuracy statements on the Census TIGER ® data base are based on deductive estimates; no specific field tests for attribute accuracy have been conducted on the files. However, updates or corrections resulting from normal Census Bureau field operations are entered into the Census TIGER ® data base. In addition, quality checks are conducted to verify clerical transcription of data from source materials. Based on past experience, attribute codes match the source materials with less than a two-percent error.
The feature network of complete chains (as represented by Record TypesÊ1 and 2) is complete for census purposes. Data users should be aware that on occasion they may not be able to trace a specific feature by name or by CFCC as a continuous line throughout the TIGER/Line ®
files without making additional edits. For example, State Highway 32may cross the entire county. The TIGER/Line ® files will contain com-plete chains in the file at the location of State Highway 32, but the complete chains may individually have one of a collection of local names such as S Elm Street, or Smallville Highway, with or without State Highway 32 as an alternate. The most frequent CFCC for a state highway is A21, but the complete chains at the location of State High-way 32 may have a variety of class codes such as A01, A41, or A21. Recent edits have reduced this problem, but not eliminated it.
Boundaries and Geographic Entity Codes The Census Bureau collects and tabulates information for both legal and statistical entities. Record Types 1 and S identify the boundaries and codes for the legal entities reported to the Census Bureau to be legally in effect on January 1, 1995. Record Types 3 and A generally contain the final 1990 census tabulation geographic boundaries and codes for those entities. Most legal boundaries are based on the anno-tations made by local officials in response to the Census Bureau’s Boundary and Annexation Surveys.

The USGS maintains the file that is published as FIPS 55. The Census Bureau uses the file for coding American Indian/Alaska Native Areas, county subdivisions, consolidated cities, places, and sub-MCDs. Cooper-atively in 1993, the Census Bureau and the USGS edited the FIPS 55 file to ensure alphabetical sorting and data consistency. As a result, several hundred changes were made to the FIPS 55 codes and related class codes. These corrections, plus codes for new entities, appear in Record Type C where one record shows the codes used in 1990, and one record shows the current FIPS 55 code/class code associated with each change. Other attribute data in the TIGER/Line ® files were gathered from many sources. The Census Bureau’s staff linked the attribute informa-tion to the spatial framework of features. Most procedures for gathering the needed attributes were clerical. The quality of these attributes was ensured by various tests conducted before, during, and after the time that the attribute information was entered into the Census TIGER ® data base. Tests included source material selection and evaluation checks, quality control checks on staff work, independent reviews by local and tribal leaders of maps produced from the Census TIGER ® data base, and staff reviews of computer-performed operations.
Feature Identifiers
A national consistency review of all feature names in the Census TIGER ® data base was performed by running a revised name standard-izer on all feature identifiers. An additional benefit was the removal of nonstandard characters and punctuation from the names. To improve accuracy, road names in the Census TIGER ® data base were compared with street names in the ZIP+4 ® (AMS) file from the US Postal Service. Errors in feature directionals or feature types were corrected in the Census TIGER ® data base.

Canada:
Accuracy of geometric representation data is given by the difference between the position of the geometric representation associated with an entity and the real position of the corresponding topographic feature, as measured with respect to the geodetic network.

Ancillary data give an indication of the quality of the NTDB topographic data. Among these ancillary data, one will find the accuracy as determined from the data acquisition process.
Logical Consistency US side:
Node-line-area relationships satisfy topological requirements. These requirements include the following:
 Complete chains must begin and end at nodes.
 Complete chains must connect to each other at nodes.
 Complete chains do not extend through nodes.
 Left and right polygons are defined for each complete chain element and are consistent for complete chains connecting at nodes.
 Complete chains representing the limits of a file are free from gaps.
The Census Bureau performed automated tests to ensure logical consis-tency and limits of file. Some polygons in the TIGER/Line ® files may be so small, the polygon internal point has been manually placed on a node that defines the polygon perimeter. These small polygons have been detected, and corrections will be incorporated in the Census TIGER ®
data base in the future. The Census Bureau uses its internally developed Geographic Update System to enhance and modify spatial and attribute data in the Census TIGER ® data base.
The Census TIGER ® data base has three generations of currency in geo-graphic areas. These are generally the previous census areas, current areas, and the next census areas. The boundaries of geographic areas are affected by the location, type, and number of areas.
To prepare for the 2000 census, those features used only as boundaries in the 1980 census were deleted. The deletions lowered the overall count of complete chains and polygons.
Standard geographic codes, such as FIPS codes for states, counties, munic-ipalities, and places, are used when encoding spatial entities. The Census Bureau performed spatial data tests for logical consistency of the codes during the compilation of the original Census TIGER ® data base files. Most of the codes themselves were provided to the Census Bureau by the USGS, the agency responsible for maintaining FIPS 55.

