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Vector Data

(Accessible text version)

Geo-Topographic Geo-Spatial Basic Data

Introduction

Geo-topographic basic information in the form of digital vector data are established by the Public Surveying Authorities of the Länder (federal states) and by the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG) (Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy) predominantly within the scope of the project Amtliches Topographisch-Kartographisches ATKIS® Informationssystem (Authoritative Topographic Cartographic Information System) referring to the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. The relevant data covering the area of the Federal Republic of Germany are provided and distributed by the GeoDataCenter within the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG).

ATKIS®describes the landscape by the following product groups:

  • Digital Landscape Models (DLM)
  • Digital Terrain Models (DGM)
  • Digital Topographic Maps (DTK) and

  • Digital Orthophotos (DOP).

    The product group Digital Landscape Models includes:

  • Digital Basic Landscape Model (Basic DLM)
  • Digital Landscape Model 250 (DLM250)

  • Digital Landscape Model 1000 (DLM1000)

    The extent and structure of the information has been determined in feature type catalogues, the feature types being classified according to the following object themes:

  • 1000 Presentation
  • 2000 Settlement
  • 3000 Communication
  • 4000 Vegetation
  • 5000 Hydrography
  • 6000 Relief

  • 7000 Regions

    The topographic features are modelled as punctiform, linear or areal objects with explanatory attributive information. In this process also object relationships such as overpasses and underpasses and the relations between complex objects, objects, parts of objects are reproduced. Further information is available under www.atkis.de.

There exist additional data inventories based on particular specifications, as e.g. Geographical names (GN) Administrative boundaries (VG)

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Range of vector data on offer

At present vector data of the following Digital Landscape Models (DLM) are offered:

  • Basc DLM *)
  • DLM250
  • DLM1000 Beyond that are available:
  • Digital Terrain Model DGM-D
  • Digital Terrain Model DGM250
  • Digital Terrain Model DGM1000
  • Geographical Names (GN250 and GN1000)
  • Administrative Boundaries (VG250 and VG1000)

*) Distribution of data to third parties only for areas exceeding the boundaries of a Land (state) of Germany. Federal bodies are requested to generally contact BKG.

Suitability and utilization

Vector data are particularly suited to serve as a spatial reference base and as basic information for the connection of subject-specific data as well as for computer-assisted intersection with thematic data and for a combined analysis. Thus, they constitute an essential basis for the setup of technical information systems and also for the evaluation of technical data.

The applicational field comprises protection of the environment, regional policy and town and country planning, communal information systems, national defence, communication and transport, agriculture and forestry, geology, water resources management, energy supply, statistics as well as various sectors of industry.

Digital Basic Landscape Model (Basic DLM)

The basic data inventory in its 2nd stage of development comprises ca 160 types of features of the object themes 2000 to 7000 as well as their most important attributes, namely:

  • all roads, paths, railways, waters, and boundaries,
  • the areal landscape components according to their type of land use, as e.g. housing development zones, industrial and business parks, agricultural and silvicultural areas, water areas, local authority areas.

This data inventory is densified further to the Basic DLM within the scope of its updating.

Accuracy

Planimetric accuracy: ± 3 ... 15 m for the important linear features, in dependence on the data sources and data acquisition procedures employed by the Public Surveying Authorities of the Federal states (Länder).

Updatedness

Presently a top updatedness of 3 to 12 months is planned for feature types and attributes of the road, railway, air, and shipping traffic, and for facilities and buildings serving traffic, transport, and communication, and also for administrative and protection areas. To all other feature types and attributes a revision cycle of 5 years applies.

Digital Landscape Model 250 (DLM250)

This data set, which has been generated from the NATO Military Map Series 1501 on a scale of 1 : 250.000, constitutes the 1st stage of acquisition of the Digital Landscape Model 250.000 of ATKIS®. It is maintained as DLM250/1 and contains 42 of all in all 111 types of feature referring to the object themes 2000 to 7000 and to their most important attributes, namely:

  • roads, paths, railways, waters, and administrative boundaries (at the level of the “Kreise” (districts)
  • location/built-up area, vegetation, water areas
  • relief by contours and other shapes of the surface (see also: digital terrain models).

For practical reasons the DLM250 was in a first stage established in a simple layer-oriented feature structure in accordance with the relevant ATKIS®object themes, a densification of the current data set as well as the set-up of the feature-oriented ATKIS®data model being the objective of the following steps of data acquisition.

Updatedness

Presently a top updatedness of 3 to 12 months is planned for feature types and attributes of the road, railway, air, and shipping traffic, and for facilities and buildings serving traffic, transport, and communication, and also for administrative and protection areas. To all other feature types and attributes a revision cycle of 5 years applies.

Digital Landscape Model 1000 (DLM1000)

This data set currently comprises features of the object themes 2000 to 7000 as well as their most important attributes, namely:

  • roads, railways, the pertinent facilities as well as ferries and air traffic installations,
  • hydrography and water areas and corresponding facilities,
  • relief by contours and other shapes of the surface (see also: digital terrain models).
  • administrative boundaries (“Kreise” /districts).

