Digital Map Products - Comparison Tables
Below are three tables. The first contains one row for each product line. The second lists the viewing programs. Each package usually comes with one of these viewing programs. The third table lists the underlying government map series. These are the source of the scanned maps. The reason for three separate tables is to avoid duplication when describing the products. For example, all of the softmap packages use the softmap viewer, so we only describe it once. Each softmap table then refers to the single row in the viewing programs table.Similarly, if you want to know how the panning works in the ETopo 1:50000 series packages, you have to look up its viewing program "Memory Map" in the viewing programs table. (Incidentally, those packages are also viewable with Ozi explorer, which you can buy seperately.) Similarly, to answer any questions about the actual maps you are getting, you have to look up the characteristics of the government map series.
See also the Buyer's Guide.
Product Lines . Insert
The table below has one line for each series.
Each product line breaks down into 10 or 20 regions, each of which is sold separately. Each package typically includes several scales of map, in order for you to browse and zoom. In most cases, each package also includes one of the viewing programs in the above table). See also Individual Packages. | Name of Series | Breakdown | Approx. Price | Type | Datasets | D.E.M | Viewing Program | | Etopo 50K | Sold as 24 separate regions. Covers 10 provinces, Yukon, Mackenzie Delta. | $100/region | Raster | NTS 1M, 250K, 50K | yes | Memory Map | | ETopo Canada 250K | Sold as two packages: (1)Canadian Provinces, (2) Northern Canada. (N of 60 degrees | $100/package | Raster | NTS 1M, 250K | no | Memory Map | | ETopo Mexico Topo and Satelite Digital Maps on DVD | Covers all Mexico. | $100 | Raster | 1M, 250K | Yes | Memory Map | | Garmin Mapsource Topo Canada 50K | All Canada in one package. | $149.95 all Canada | Vector | NTS 250K, 50K | yes | Map Source | | Softmap Topo 20 Quebec 20K - DVD | Broken into 10 regions, covers all Quebec. | $70/ region, $500 for all Quebec | Raster | NTS 8M, 1M, 250K, 20K | no | Softmap 4.95 | | Softmap Topo 250K (All Canada) | One package for all Canada. | $60 all Canada | Raster | NTS 2M, 250K | no | Softmap 4.95 | | Softmap Topo 50 (Canada) | Sold by region, covers provinces except north. | $60/region | Raster | NTS 30M, 2M, 250K, 50K | no | Softmap 4.95 | | Softmap Topoweb Canada 50K | Sold by province + 1 for Maritimes. | $40/prov, $20 to renew. | Raster | NTS 2M, 250K, 50K | no | Softmap 5 | | Softmap Topoweb Quebec 20K | One subscription coves all Quebec. | $50. $20 to renew | Raster | NTS 1M, 250K, Quebec 20K | no | Softmap 5 |
Viewing Programs
Below are the main viewing programs available. One or more of these programs is usually included with each package. | Title | Position Display | Panning | Stitching | Zoom | Search
LatLong | Search by
Placename | User
Labels | Digitize | GPSTransfer | Digital Elev | Printing | | ARC IMS (BC Basemap) | LatLong Only | Grab and drag, but redraw | Yes | Rectangle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Poor | | Delorme Topo USA 5.0 | LatLong, UTM, Datum | Slow Refresh | Auto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, | | Fugawi Viewer | LatLong, UTM, Datum | Grab and drag | Yes | Start at 250K | Yes | Yes | No | No* | No* | Yes | Yes | | Garmin MapSource | LatLong, UTM, Datum | Hand tool but no detail | auto | Rectangle, 17 Scales | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes* | | Memory Map (ETopo) | LL, UTM, Datum | Grab and drag | manual | +/-, Pick scale | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Softmap Viewer | LL, UTM, Datum | grab and drag | auto | Dataset Priority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included* | No | Yes | | Topo! | LL,UTM,Datum | Scroll | Auto | 5 Levels | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
Paper Datasets (Government Paper Map Series)
Below are the national map datasets that are the basis for all the scanned maps sold in the above products. For example, Canada has the NTS 1:50,000 dataset, the 1:250,000 dataset, and so on.
| Title | Scale | Coverage | AreaCovered | Numbering | Contour |
|---|
| BC 20K | 1:20000 | British Columbia | 6 x 12 min | 092.G.034 | 20m | | USGS 24/25K | 1:24000 | USA, except Alaska | 7.5 x 7.5 min | 47123-E4 | 20/40 foot | | NTS 50K | 1:50000 | Canada, parts of Arctic | 15 x 30 min. | 092G15 | 100ft/20m | | USGS 63K | 1:63000 | Alaska | 1 x 3 (varies) | 57132A1 | 100 ft | | USGS 100K | 1:100000 | USA, except Alaska | 30 x 60 min. | | 50m | | NTS 250K | 1:250000 | Canada+Arctic | 1 x 2 deg. | 92J | 500ft or 200m | | USGS 250K | 1:250000 | USA + Alaska | 1 x 2 deg | 60141A1 | 200 | | NTS 500K | 1:500000 | Canada | 2 x 4 deg | 92 NE | | | USGS 500K | 1:500000 | USA | One State | | | | BC 1:600000 | 1:600000 | British Columbia | 4 x 8 deg | None | None | | NTS 1M | 1:1000000 | Canada and Arctic | 4 x 6 deg. | NN10 | 250m | | ONC | 1:1000000 | World | World | ONC-C9 | 1000 ft | | USGS 1M | 1:1000000 | USA | 4 x 6 deg | NN 9 | Varies 300m, 500m | | WAC | 1:1000000 | Canada | 8 x 21 deg | WAC D-12 | 1000 ft | | JNC | 1:2000000 | World | | JNC43 | 1000 | | NTS 2M | 1:2000000 | Canada | All Canada | CTI-05 | none | | GNC | 1:5000000 | World | 75-130 | GNC 2 | None | | Alaska Base | 1:10000000 | Alaska | | | |
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