Canada side: None available
Completeness US side:
The GBF/DIME-Files and the USGS’s DLG were the two main sources of spatial attribute data. Data for a given category contain attribute codes that reflect the information portrayed on the original source.
The TIGER/Line ® files also use the Census Bureau’s internal coding scheme which in some cases parallels the FIPS codes. The feature network of complete chains is complete for census purposes. For the 1990 census, census enumer-ators identified new and previously unreported street features for the entire Nation during a series of decennial census operations. In some areas, local officials reviewed the census maps and identified new features and feature changes. Similar operations are planned for the 2000 census. The TIGER/ Line ® files contain limited point and area landmark data. The enumerator updates from the 1990 census did not stress landmark features. Computer file matching and automated updates from the Economic and Agriculture censuses added landmarks and key geographic locations (KGLs). As source material from the US Postal Service and local agencies is integrated into the Census TIGER ® data base, the number of landmarks and KGLs is expected to increase.

Canada side: None available
Horizontal Positional Accuracy US side:
The Census Bureau’s mission to count and profile the Nation’s people and institutions does not require very high levels of posi-tional accuracy in its geographic products. Its files and maps are designed to show only the relative positions of elements. Coordinates in the TIGER/Line ® files have six implied decimal places. The positional accuracy of these coordinates is not as great as the six decimal places suggest. The positional accuracy varies with the source materials used, but at best meets the established National Map Accuracy standards (approximately + Ú – 167 feet) where 1:100,000- scale maps from the USGS are the source. The Census Bureau can not specify the accuracy of feature updates added by its field staff or of features derived from the GBF/DIME-Files or other map sources. Thus, the level of positional accuracy in the 1995 TIGER/Line ® files is not suitable for high-precision measurement applications such as engineering problems, property transfers, or other uses that might require highly accurate measurements of the earth’s surface.
Despite the fact that TIGER/Line ® data positional accuracy is not as high as the coordinate values imply, the six-decimal place precision is useful when producing maps. This precision allows you to place features that are next to each other on the ground in the correct position, relative to each other, on the map without overlap.

Canada side: None available
Vertical Positional Accuracy Not applicaple
Lineage US side:
State hydrology coverages were created for MN, WI, and MI by merging the counties together for each state. The shoreline was then selected for each state (including islands), and 'put' into a coverage. The canadian islands and shoreline were later added using 'put' as well.

Further information:
Geometric Properties Source codes that specify the original digital source of complete chains in the TIGER/Line ® files are listed in the Sources section of this chapter. These codes cover the source categories in the Census TIGER ® data base: initial source, pre-1990 computer operations, office operations, enumer-ator operations, local official updates, post-1990 census updates, and pre-2000 computer operations.
The initial sources used to create the Census TIGER ® data base were the USGS 1:100,000-scale Digital Line Graph (DLG), USGS 1:24,000-scale quadrangles, the Census Bureau’s 1980 geographic base files (GBF/DIME-Files), and a variety of miscellaneous maps for selected areas outside the contiguous 48 states. The DLG coverage is extensive, albeit of variable currency, and comprises most of the rural, small city, and suburban area of the TIGER/Line ® files. GBF/DIME-File coverage areas were updated through 1987 with the manual translation of features from the most recent aerial photography available to the Census Bureau.
In order to create a current geographic data base for the extraction of the 1995 TIGER/Line ® files, the Census Bureau used various internal and external procedures through 1995 to update and maintain the Census TIGER ® data base. While the Census Bureau has made a reasonable and systematic attempt to gather the most recent information available about the features that this file portrays, the Census Bureau cautions users that the files are no more complete than the source documents used in their compilation, the vintage of those source documents, and the translation of the information on those source documents.

Data Quality
The Census Bureau added, to the Census TIGER ® data base, the enu-merator updates compiled during the 1988-1990 census operations. The updates came from map annotations made by enumerators as they attempted to locate living quarters by traversing every street feature in their assignment area. The Census Bureau digitized the enumerator updates directly into the Census TIGER ® data base with-out geodetic controls or the use of aerial photography to confirm the features’ existence or locational accuracy.
The Census Bureau also made other corrections and updates to the map sheets supplied by local participants in various Census Bureau programs. Unconfirmed local updates originated from map reviews by local government officials or their liaisons. Maps were sent to the highest elected official of governmental units between 1990-1995 for use in various census programs, and some maps were returned with update annotations and corrections. The Census Bureau generally added the updates to the Census TIGER ® data base without extensive checks when the elected official approved the boundary or feature cor-rection. Changes made by local officials do not have geodetic control.
Projection The TIGER/Line ® data is not in a mapping projection even though most of the features were scanned directly from source maps (usually USGS 1:100,000 topographic quads) that were projections. The USGS source maps were Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projections. After the map sheets were scanned, the coordinates were transformed from UTM into projectionless geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude. The USGS Digital Line Graphs (DLGs) were derived from the same operation, but typically were distributed as UTM projections.
As mentioned earlier, there were a variety of other sources used in creating the Census TIGER ® data base. The features from those sources also were stored as latitude and longitude coordinates. For metropolitan areas, the GBF/DIME files were derived by digitizing a variety of sources, (in various projections) such as USGS topographic 7.5 minute quadrangles, aerial photography, and other materials, to fill in the gaps between the GBF/DIME coverage and the 1:100,000 topographic sheet coverage. Also included in the Census TIGER ® data base are features obtained from field updates. Paper maps were annotated in the field and subsequently digitized without rigorous adherence to a projection or coordinate system.
Sources In the TIGER/Line ® files, there is a 1-alphanumeric character source code for complete chain and landmark features. Source codes identify the original (or final, if historical) operation that created the geographic object and its geometric properties.
Source Codes
Value Description
blank Not Documented Elsewhere A Updated 1980 GBF/DIME-File B USGS 1:100,000-Scale DLG-3 File C Other USGS Map D Census Bureau Update Prior to 1990 Enumeration Operations E Census Bureau 1990 Enumerator Update F Census Bureau Update from Other 1990 Operations G Unconfirmed Local Official Updates H Census Bureau Update Post-1990 Operations I Census Address List/TIGER Linkage Operations
Source Code Record Locations
Record Type Field Name Description
1 SOURCE Source or First Source Code of Update 7 SOURCE Source or First Source Code to Update 9 SOURCE Source or First Source Code to Update H HIST History or Last Source Code to Update H SOURCE Source or First Source Code to Update
Feature Identifiers Highway Route Numbers The Census Bureau updated the feature identifiers (FIDs) and census feature class codes (CFCCs) for all inter-states, limited access roads, US highways, and state highways in all counties in the United States. The FIDs of highways were entered in the Census TIGER ® data base using the following rules:
 If an interstate also was known by a local name, the interstate route number was entered as the primary name of the interstate and the local name was entered as the alternate name.
 If the US highways and state highways were known by a route number as well as by a local name, the local name was entered as the primary name, and the highway route number was entered as the alternate name.
Railroad Names The Census Bureau has been working to complete an ongoing project to update the railroad names in the Census TIGER ® data base. National update of the railroad names has not yet been completed.