This data set is completed for its major parts.

Updatedness

Presently a top updatedness of 3 to 12 months is planned for feature types and attributes of the road, railway, air, and shipping traffic, and for facilities and buildings serving traffic, transport, and communication, and also for administrative and protection areas. To all other feature types and attributes a revision cycle of 5 years applies.

Digital Terrain Models (DGM)

Digital Terrain Model Germany

Grid width: 25 m or 50 m (in Gauß-Krüger projection)

Height data: referenced to mean sea level (NN)

Source: Acquisition of the height data by the “Landesvermessungsämter” (state surveying offices)

Accuracy: Position: ± 1–5 m, absolute height: ± 1–8 m

Digital Terrain Model 250 (DGM250)

Grid width: 200 m x 200 m

Height data: referenced to sea level (NN)

Source: TK50

Accuracy: Position: ± 26 m, absolute height: ± 20 m

Digital Terrain Model 1000 (DGM1000)

Grid width: ΔB 30” x ΔL 50” (ca 1km x 1km)

Height data: referenced to sea level (NN)

Source: TK50

Accuracy: mean height in a 30” x 50” grid

Further Data Sets

Geographical Names (GN)

Contents of this data set

  • Names of the:

    - urban and rural communes, and sections of communes,

    - landscapes, mountain ranges, islands, mountains etc,

    - river, canals, lakes, seas etc.

  • including attributive data on:

    - the administrative classification (statistical key numbers),

    - the river system (hydrographic codes),

    - natural principal region (index number),

    - population, dimension (area size, length),

    - position (geographical -, Gauss-Krüger and UTM coordinate),

    - height (NN),

    - topographic map series and nomenclature of the map sheets on which the object can be found.

  • at two levels of selection:

    - GN250 (ca 47.000 entries)

    - GN1000 (ca 23.000 entries)

Updatedness

annual revision

Examples of Geographical names from GN 250

Braunschweig STA, KRSFR, HPR 03101000 251320 E., 100km2 10°31’34” ö.L. 52°15’55” n.B. 405m ü.NN 4 399 400m R, 5 793 300m H 32 604 100m E, 5 791 100m N 3729, L3728, C3926, CC3926

Oker (f) STRM 4820 105km 10°21’36” ö.L. 52°31’29” n.B. 3 592 300m R, 5 822 000m H 32 592 300m E, 5 819 700m N 3428, L3528, C3526, CC3926

Elm (m) MTS

322m ü.NN 10°47’08” ö.L. 52°12’55” n.B. 4 417 000m R, 5 787 400m H 32 622 000m E, 5 785 900m N 3730, L3730, C3930, CC3926

Administrative Boundaries (VG)

Contents of this data set

The datasets include all administrative units of all hierarchical administrative levels with:

  • their boundaries and reference points,
  • statistical key-numbers and name of the administrative unit as well as,
  • the specific designation of the administrative level of the respective Land (state of the Federal Republic).
  • VG250 from the German state down to the lowest administrative levels (communes; NUTS 5 Level)
  • VG1000 from the German state down to the “Kreise” (districts)
Updatedness

annual revision

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Data Distribution

The data are edited and distributed as follows:

  • as spatial sections or as units covering the whole area of the Federal Republic of Germany,
  • as any selection of topographic features,

  • and also, among others, in the following reference systems:

    - WGS84 (Ellipsoid WGS84),

    - ETRS89 (Ellipsoid GRS80),

    - Potsdam datum (Bessel Ellipsoid),

  • in the coordinate systems:

    - geographical coordinates,

    - Gauß-Krüger (3°-meridional strip system),

    - UTM (6°-merional strip system),

    - Lambert (conformal conic projection with two length-preserving parallels of latitude in normal position),

  • as homogeneous data sets in the data exchange formats EDBS, ARC/INFO-EXPORT, ARC/INFO-GENERATE (ASCII), DXF, SHAPE, GRID/ASCII, XYZ
  • on the data carriers CD-ROM (ISO 9660), DVD, DAT (4mm).

After a first purchase of data further updated versions can be supplied.

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Marketing

Licences and royalties/user fees

The topographic geospatial basic data distributed or made available by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy are protected by law. Supply of such data therefore requires prior acknowledgement of the conditions of use by the respective customer. Among others, these conditions provide that:

  • utilizations of the data is restricted to the defined purpose of use,
  • the data must be protected against any unauthorized access by third parties,
  • transfer of processed data is subject to a separate contract of permission.

As a rule, basic and multistation fees are charged for the supply and use of the topographic geospatial basic data. Additional exploitation fees may have to be paid for any data, maps and for products derived therefrom which are reproduced, published, sold or delivered by the licensee.

For more detailed information on these questions please contact BKG or the Vermessungsverwaltungen der Länder (survey administrations of the federal states).

Information and ordering

Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie

Referat GI 1

Richard-Strauss-Allee 11

60598 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

Phone: (069) 6333-400 / -445

Fax: (069) 6333-441

E-Mail: geodateninfo@bkg.bund.de

Web: www.bkg.bund.de, www.geodatenzentrum.de (online ordering system)

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