Canada side:
Each 1:250,000 quad was converted to a shapefile using mifshape. The shapefiles were then merged in Arcview. The shoreline and islands were extracted.

Both the US and Canadian data were converted from shapefiles to Arc coverages and appended together. To do this, many items were dropped from the US side so that both sides could be brought together. This resulted in a field called 'transclass.' Then, a 50 km buffer of the Lake Superior Basin Boundary was used to clip out the relevant area. The data then was split into counties for the US side, and kept whole on the Canada side.
Source Scale Denominator 100000


Section 3


Spatial Data Organization Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Native Data Set Environment UNIX-ARC/INFO Ver. 7.1.2, Sun Solaris operating system
Geographic Reference for Tabular Data None
Spatial Object Type Vector
Vendor Specific Object Types Arc, line
Tiling Scheme US side: counties, Canada: canada-wide


Section 4


Spatial Reference Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme Geographic (Lat. Long.)
Ellipsoid GRS80
Horizontal Datum NAD83
Horizontal Units Meters
Distance Resolution
Altitude Datum Not applicable
Depth Datum Not applicable
Map Projection Name Albers Equal Area
Map Projection Parameters Standard Parallel: 29.5
Standard Parallel: 45.5
Longitude Of Central Meridian: -96
Latitude Of Projection Origin: 23
False Easting: 0
False Northing: 0
Other Coordinate System's Definition Planar Coordinate Encoding Method: Coordinate Pair
Abscissa Resolution: 1
Ordinate Resolution: 1
Semi-Major Axis: 6378206.4
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 294.98


Section 5


Entity and Attribute Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Entity and Attribute Overview Entity and attribute information is self explanatory. There are the typical attributes such as shape, lenth, etc. The only noteworthy attribute is 'transclass' which specifies major roads, minor roads, and railroads. See lineage.
Entity and Attribute Detailed Citation None


Section 6


Distribution Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Publisher Natural Resources Research Institute
Publication Date Unpublished material
Contact Person Information Gerald Sjerven, GIS Specialist
Natural Resources Research Institute
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth, Minnesota 55811
Phone: (218)-720-4388
FAX: (218)-720-4328
E-mail: gsjerven@sage.nrri.umn.edu
Distributor's Data Set Identifier
Distribution Liability No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The University of Minnesota shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Transfer Format Name ARC/Info export format
Transfer Format Version Number
Transfer Size
Ordering Instructions
Online Linkage Click here to download data. (See Ordering Instructions above for details.) By clicking here, you agree to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above.


Section 7


Metadata Reference Information - - - - - - Go back to top

Metadata Date 08/25/1999
Contact Person Information Joel Nelson, GIS Intern
Natural Resource Research Institute
5013 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, Minnesota 55811
Phone: (218)-720-4254
FAX: (218)-720-4328
E-mail: jnelson@sage.nrri.umn.edu
Metadata Standard Name Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
Metadata Standard Version Datalogr 2.01
Metadata Standard Online Linkage http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/gc/stds/metadata.htm


This page last updated 08/25/1999.

Go back to top

 

The Lake Superior Decision Support project is coordinated through the Center for Water and the Environment at the Natural Resources Research Institute. The project is funded by the USEPA Region 5 Coastal Environmental Management Grant Program through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  For comments on this project or this home page, contact George Host.  Last updated: Friday, January 18, 2002 11:43
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
© 1999-2000 University of Minnesota Duluth
Natural Resources Research Institute
CWE
5013 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811 (218)720.4294